I was born in Sydney, the eldest of four kids. My mum was an Irish immigrant from a big family of seven kids, and my Dad and his brother were born in Australia.
We moved around quite a bit while I was growing up as my parents followed work opportunities, from Sydney to Wollongong and even to Canberra.
Dad worked in retail – beginning at a service desk and working his way up to a career in management. He always had a strong interest in natural history and our environment and brought us up to share in his love of nature.
Mum left school at 15 and worked all sorts of jobs, including a long stint doing night shifts at a media monitoring company, and of course, keeping busy looking after us.
When I was finishing school, Mum enrolled in Uni and became a teacher. It wasn’t easy but she was determined, and we were all really proud of her.
We were a big, busy family and all had to chip in at home and were brought up to always think about others.
I was a pretty nerdy kid and loved school – it really opened up so many opportunities for me.
As Australia’s very first Brain Cancer Support Worker, Jonathan Muller is delivering a unique and incredibly important service to families in the Geelong region.
Employed through Peace of Mind Foundation, Jonathan meets with brain cancer patients and their loved ones in their homes and builds up the sorts of relationships that mean he can provide support that it is tailored to each person.
“The goal is to deliver support with the knowledge and experience of a health professional but with the approach of a friendly neighbour acting as an ally to patients and their families,” Jonathan says.
“Every person and household is different when engaged. Giving guidance to understand the implications of a life limiting diagnosis, mapping out areas in life which may need attention, enabling people to engage with all the moving parts that make up a life. This ranges across family and social interactions, personal identity, meaning making and values, medical, financial, legal aspects and the plain daily activities of life. I can be mowing someone’s lawn, completing an Advanced Care Plan, being present in a crisis, celebrating a sweet life moment and attending a funeral,” Jonathan says.
This is like #FightForTheBight all over again. A number of fossil fuel companies have plans to extract fossil fuels from Victoria’s southern coastline. The first step is exploration by blasting the seafloor with high-powered airguns (a kind of powerful horn) and measuring the echoes with long tubes to map offshore oil and gas reserves. This means;
• Sound waves louder than atomic bombs, blasted into the ocean every 10 seconds,
• Marine life is displaced, injured and killed,
• People and communities are impacted,
• Facilitates the extraction of more fossil fuels, and subsequent emissions into our atmosphere.
The largest of those plans is proposed by TGS for seismic blasting of 5.5 million hectares of ocean off our west coast between Cape Otway, the North West coast of Tasmania and all the way to the South Australian border, taking in prime blue whale feeding habitat, whale migration areas & southern rock lobster fishing grounds.
We are running a community forum to explore and provide more information about this proposal and we will have presentations by a marine biologist, our campaign manager and potentially the proponent, TGS who have shown interest but are yet to confirm.
A smaller seismic blasting proposal by Regia/CGG/Conoco Phillips which, if gas production proceeds, will be visible off the 12 Apostles. With consultation presently open on a number of these proposals off our west coast, come and be informed to assist with writing meaningful submissions.
Glenys Smith is the school crossing supervisor on South Valley Road Highton, a post she has held since 1974, watching two whole generations of children safely navigate the streams of traffic on South Valley Road as they make their way to Bellaire School, Highton Primary, or Belmont High, or maybe Christian College, or even Clairvaux Catholic School. Then there are the bus kids, heading out for Iona College at Charlemont, or Kardinia College at Bell Post Hill.
Glenys remembers when Geelong Tech occupied the buildings where Clairvaux is now, and the tech boys and girls also used her crossing.
‘I was President of the Parents Club and the band parents’ group, because my son went to Belmont Tech. It went co-ed while he was a student there, so I had Tech girls crossing here too.’
We hope that in sharing these stories, we can help to reduce the stigma and taboo surrounding death & dying, to assist our community in healing, and preparing for one of life’s inevitable challenges.
‘Humans of Kings Funerals’ is a short series opening the door to locals who work in funeral service, their purpose, and their lives within our shared community.
In this sixth episode, we meet Julie Cantwell, Prepaid Funeral Consultant, and learn how she can assist you in pre-planning a funeral.
“Make that first step. Not just with funerals but everything … Don’t put off what you can do today.” Julie Cantwell – Geelong local.
Reconciliation in the Park is now in its 14th year, after it was created through the friendship and partnership of the late Uncle David Tournier at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and the late Ron Milligan from Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group.
Educating all communities about the strengths of First Nations culture, languages and community is the intention of this National Reconciliation Week project.
Come and join and learn from local First Nations people at this free event, which has a market alongside selling local creations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Reconciliation in the Park is Sunday 28th of May from 10am – 3pm. There’s a traditional smoking ceremony, local dancers, lots of fun for the kids and a free BBQ from 11.30am.
As Wadawurrung woman Nikki McKenzie says: “Your voice will be heard for generations. Be wise with it.”
Libraries require adequate funding! Thank you to all who came along to Geelong City Hall this evening for the Council Meeting. The Mayor informed everyone that questions regarding the library funding have been answered online and via email.
While library questions weren’t taken at the meeting, other questions were asked and responded to. Other budget questions were on Social affordable housing, keeping the Kardinia 50m Outdoor Pool open year around and green spaces & trees.
Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast are stoked to be hosting a Beach Clean Up at BELLS BEACH on Sunday 21st May, starting at 11am. The event is free and all members of the community are welcome. Surfrider will provide bags and gloves (you are welcome to bring your own). A fantastic opportunity to learn more about this iconic beach and do something positive for the environment.
Sadly, a media release from the Geelong Library Corporation states that three local libraries are marked to close. The beloved Geelong West, Barwon Heads and newly refurbished Highton Libraries. There are also service cuts proposed to affect all libraries.
Take Action and help save these libraries! We achieved saving three libraries in 2017, it can be done again. There are so many reasons libraries are important. They are a community hub for social connection, which is so important for Mental Health. They provide access to a warm, safe place for all ages and the marginalized. They are important for toddler time story sessions and IT access for across the ages.
There are rallies on Saturday 20th May at the Geelong West library 9.30-11am, Sunday 21st May 10-11am at the Highton Library and Tuesday 23rd May from 5.30pm at City Hall organised by the Barwon Heads group, which is the next Geelong City Council meeting. The Saturday and Sunday rallies coincide with Council Representative ‘Listening Posts’ in those areas, so you’ll have a chance to let your local Councillors know your concerns.
HuG 