Author: humansingeelong

TRIGGER WARNING – this story discusses severe depression, suicidal thoughts but also hope.

Am I useless? The misuse of alcohol and other drugs can have a damaging impact on individuals, families and communities. It is important to get support if you or someone you know needs help to manage a substance use issue.

My story starts with a young man (me) living what is considered a good life.

Well educated.

Loving and caring family.

Competitive sportsman with a lovely girlfriend.

A well-defined career path.

Sociable, mild party animal who enjoyed both a drink and party drug use.

Life’s pressures to perform gradually found me increasing my intake and strength of both alcohol and other drugs.

It was only a year ago, I felt like I was stuck going nowhere in life. 

Morbid and depressed, best described my state of body and mind.

I used these substances as an escape from reality which led me down a spiral of depression. 

Isolating from friends and family, found me spending my time at work or alone in my room.

Hiding from the real world, from which I was seeking escapism, experiencing signs of depression, anxiety and paranoia. 

“The eyes were open, but there was nothing happening behind them” 

It is a feeling of not wanting to be in the here and now.

Suicide would solve all my troubles!

And the hurt that I was inflicting on those whom cared for me. 

How many ways are there to finish it – an awful lot.

But they all require a total commitment – something I couldn’t muster. 

Thank goodness that I didn’t have the courage to go through with any of them.

Today, I am a born-again human. 

I came across Complete Health Geelong on Facebook and saw that they had a men’s Mental Health and Fitness support group along with a lot of other co-ed support groups (swimming, walking, social, Martial arts, cooking, Mental Health and disability groups) that I could go to.

Continue reading “Am I useless?” →

The most poignant of images.

Possibly reflective, of the oft times loneliness and isolation, from such strenuous and dedicated duty, that was thrust upon one so young and so unprepared.

How challenging would it be to balance history, stability, protocols, expectations, an evolving world view, an even more invasive paparazzi and an array of Prime Ministers. One can perhaps understand more why Queen Elizabeth II so enjoyed the company of her horses and dogs!

In a world where change was happening at a faster rate than ever before in the history of human kind the roles of Monarch and Mother would have been challenging.

Her mother’s heart must have broken often. To have your children’s lives played out in public, would have been excruciating for any parent, yet she remained loyal and loving.

Seventy years, two hundred and fourteen days, she was the personification of her own 2008 Christmas Message, “ When life is hard the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future”.

I am not a monarchist and I am very cognisant of much of the pain caused by colonisation. However in a turbulent world there appears to be something comforting in her stability and predictability. There is also sadness and nostalgia, as we acknowledge what feels like the passing over of our world’s grandmother. That’s why there appears to be both a global and personal sadness expressed by so many. In her own words, “Grief is the price we pay for love”.

There is much respect for someone who embraced faith, nature, commitment, humour, hard work and such stoicism.


“There’ll be blue birds over, the white cliffs of Dover….”


Jacinta Foster-Raimondo

“I think there should be more colour and joy in the world. I’m primarily a jewellery designer but I’ve also been doing a lot of fun collaborations lately.” We hear from the vibrant, fun-loving Megan Castran, the @jewelchic. It’s no surprise that Megan embraced jewellery making, as her grandfather was Frank Duff, of Duffs Jewellers. You can’t help but admire how Megan exudes positive energy.

“Besides my jewellery, I have a knitwear line with Zaket and Plover, a homewares line with House, a shoe line with Paper Krane and compression socks for ATN. A percentage of the sales go to Olivia Newton John’s foundation to help find kinder cures and treatments for cancer using plant medicine. 

Continue reading “Megan Castran – the Jewelchic.” →

Roy Maloy is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung man, author and playwright. He’s got a play called ‘Shut Your Trap’ coming up at the Geelong Gaol Museum in late November and he’s looking for actors.

“I’ve written 11 true crime biographies including the best-selling biography ‘Squizzy Tayor – The Man, The Forensics, The Vendatta’.

“’Shut Your Trap’ is a fun comedy in the style of the 1970s BBC classics ‘Yes Prime Minister’, ‘Are You Being Served’ and ‘Steptoe and Son’. It’s been sponsored by the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Gaol Museum to help kickstart Geelong’s live theatre culture again.” The beauty of this, is the actors will get paid.

