Month: March 2018

“Tell me your story.” That’s the first step in the helping process provided by one generous soul, who has requested to remain anonymous and shall be referred to as John. He’s English by birth but became Australian by choice when he arrived in 1986. Because of his struggles with alcohol, John shares his perspective on gaining sobriety. This partly involves acting as a sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous. AA’s goals, as written in the preamble, involve deflating the addict’s ego and “getting honest”. Being “anonymous” isn’t about shame but with humility and sacrificial living. John helps people who struggle with drinking, specifically in prisons and hospitals, by talking with them and listening to their stories in a non-judgmental environment.

Spirituality is an important part of John’s life, beginning with the Christian-founded AA and as a member of Moolap and Barrabool Baptist Church for years. One day after service, John was asked for advice by a family with a son/daughter who had an addiction and from then, he decided to help other families. He began working with OneCare in Geelong West developing a pilot program of recovery groups, who were featured on Humans in Geelong previously. The recovery groups provide a safe environment for attendees where they can be vulnerable about their experiences. OneCare also provides community meals, counselling and mentoring.

Continue reading “Support” →

Want to know how you can help save the planet? Textile artist Margaret Rowe has a thousand ways. Her solo show ‘1000 Flowers for the Planet’ has as its centrepiece an entire wall of crocheted flowers that provide positive and practical solutions.

Margaret’s powerful and personal statement comes from the heart. ‘I began the project in 2013 after I found out that Bayer had sued the European Commission to overturn a ban on the pesticides that are killing millions of bees. I had to do something.’

For 1000 days, Margaret created one crocheted flower together with an idea for improving our world. She posted these on her blog at https://1000flowersfortheplanet.tumblr.com/
Continue reading “1000 flowers for the Planet, Margaret” →

Ali Villani, tell us about your book ‘Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn’?

The book is about me – I always knew I was different, I was teased and bullied at school. I never really found my tribe. I didn’t really believe I was worthy of doing what I loved. I’ve worked in Youth Mental Health and I’ve seen the devastating effects of suicide. I want to instill confidence in our little people to be Bold, be Brave and be You! In the book, Ali talked to her Mum, I want kids to talk to someone if they have worries and I want others to show empathy and tolerance.

The book idea was born out of the Entrepreneurial Babes Action Hours Facebook community. It’s a community of beautiful women who have a desire to step up, claim the space and be the best versions of themselves. I would share my love for all things shiny, and sparkly and would often pop my pink tutu on to help give myself permission to dream again, like the shiny sparkly 5 year old I was before me life experiences “messed me up” and I lost who I was.

Continue reading “Ali the Shiny Sparkly Unicorn” →

‘What makes someone want to become a puzzle setter?  The answer is twofold.  Firstly, having an insatiable desire to learn new interesting words and facts, and secondly as my Mother says, “having an (uncanny) ability to see the double meaning in things!’ So says Catherine Eagleson of Portarlington. From an early age Catherine has enjoyed solving crosswords and cracking codes.  About 15 years ago she decided to start writing her own.

‘During this time, she developed the Clue Detective Online Puzzle Portal  http://cluedetectivepuzzlesonline.com/  ‘It comprises a range of crosswords, codewords, filmograppuzzles (cryptograms based on an actor and a selection of his/her films), sudoku and world building challenges etc. There’s something for everyone. Check our blog each day for puzzling inspiration!

Continue reading “Clue Detective, Catherine” →

There’s something for everyone at Storyfest – with over 180 sessions of workshops, free activities, performances, exhibitions and competitions on offer. Storyfest is Central Geelong Marketing’s 13 day multi-arts festival celebrating storytelling in all its forms. Storyfest offers traditional storytelling experiences (oral storytelling, books and music), and contemporary storytelling experiences (multi-media, visual arts and digital storytelling).

We also co-ordinate Storyfest’s sister program the Central Geelong Kids Fun Program, a program we’ve been running each school holidays for 14 years.

The inspiration for Storyfest comes from feedback from families who’ve participated in the Kids Fun Program. After each program we survey families and ask what kind of activities would they like to see in the future. Consistently the top three responses was, ‘More live entertainment, arts and crafts and storytelling’. So we created Storyfest for them and included all those elements and more.

