Author: humansingeelong

“I’m sad to say I have no family or children, and being brought up in the 40s life was immensely different to the way it is today. We had very little and were well disciplined, I do not regret that now.

“My family of children is chooks and they are trained, well behaved when out in public, and boundaries are set. It’s a pleasure for me to accept the compliments, along with questions and good general friendly conversation.

“Most people do not believe a chook has the mental ability to learn, and what’s more, enjoy learning things. As a chook’s personality develops and you are aware of the different characteristics, then you will be able to teach them something that will stimulate an interest in them. Teaching chooks is like kindergarten training, short time and no distractions. You need time, patience and love.

“Now, Mrs Chook has made headlines everywhere because of her courageous surfing ability. What’s more she is overjoyed about it. Give her water with strong waves and she can confidently surf them in. Her ocean outings are limited, because of high energy and she needs to be showered quickly, and dried after the ocean. It is either stay home or she goes out in the surf. Forget about any flat water like a lake, river or pool. Mrs Chook refuses to move one step, she glares at me with the look of, ‘take me home right now’. We must learn to tune into their body language.

“Recently, at the usual time of 6.30am Mrs Chook was under my arm and we were tracking our way to the surf, it was a fair way out. There was very little sunrise that morning, it came and went quickly. The sky became darker and suddenly down came the torrential rain. My decision was return home. My chook has a calm personality, never a problem but this particular morning she started crying at a low level, the intensity increased again and again, until it was very high-pitched. She definitely had full emotional needs of surfing in the ocean regardless of the potent weather. So, back to the car, collecting towels and a coat, and with a calmer chook under my arm we briskly headed straight out to the ocean.

Continue reading “MOTHERS’ LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES.” →

“I was just 14 when I was forced to become the third wife of a 25-year-old Taliban soldier. He cruelly beat me regularly. He’d be away for long periods but this was no reprieve, as his parents, who we lived with, were just as cruel. I knew from the start of that marriage, I had to escape.” Samiya grew up in Afghanistan. Her loving family couldn’t prevent the marriage because they had been threatened with death.

“My sons were born when I was 16, then 18. It broke my heart to see that the girls in our village couldn’t attend school, so I wrote to the Government asking if I could start a school and teach them. Miraculously they allowed myself and friends to teach girls in 4 rooms of the local mosque. My heart exploded when 120 girls eagerly turned up to learn.

“But my situation in my marriage was so horrific that I couldn’t stay. I had no other choice than to put my two darling sons aged 1 and 3 into an orphanage so that I could escape to start a new, safe life for us.

“My husband died a week after I divorced him but his father hunted me down, insisting that I marry my ex-husband’s younger brother or else he’d kill me. I was so scared, I had to run.

“I escaped to India, taking my sons with me, then aged 6 and 8. The three of us lived with a friend in one tiny room for 4 years but at least we were safe.

“Finally, I was accepted to immigrate to Australia and in 2020, the three of us moved to Geelong, just before the first lockdown.”

This didn’t deter Samiya, she wisely used this time to improve her English via online courses and speaks 5 languages now.

“In 2022 I lost my mum. This greatly affected me. I’m the eldest of 8 and since arriving here I’ve sent money regularly back home to help. My eldest brother was quite high up in Government so the Taliban attacked our house, meaning to kill him. Luckily, he escaped. All of my siblings are now scattered all over the world. I’ve put in the paperwork to hopefully bring my father safely here.

“My sons are now 22 and 24, both working. I’m so proud of them.

“I know I am safe in Australia. When I saw lots of women working, driving and being free, I knew; this is my country.”

Samiya is so grateful to be here, she’s studying accounting and business as she hopes to start her own business selling home-cooked Afghan food. She needs to learn to drive and is seeking a kind, generous person to help her achieve this goal. (DM us if you can help).

We wish this determined, inspirational woman the best of luck, the bowl of chickpea and kidney bean curry she shared with me was absolutely delicious!

The Geelong Memory Walk & Jog, is on today at Eastern Beach. 620 participants have raised over $100k to help Dementia Australia provide vital support services to the estimated 118,000 people with dementia in Victoria. The fundraising also drives non-stop research partnerships, where talented Australian scientists can work towards a possible future without dementia.

Thanks to all involved.

As I begin this article, we acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional Owners of this land, pay tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and give respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

“She made change for the better” are the words Christine Couzens would like inscribed on her headstone.

