About our group
is the new name for Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia
Southern Cross Group
Australian Capital Territory
Covering the suburbs of
Aranda, Cook, Macquarie, Weetangera, Hawker, Higgins,
Holt, Bruce,
Emu Ridge, Belconnen, Page, Scullin, Florey, Latham
and Macgregor.
About
our group
We are located in Belconnen, on the north side
of the Australian Capital Territory. 
Our
group incorporates the suburbs of Aranda, Cook, Macquarie, Weetangera,
Hawker, Higgins, Holt, Bruce, Emu Ridge, Belconnen, Page, Scullin, Florey,
Latham and Macgregor.
We are a group of mothers, partners, health professionals
and other community members who believe that breastmilk is a wonderful
start for all children. We promote and support breastfeeding and provide
support and friendship to our members. We usually have about four
meetings a month. We have coffee mornings, lunch discussions and
evening discussions, which are usually held at members' homes. We
also host the Belconnen Australian Breastfeeding Association Playgroup
on alternate Monday mornings during school term.
We have seven qualified breastfeeding counsellors, four trainee counsellors and one community educator.
We are active in our local community by contributing to breastfeeding education classes, visiting the local hospital maternity ward, presenting breastfeeidng talks at local schools and participating in regional and branch events.
Services
we provide
We sell items from the Mothers Direct range of products. These are quality products that are useful for mothers and families with small children. Products are available from the Mothers Direct website, or from our Group Salesperson, Veronica. Proceeds from the sale of these products helps to fund ABA projects.
To find out more about breast pump hire, please call the breastfeeding helpline on 6258 8928.
Our group has a library consisting of books about breastfeeding and other parenting issues, which members are welcome to borrow. The library is available at most meetings. If you can't make it to a meeting, you might like to arrange a time to peruse the library at Karen's home.
We offer support to mothers and families whether or not they are breastfeeding. Our group has five qualified breastfeeding counsellors who can help to answer breastfeeding or parenting questions. Playgroup, coffee mornings and lunch and evening discussions are a wonderful opportunity to get out with your baby and meet with other mothers to discuss topics of interest. Discussions are open to pregnant mums as well as mums with babies and small children. Our program of discussions, and a description of what our meetings are like are below.
Our program
| Tues 5th February | 7.30 pm | Baby Led Attachment | Jane's @ Weetangera |
| Wednesday 6th February | 7.30 pm | Craft Night for mums | Mandy's @ Dunlop |
| Monday 11th February | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Thursday 14th February | 7.30 pm | Managing your complicated life | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Monday 25th February | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Friday 29th February | 10 am - 12 noon | Returning to work | Lizzie's @ Page |
| Monday 3rd March | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Thursday 6th March | 7.30 pm | Craft Night for mums | Mandy's @ Dunlop |
| Thursday 13th March | 10 am - 12 noon | Introducing Solids | Peta's @ Hawker |
| Monday 17th March | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Wednesday 26th March | 7.30 pm | First Aid for Babies and Toddlers | Mandy's @ Dunlop | Monday 31st March | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Wednesday 2nd April | 10 am - 12 noon | Survival Meals Cook-up | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Thursday 3rd April | 7.30 pm | Craft Night for mums | Mandy's @ Dunlop |
| Monday 7th April | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Thursday 10th April | 7.30pm | About ABA | Pam's @ Florey |
| Wednesday 16th April | 10 am - 12 noon | Breastfeeding with a Toddler in Tow | Janet's @ Latham |
| Monday 28th April | 10 am - 12 noon | Coffee morning for Pregnant mums and babies under 6 months | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Thursday 1st May | 7.30 pm | Craft Night for mums | Mandy's @ Dunlop |
| Saturday 3rd May | 6.00 pm | Mother's Day dinner | Bella Vista @ Belconnen - rsvp required |
| Monday 5th May | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Sunday 11th May | . | Mother's Day | . |
| Monday 12th May | 10 am - 12 noon | Coffee morning for pregnant mums and babies under 6 months | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Monday 19th May | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Tuesday 20th May | 10 am - 12 noon | Weaning | Erica's @ Weetangera |
| Monday 26th May | 10 am - 12 noon | Coffee morning for pregnant mums and babies under 6 months | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Monday 26th May | 7.30 pm | Chocolate, coffee & planning meeting | Karen's @ Florey |
| Monday 2nd June | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Thursday 5th June | 7.30pm | Craft night for mums | Mandy's @ Dunlop |
| Monday 16th June | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
| Tuesday 17th June | 7.30 pm | BF Questions and dessert / hot chocolate night | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Monday 23rd June | 10 am - 12 noon | Coffee Morning for pregnant mums and babies under 6 months | Katherine's @ Latham |
| Friday 27th June | 10 am - 12 noon | Kidzone - join us for a play and chat | Kidzone @ belconnen mall - rsvp required |
| Monday 30th June | 10 am - 12 noon | Belconnen ABA Playgroup | Westminster Presbyterian Church, Cook |
What
are meetings like?
Our meetings are quite informal. Some meetings are for fun and others
are to share information and thoughts about breastfeeding and parenting.
If you have any
questions or concerns about breastfeeding you may like to talk to one
of our trained breastfeeding counsellors at a meeting or phone the Breastfeeding
Helpline.
We usually have a cup of something hot (or cold if you prefer) and a
bite to eat. A small plate of nutritious food (or not so nutritious if
you prefer) to share is
welcomed but not expected.
The group library and Mothers Direct sales box are available at meetings.
Coming along
when you are pregnant is a great idea. Learning about breastfeeding before
you have your baby helps you to be more confident when starting to feed.
If you can meet the counsellors and some of the other mums before your
baby is born, you may find that you feel more comfortable coming back to
our meetings after your baby is born.
Your babies and toddlers and older children are welcome at meetings.
You may like to bring some favourite toys for your baby/child to play with. 
If you or your children are sick, we ask that you consider the other families and pregnant women in the group.
You may like to bring along a friend or family member. They will be as welcome as you are.
Don’t worry if you are running late—be proud you made it!
Group News
Welcome to all the new babies in our group, and congratulations to your families! We are currently selling raffle tickets in our National ABA Raffle.
The first and second prizes are $10 000 and $5000 shopping sprees. To buy tickets, or to obtain books of tickets to sell, please contact Gill or the ABA website.
7
day breastfeeding telephone helpline
Email
counselling is also available.
Subscribe
to Australian Breastfeeding Association
** This offer excludes 6 month gift subscriptions
Details of the benefits of subscription are available online, or by contacting our group leader, Gill.
Australian
Breastfeeding Association Website
Special thanks to Del Smith of Southern Lakes Group, for her kind
assistance.
Copyright Australian Breastfeeding Association PO Box 4000, Glen Iris, Vic 3146, Australia. ACN 005 081 523