Month: October 2020

Hello Geelong, prepare yourselves for the story of the well-known and everlasting character of Dame Edna Average.

Behind the costumes, jewellery, glasses and hats, which are a trademark, is a real true down to earth person, Elaine Valentine. She has been giving this character many entertaining outings for fundraising events for the past twenty years. Believe it or not, Elaine generously provided Dame Edna Average with something like over 200 performances.

Although Elaine is now 76, she would still dress up to the nines and be Dame Edna Average if invited. She would also arrive with loads of gifts to give away and play the part well, as she does. Any opportunity to decorate for Deb balls, fundraising events for rotary, commemorative events, and Australia Day, Elaine is there. She has had a long association of 60 years with Karingal., fundraising for them, even before they were an organisation. She was known for raising big money for the Karingal ‘Dress to Impress Balls’ for years. They were dazzling, happy times. Elaine gave tirelessly of her time, showered people and children with gifts, and had a creative flair for decorating spirit for any theme.

Continue reading “Dame Edna Average.” →

Janet Brown’s play ‘The Hope Song’, about people with mental health experiences, was launched as a digital version on World Mental Health Day. It can viewed for free on Humans in Geelong’s YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGJK-KuJaKY&t=1404s

It stars some of Australia’s finest acting talent including Di Smith and Luke Carroll. The play was written for Jules Haddock’s ‘Arts of The Mind’ festival on the Surfcoast in 2017, with the Anglesea Performing Arts theatre company.

A sold-out season at La Mama Courthouse followed in 2018, and then later that year in Geelong Courthouse, both of those seasons were supported by Sane Australia.

The script is published by Australian Plays. This digital version is directed by Socratis Otto who interestingly, also directed the play for Crying Chair Theatre at the Sydney Fringe Festival last year.

The people whose stories it is based on are all connected with the Geelong region. Warning: This play contains sensitive material, if any of the content raises any issues, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14.

Read about the ‘Arts of the Mind’ festival on our website: https://humansingeelong.com/2017/09/13/art-of-the-minds-festival-jules/

Could you buddy up with an international student? A fun, new program has been developed by Study Geelong to provide a support for international tertiary students in Geelong and local community members, to build connections, share interests and enjoy cross-cultural exchange.

They are looking for individuals or families in the Geelong region to participate in the program and help show an international student what a friendly, amazing place Geelong is. The International Friends Program matches an international tertiary student in Geelong with a local person or family for 12 weeks to get to know each other and share culture.

Continue reading “International Friends Program.” →

“I’ve grappled a lot with my home-town for a long time, what it means to me and how to write about it. In the end I didn’t. I made up a city and put it where Geelong is.”

Geelong author Rhett Davis this year won the Victorian Premier’s Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, and picked up a publishing deal into the bargain.

Hovering, described by the award judges as an “ambitious, kaleidoscopic novel”, will be published by Hachette and available in bookstores late in 2021.

Rhett explains the story is about Alice, a thirty-nine-year-old woman returning home to find the city is changing in strange and inexplicable ways.

Continue reading “Author, Rhett Davis.” →

The Geelong Crusaders are a combat re-enactment group based in Geelong who strive to preserve the heritage of the crusading periods from all cultures (11th to 13th Century), and foster a creative environment for historical knowledge and combat. “My start with the crusaders was entirely an accident. I invited a couple of close friends over to do a bit of training since our old club shut down and I must have done a good job, because several years and locations later, they’re still coming along each week.” – Lachlan, President of the Geelong Crusaders.

The club’s primary focus is on the safe and responsible use of martial weapons for fitness, competitive sport and stage fighting. Members build skills in a variety of weapon sets, including single-sword, sword and shield, florentine, hand and a half or two-handed sword, single-handed axe, poleaxe, spear, javelin and dagger.

Continue reading “Geelong Crusaders.” →

Congratulations team! We are finalists and tonight is the night. Humans in Geelong is a huge team effort. It came as an idea, in the middle of the night, just over 4 years ago. It was response to grief and bad news. The idea was to focus on local positive stories, to find joy and to spread positive, good news. The dream/idea only grew thanks to the help of family, friends and an amazing like-minded team. Also an amazing community. Congratulations all!

In four years we’ve told over 500 inspiring stories of locals who are making a difference, across a multi-media platform. We’ve produced the Humans in Geelong Book. (get in contact if you’d like a copy) We’ve spoken to hundreds of community groups and schools and at Victoria’s Creative State Summit 2019. We’ve been spreading ‘good news’ and positivity by creating the HuG movement.

Continue reading “Geelong Business Excellence Award Finalist 2020” →

We love local Music! Thank-you to Matilda Hassall of @Hassallmusic for helping us to deliver a wonderful musical line-up for the Free Humans in Geelong Online Expo 2020. You can catch all these inspirational music video clips on our YouTube ongoing. We’ve made a separate ‘Music of the Humans in Geelong Online Expo 2020’ playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGU6OzzKnfNv07bij1ED2yuF_UECyt6yx

It features Matilda, Stress Walters (who completed their cute Tippy Toe video clip just in time), Famous Will, Baraka the Kid, Jacqui Dreessens & Immy Owusu on guitar, Tradjam, Trinity Jane, Rach Brennan and the Piano Bar.

Especially for the Online Expo, With One Voice Choir recorded an original song called ‘Hope Springs’ with three choirs, Geelong, Ashburton & Altona Meadows Community Choir members. It’s an original song by Carl Dickens. Carl is a local Geelong artist, and WOV Geelong choir member. Arranged and conducted by Kym Dillon, this performance showcases the WOV community; an inclusive, supportive and connected opportunity for anyone and everyone!  

Live music videos were generously donated by @PatrickCallowPhoto, these feature: Fenn Wilson, Brunette Red Dress, Georgia Rodgers, Nathan Seeckts, Lash78, Riordan, Matt Bourke and the Delusional Drunks and Something Krook.

The Humans in Geelong Online Expo 2020 is made up of 120 diverse videos. There are artists, creatives, changemakers, community groups and videos for children. All can be viewed for free on our YouTube ongoing. Very proud of everybody. Please share.

Photo: Matilda Hassall, Thumbnails: Chris Bennett

Watch on our YouTube Channel ‘Humans in Geelong Online Expo 2020’ playlist. Watch now or later, watch all or some. Please share widely.

Thanks team and everyone involved. This will be an excellent resource for our region, schools and community.

What does the lively Costa Georgiadis and a new community group in Geelong have in common?  They are both passionate about growing veggies, developing sustainable practices and lifestyles, promoting health and wellbeing, engaging with the community and having fun.

I am referring to Ashby Community Garden Inc., whose Working Group comprises an enthusiastic array of residents beavering away to make their dream come true – a new community garden in the Geelong West/North Geelong area.

Continue reading “Ashby Community Garden.” →