In 2017, Sue Fisher and Marg Haywood, together with Thursday Girls members, established Thursday Girls Group Inc. as a nonprofit charity with deductible gift recipient status (DGR). Since then, as well as facilitating groups, they have worked hard to help develop the organizational administrative and financial structure so that Thursday Girls will be sustainable in the future.
Marg Haywood
My Family
My family consists of 2 daughters and 2 sons, 3 adult grandchildren (with families of their own) and 5 younger grandchildren (whom I see frequently) plus 2 beautiful dogs who keep me company at home.
My Professional Background
I qualified as a Social Worker at the University of Melbourne, later obtaining my MSW through La Trobe University. My interest in education, together with part time employment with a number of Universities has spanned many years and continues to the present.
My primary experiences have been in the field of health and education. In health I spent 21 years managing the Social work Department at Box Hill Hospital, and working primarily in Oncology, the Emergency Dept. and ICU with people suffering from psychiatric illnesses, and major trauma; later followed by 10 years in palliative care – an experience in which I felt most privileged to share.
During these years I had many personal experiences of loss which changed the direction of my life. Together with my experiences in health, plus 2 years establishing the Road Trauma Support Team, I developed a passionate interest in trauma, disability, loss and grief. It is my hope that the knowledge and experiences I have gained can continue to assist in meeting the needs of our wonderful Thursday Girls and their families, as they help and support each other.
Sue Fisher
I have had more than 30 years’ experience as a social worker and worked in several areas of social work: foster care, child and adolescent mental health, eating disorders, palliative care, grief counselling and in private practice. In these settings I worked with individuals, families and groups.
As well as working directly with people living with cancer and their families, I was involved with a project researching cultural differences in attitudes to death and dying. Doing this project taught me that there is no right way to manage the challenge of living with the uncertainty of cancer. There is no formula. Everyone has to find their own path. Of course, sharing this dilemma with others can make people feel less alone, and this is one of the main functions of the Thursday Girls.
I have learned so much from the Thursday Girls – about cancer, about grief and loss, about human resilience, and about the power of community. It is an absolute privilege to be involved with Thursday Girls groups and programs. I have now stepped back from facilitating the women’s groups in order to make way for a new generation of professional group facilitators. I still facilitate the partner’s group.
Emma Moran-Wall
I have worked as a professional counsellor for over nineteen years, providing therapeutic support to children, adults, and families with various emotional, psychological and social challenges.
Long term experience in working within the areas of grief, loss and trauma have allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the many layers and complexities of grief. My approach promotes and embraces a recognition of existing strengths within each individual, in addition to cultivating additional resources. Enhancing capacity for reflection and self-awareness can help us better understand and navigate present and future challenges and can empower feelings of hope.
I firmly believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship. Within a therapeutic group setting, the value of human connection amongst the group is paramount when witnessing and honouring the experience of others. I continue to learn and grow from each person that allows me to journey with them and witness their experience of challenge. I feel privileged to support members of the Thursday Girls through their journeys of uncertainty and I aim to facilitate an environment of compassionate support and connectedness.