Wow! What a year! Humans in Geelong, or HuG as we affectionately refer to it, are a team of dynamic volunteers who tell the stories of locals throughout our region who take action, one way or another and make a difference. Our aim is to inspire, connect and strengthen the community. And boy, thanks to your help, have we been achieving these aims!
Besides sharing two or three inspirational stories every week on our website and social media, and delivering around 30 informative talks to schools and community groups throughout the year, there were also so many extraordinary developments for our group.
In May we dazzled an international audience at Victoria’s Creative State Summit, telling them all about the HuG movement and the great things that are happening in our region. In July we presented locally at the Waurn Ponds Library. We’ll be presenting at the Geelong Library in 2020, as part of Geelong Design Week on Tuesday 24th March at 7.30pm. You’ll be able to book in for that soon, it’d be a great opportunity to meet our team members and find out all about our voluntary, positive, community project.
Thanks to the State Government Grant ‘Pick My Project’ and our Auspice for that project, Geelong Sustainability, we published the first ‘Humans in Geelong Book’. Over 500 of our amazing community celebrated at the Book Launch held on September 8th. Thanks to the grant the book goes free to schools, community groups and libraries. Make sure you borrow a copy, it’s full of stunning photos, inspirational stories and quotes of our region.
Then on October 6th we held our third annual, free, community event, the Humans in Geelong Expo, at Deakin University Waterfront Campus. It was a celebration of all the wonderful things that are happening in our region and was enjoyed by thousands. Everyone was welcome and there was something for everyone. There were 50 inspirational exhibitors, 12 thought-provoking speakers and 12 uplifting, multicultural performances. Children enjoyed free face-painting, henna, crafts and the St Leonards Men’s Shed helped them to make wooden bird boxes that they could take home. Check out the full program and wonderful photos on our website. Keep Sunday October 4th free to come along and join in all the fun at this year’s Expo 2020!
At Expo 2018, we held a flashmob to the song ‘This is Me’ to showcase the region’s diversity. This year we bring you ‘The Dance’. There’s a great little video on the Humans in Geelong’s YouTube of Expo 2019, which showcases ‘The Dance’. The plan is to film about 80 small segments of dance that will be edited together to one song. It will be filmed throughout our beautiful region with our local social entrepreneurs and changemakers.
If that wasn’t enough for one year, in October we became Humans in Geelong Incorporated.
Humans in Geelong would like to thank all our supporters and wish you all a Happy New Year. Please follow the Humans in Geelong website, facebook, Instagram, twitter and YouTube. Please share the stories because together, we are stronger. We’re thrilled to be spreading the HuG movement!
Story: Jacqui Bennett Photo: Liz Hines of some of our team.
HuG 