Our Mission:
To raise adequate dollars for Bipolar Research to find the cause and eventual cure for Bipolar Disorder, thus improving the lives of bipolar sufferers, their families and care-givers, reducing depression, mania and suicide.Carol’s loving Dad lived and suffered with Bipolar Disorder for 57 years of his 59 years of his married life, passing away June 29,2003.
Carol’s gorgeous brother Ian tragically passed away by suicide aged just 50 years and eight months thus putting an end to his long and severe battle with Bipolar Disorder August 10, 2005.
Carol’s beautiful Mum and ‘Carer’ for all of her married life for Carol’s Dad and for many years of Ian’s shortened life sadly passed away very suddenly aged 92 years June 24, 2012.
Carol misses her only sibling and her wonderful parents and now commends her whole family for all the love, care, support and incredible example their pain and hardship has taught her and above all to learn of how to not judge any, love all people and always do unto others as you would like done unto yourself.
Her family in their wisdom and with great insight have taught Carol how to show empathy, express love and to have lively communication, but by speaking less and listening more.
They taught through being a willing listener you foster much more understanding, patience and tolerance and that by reaching out and offering a hand of support and a kindly word when and where needed gains much secures one to feel more loved, respected and supported and thus transpires much.
All of these are vital attributes for all people’s survival but especially to those with Mental health issues and Carol’s goal is to help break down the barriers, lessen the ‘stigma’, heal the ‘ignorance’ and offer all peoples equal opportunity to live and enjoy so much of the rich tapestry of a beautiful and functional life.We are all ‘so-journers’ of this life and the ‘journey’ of the Ian Parker Bipolar Fund is to find many of the unanswered questions surrounding the cause of Bipolar Disorder.
Carol truly feels a strong conviction of heart that with greater’ Western’ realisation and exploration of many botanical ‘folklore’ scientific studies from thousands of years ago, live case studies, modern medicine and technology that a breakthrough of the cause and a cure for Bipolar Disorder in not too distant over the horizon.
For a cure to be found for Bipolar Disorder being so much more vital than just finding the cause only, is so much what the Ian Parker Bipolar Fund and the Bipolar Research Fund PhD scholarship is all about.
Carol is determined with adequate funds the ‘founding’ of the inaugural Ian Parker Bipolar Fund WILL make a DIFFERENCE through good SPONSORSHIP, DONATIONS and Bipolar RESEARCH!!
Please Help us to FIND the ANSWERS for so many who live with Bipolar Disorder AND without the help of adequate Government assistance, the respect and dignity they so rightly deserve, as do all peoples no matter their gender, culture or creed.
Just ONE more beanie donated is a small way of YOU contributing to making YOUR difference as we ‘journey’ hand in hand.
Please consider and spread this message!!
BEANIES FOR BIPOLAR
Knitters Wanted!! 
Crocheters Wanted!!
Felters Wanted!!
Help support Bipolar
Research
by knitting, crocheting
or felting beanies
Carol Smit founder and event organiser of the inaugural ‘Ian Parker Bipolar Fund’ for Bipolar Research in Australia is looking for knitters and crocheters, from all corners of the world to contribute to Bipolar Research either as an individual or by ’group’ making ’Beanies4Bipolar’ for the Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund Annual Stalls! it is lots of fun for a very worthy cause!
Now is the time to grab your needles and hooks and get together with some family, friends. work colleagues or ‘grey nomads’ who love to just sit and relax!! A few spare minutes every day adds up to a few hours a week and before you know it another ‘Beanie4Bipolar’ is birthed!! We want to saturate the world with ‘Beanies4Bipolar!!!
We’re looking for a mix of babies, children’s and adults beanies, knitted in any ply or yarn with appeal to create as much variety, texture and uniqueness as you desire!
We need lots of variety, the ‘funkier’, ‘cooerl’, ‘trendier’, most novel’ or the very ’traditional’ all make for a great, interesting and unique buyers mix to choose from!!
If you can’t knit, crochet or felt but happen to find you have a supply of wool or acrylic balls you no longer need but don’t know who to pass them on to we’d love to have them.
We also would love any unwanted knitting needles, crochet hooks or beanies patterns of any shape or kind that are looking for a ‘new home!’
All donated wool and aids are distributed amongst other knitting and crocheting groups.
All postal details are to be found at the bottom of the ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ section of this page!
From May 19th 2013 all donated beanies will be for sale at our annual stalls with all proceeds donated to the Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund – Raising Funds for the Australian Rotary Health / Ian Parker Bipolar Fund PhD Scholarship for our inaugural recipient Ms Emma Gliddon currently studying in Bipolar Research at Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia.