Continue reading “Storyfest 2018” →

Cultural Diversity Week 2018 ‘Proud to belong’ 17-24 March. “My Dad has been my role model as he never gave up on his hard work, and he encouraged his children to get an education regardless of the harsh situation. My father passed away when I was young. I am thankful for my mother, who sacrificed her life and family to bring us to Australia. She gave me the opportunity to live in a peaceful country. Today, who I am is because of her.”

Today we have the pleasure of sharing the story of Anis Gul Mohammad Ali, an active, studious member of the Corio community of Geelong. “I was born in Afghanistan. When I was one year of age, my family fled to Pakistan where we became refugees. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been war torn countries since my birth so I never had an experience of what peace was. That was until I came to Australia. The life I now live is different in many aspects.”

Continue reading “Cultural Diversity Week 17-24 March, Anis” →

‘I wanted to be a hippie who spends all day writing and cuddling puppies,’ Jan Daniels, Pumpkin Fair Committee Chair for 3 years jokes when asked if working in a non-profit was what she had always wanted.  ‘I thought I’d just be running a little op shop called Readystart (Encompass Community Services’ pre-loved shop), maybe for a couple of years. Ten years later, I am still here and loving it!’

Jan was a solo parent of 3.  She had to learn how to be creative to ensure that there was enough for her family.  ‘I started volunteering when my youngest started school.  I have always enjoyed working in community roles.  I love to see what people can do with support and belief.  Everyone has a talent or skill; or idea.  They just need someone to nurture and support them. I think that’s one of the reasons I am still with Encompass after all these years.’

Continue reading “Pumpkin Fair, Encompass, Jan” →

‘I was born with Spina Bifida and in a wheelchair by age 9. My Mum was everything to me; my mother, best friend, an inspiration, a guiding light, my carer, someone to turn to in bad times. She was a courageous, compassionate, determined woman. So, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and died two years later, it was devastating. I was only 16.’ I had the pleasure of interviewing and welcoming Kirrily Hayward to the Humans in Geelong team.

‘School was hard. I missed so much of it because of endless appointments and operations. Mum took me to all these and stayed after the ops. I suffered bullying and exclusion, kids can be cruel. I struggled with identifying with a disability. So, I was determined to join in. I was deemed ‘one who’d give stuff a go’ because I participated in so many different sporting events.

‘When cancer took Mum at the end of Year 10, the rest of my schooling was a write off. I do thank the many teachers that I am still dear friends with for helping me get through.

Continue reading “Advocate, Kirrily” →

Watch three beautifully filmed, fascinating short documentaries about Geelong for free. www.Hc2CH.com ‘Hubcaps to Creative Hubs’ is a series capturing the stories of Geelong’s industrial past and emerging #CleverCreative future. The films feature three local industrial sites that are being transformed into vibrant creative centres, the RS&S Wool Mill, Federal Woollen Mills and Fyansford Paper Mills. The films were funding by community grants and the people and businesses of Geelong. These documentaries are something we can be exceptionally proud of.

The documentaries were filmed by leading television documentary producer Nick Searle, who many of you would remember from ‘The New Inventors’. The drone photography highlights our beautiful city.

You can read our interview with Dr Cristina Garduño Freeman published on November 26^th 2016. https://humansingeelong.com/2016/11/25/hubcaps2creativehubs-cristina/

Story: Jacqui Bennett Photo: Fyansford Paper Mills Phil Hines Photography Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Parkinson’s Victoria has a Support Group in Geelong for anyone affected by Parkinson’s Disease.  The group exists for patients, their carers, and their families. It began in the early ‘80s and Harold Waldron has been the co-ordinator for 28 years.  Harold’s wife Margaret lived for well over 30 years after her diagnosis. A credit to the group is that often, partners continue to attend the meetings after the death of their loved one.  Some people attend for up to 20 years. It is non-profit, with its charter clearly stating that it is purely a self-help group.  Harold can be reached on 0417 549 437.

The group assists newly-diagnosed patients, helping them to accept their diagnosis, and to be assured that Parkinson’s is non-life threatening.  While there no cure for Parkinson’s, there is plenty of support to provide assistance in understanding issues surrounding the disease.  The group is there to help life proceed as normally as possible.

Continue reading “Parkinson’s Support, Harold” →