Member for Geelong, Parliamentary Secretary for First People, Ms Christine Couzens MP is her official title. However, the moment you step into the warmth of her presence, the authenticity of her nature and then her first words are “Welcome, call me Chris”, you realise no matter the political affiliation, people must be enamoured with Chris and her grounded and inclusive ways.

People who know ‘Christine the politician’ and ‘Christine the person’ would attest to her political and personal life values and modus operandi as being the same. Christine is not a career politician and did not grow up in a politically affiliated family.

“I grew up in public housing in Corio, in the northern suburbs of Geelong.

“My family didn’t have a lot of money but I always felt safe and secure.

“Living in public housing showed me the real impact the government could have on people’s lives.

“And it led me to a lifetime of commitment fighting for our most vulnerable people.

“But nothing can compare to the honour of representing our community in the Parliament of Victoria since 2014.”

Chris was born in Baxter House and remembers being a curious and happy child. Her earliest memory is starting Kinder on her 4^th birthday. She loved stories then and she still loves stories, with biographies being her favourite genre. “I love stories about other people’s lives and reading about their life experiences. ‘You should never judge a book by its cover’. I have learnt so much about others and I find it so inspiring.”

Chris was not an engaged student and aged 14, she swapped Corio Tech for work in a cake shop. An innate passion for learning, she planned to leave the cake shop and foster a career as a writer. However, this was somewhat stymied, when Chris discovered, aged 15 that she, with boyfriend, Gunditjmara man Allan Couzens, were pregnant.  This was not unwelcomed news but it certainly changed some future plans.

Continue reading “Christine Couzens.” →

ANZAC Day 25th April, 2023 at Eastern Beach Geelong was a well attended, memorable, moving event. The Hon. Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence was among the speakers. Dennis Walter OAM sang the NZ & Australian Anthem and ‘We are Australians.’

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Women’s Peace Garden in Geelong. It’s on the Highton, Barwon Boulevard side, of Queens Park Bridge, beside the walking track about 500 metres from the Bridge.

Thanks for the photos @philhinesphotography #humansingeelong #geelong #peacegarden #womenspeacegarden

There’s a Wadawurrung Indigenous garden at our beautiful Geelong Botanical Gardens. Everyone there is excited to learn more.

Our Botanical Gardens are the 4th oldest in Australia.

There are lots of volunteering opportunities. Guided walks are conducted Wed 11am & Sun 2pm.

Sandpit and Geelong Gallery work together to create a unique and personal immersion based on the work of beloved Australian artist Clarice Beckett.

Opening on 1 April, Geelong Gallery presents its next major ticketed exhibition: Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere, to be shown exclusively in Geelong. This much anticipated exhibition will include rarely seen works from private collectors displaying over 60 exquisite paintings dating from 1919 to the early 1930s.

Experience design studio Sandpit have worked with Geelong Gallery to create a unique interpretation of the artist’s modernist style. Visitors will enter the Atmospheric Lab, an immersive environment which connects Clarice Beckett’s tonal style to a location that is meaningful to the visitor.

Atmospheric Lab is a room surrounded by three large wall projections. In the middle of the room a table with a tablet will invite individuals to enter the location of a place that holds meaning to them: this could be the street they grew up on; the location of a first date, or somewhere of meaning to their family. Photographic street view imagery of the chosen location will then project across the three walls and simultaneously blend the image in a style similar to Clarice Beckett’s characteristic soft-focus, immersing the visitor in their own personalised artwork.

Sandpit co-founder Dan Koerner said, ‘It is such a privilege to work with Geelong Gallery on extending the visitor experience for Clarice Beckett enthusiasts. Bringing stories to life and creating meaningful experiences is always at the heart of what we do here at Sandpit. With Atmospheric Lab we’re offering visitors a personal encounter with one of Australia’s greatest female artists, which is bound to stir up some emotions and provide a memorable experience.’

Photos: 1. Hails & Shine. 2. Geelong Gallery Filter by Sandpit.

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 fifth episode, we meet Briohny Fitzgerald, Operations Manager at Kings Funerals. We learn how her role helps the Kings team serve bereaved families and why she left the surf industry for this rewarding position.

“You learn to not sweat the small stuff, your priorities completely realign when you come into work because life is short, make the most of it.” Briohny Fitzgerald – Torquay local.