Beanies for Bipolar Annual Local Stall Dates:
19th May 2013 - 17th November 2013
May 2014 – November 2014
All completed beanies need to be sent to Carol by end of May 2013 and then continuing right through each season to build up a great stock for future annual ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Stalls.
Stalls will commence and continue on the 3rd Sunday of each month with the first stall May 19th 2013 at Memorial Square, Murray St. Colac from 9.00 am - 2.00 pm.
Look out for the Gazebo with the BIG BEANIE TOP and POM POM!!!
Each year the stall sales season will finish end November in Memorial Square Colac and the cycle will repeat again annually from mid May – November, but that does not mean we stop making beanies.
Our Aim:
To receive Beanies that have been created all year around not from only my State and not from only my Nation but GLOBALLY!!!
We ARE the FIRST and only BIPOLAR FUND to be creating ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Stalls.
We NEED YOUR HELP to become the BIGGEST Beanies4Bipolar creators WORLDWIDE!!
Carol has knitted 48 beanies in the past four months and her small group of volunteers have created another 160 assorted beanies in the past three months.
Although we recognise this is a great effort, it is way below the adequate quantity to raise the minimum goal of $20,000.00 from this event annually.
To achieve this amount of $$$’s we need to receive a minimum of 2000 beanies annually. We may think we will not achieve this amount for 2013 but we certainly will be working toward reaching this goal with much global support and for many future years!
Please post completed Beanies to:
Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund
P O Box 534
Colac Vic. 3250 Australia
Further Enquiries:
Please e-mail: carol@bipolarresearchfund.org.au
I am always happy to oblige where possible!
Hand Made for Bipolar
Your DONATIONS are always very welcomed
and so much appreciated for our
‘Handmade4Bipolar’ Stalls
Patch workers – Quilters – Embroiderers
Sewing Machinists
Artists – Potters - Woodworkers – Lead-Lighters
Glass Blowers – Jewellery Makers
Candles – Soap – Beauty & Body
Kids Toys – Clothing
Hats – Scarves – Handbags
Gift Cards – Gift Wrap
Home Decorators
Honey -Jams -Sauces
and much more….
Share your talents by Supporting Bipolar Research with us as:
NOW is the time to Clean out the Clutter!!
The Shed, Your Cupboards, Drawers, UNDER the Beds, Hidden in Suitcases
and in the Rafters!!
Every house has ‘em and this is your chance to have the ‘clean out of a life-time!!’
We would love you to DONATE any Unwanted and Unused Good Quality,
Handcrafted ‘This’ n Thats’ but please remember only ’Handcrafted’ items are accepted forour Stalls. ..have fun cleaning out…hear from you soon !!
As most of us who are ’crafty’ are known as ‘crafty hoarders’ I therefore plead with you to find the strength to part with your once beloved ‘best thing’ you ever created, was proud to ‘show off’ and forward your ‘crafty ‘n nice’ and ‘clever creations’ to our ‘Handmade4Bipolar’ Stalls!!
Just think about it on a SMALL scale what will make a BIG difference to the lives of bipolar sufferers, their families and care-givers.
If only 1000,000 people in the world would just part with only ONE ‘handmade’ item per household and each item were to only sell for $1.00 each that would raise ONE MILLION $$$’s for the Ian Parker Bipolar Fund for Bipolar Research!!!
You and me know very well your item is MUCH MORE valuable than only ONE dollar; you and me know your ONE only ’handmade’ item is TOO valuable NOT to DONATE for BIPOLAR RESEARCH!!
‘YOU and ME’ know that ‘you and me’ LOVE to ‘SHOW- OFF’
so PLEASE I just ask of you:
Share your talents – Help make a difference
Help to raise extra funds for many PhD scholarships
Help toward Bipolar Research – Ian Parker Bipolar Fund
You and Me do KNOW that WE will make a DIFFERENCE as we strive to ‘lift the lows’ and ‘heal the highs’ through Bipolar Research, support healthier minds, bodies and communities through research, awareness and education!
All donated ‘Handmade4Bipolar’ items will be sold in conjunction with the dates and stalls of ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ with all proceeds donated to Australian Rotary Health / Ian Parker Bipolar Fund PhD Scholarship for Bipolar Research.Bipolar Research.
‘Handmade4Bipolar’Stalls will be included and commence selling once an adequate variety of items have been received.
Please mail donated items to:
Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund
P O Box 534
Colac Vic. 3250 Australia
Further Enquiries: Carol Smit
Please e-mail: carol@bipolarresearchfund.org.au
Please Note: All mailing/courier costs are to be borne by the sender as all items are considered a ‘gifted’ donation toward Bipolar Research – Parcel Insurance is Optional
All responsibility for any loss or damage of parcels must be borne by the sender
There is no ending date for these items to be donated as hand crafted items are welcomed annually for rotation of ‘Handmade4Bipolar’ stalls.