You’ll have to get in quick because video auditions are due this Friday and in-person auditions will be Saturday. Check out the link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Em1BVfu3qiTPrpDcPqSv8Cp8xYEVehmBwqc7Nbx98o6zpmXhgcWKRrLWBV9sucMil&id=1362271230

‘Shut Your Trap’ will be performed at the Geelong Gaol Nov 25 & 26 and Dec 2 & 3. Excitingly, a follow on season is booked for next year in Sunshine.

Happy Wear It Purple Day – Friday 26 August. This year’s theme is ‘Still me, still human’.

“The message being that people tend to focus on labels, the news story, the target or data and forget what we truly are – human.” The 2022 ‘Wear it Purple’ theme has a message of humanity, honesty, integrity and authenticity when discussing all diverse identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We are your hospitality workers, your retail staff, your lawyers, your financial advisors, your teachers, your librarians and, most importantly, your youth. We are human. It reassures us that the world is changing for the better to embrace a variety of diverse individuals and, over time, remove dehumanising stigmas surrounding LGBTQIA+ communities.” 

We hope that in sharing these fascinating 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 services, their purpose, and their lives within our shared community. 

The world of the mortuary technician can seem mysterious and is easily misunderstood. In the first of our new six-part series, which will air once a month, we meet Kim Lugg, Mortuary Assistant at Kings Funerals. We explore the various tasks and responsibilities a mortuary worker has to take on when preparing a deceased person for their final journey and how she came to be in this role. 

“It’s a privilege to actually look after these people and make them beautiful again. People say, ‘Oh, you must be a special kind of person to be able to do that sort of thing.’ I just think that it’s something that I am honoured to do. I love what I do, to be told that at the end of the day, that someone’s loved one looks so much better than the last time they were seen – that to me is everything.” Kim Lugg, Geelong Local. 

Stephen Parker’s love of rivers began as a child, when he discovered the joys of fishing on and exploring the Barwon River. “I was an adventurous kid, always wanting to see what is around the next bend in the river,” remembers Stephen.

“I’ve always had an attraction to rivers and river systems. They do feel like an unchartered pathway.”

That sense of adventure and exploration led Stephen to the world of canoe racing, and a longstanding membership of the Geelong Canoe Club.

Stephen took up canoeing in high school, and enjoyed it as a mindful activity, before embracing the competitive world of marathon canoeing. In one year Stephen won the Echuca marathon, Barwon mini-marathon, and the Murray marathon, which runs over a daunting 404 kilometres.

Continue reading “Stephen Parker – Barwon River.” →

How exciting to see the Spirit of Tasmania sail in to Geelong just now. It must be a trial as sailings are scheduled for October 23rd 2022. Go Geelong!

“My recent short horror film, ‘Do No Harm’ is my seventh film and the first to be sent out to film festivals around the world. I’m so proud it has been officially selected for six film festivals. Of that six, I have won awards in three festivals and came semi-finalist in another two. ‘Do No Harm’ was my Honours film that I wrote, produced and directed at Deakin University. It was shot entirely in Geelong.” We hear from talented filmmaker Mark P Sinozic.

“’Do No Harm’ deals with isolation and helplessness in the face of a dying sibling. Scarlett, a young woman who is looking after her sickly, bed-ridden sister, is soon faced with a terrible decision in order to save her sister’s life.

“I’m in the process of developing my first feature film, also set and to be shot in Geelong. This feature takes my short film and expands the story and themes, presenting an exciting story of dark supernatural forces in Geelong. I am self-funding this feature as well as running a gofundme campaign to raise further money. https://www.gofundme.com/manage/tyranny-of-darkness-feature-film 

“I was born and raised in Geelong and have lived here most of my life. I’ve always had a strong interest in film and film making going back to childhood. It wasn’t until well after high school that I considered studying film at University.” We are so glad Mark followed his dream.

 You can follow Mark’s exciting journey at https://www.instagram.com/l_c_films 

“I’m opening my new art studio in our old Shearing Shed, for the first time, for the Surf Coast Arts Trail, so we have been very busy getting it up to scratch. Our property is quite well known in the district as one of the original farms in Winchelsea, and I plan to host workshops and art groups from this space in future.” Local artist Sally Miller talks lovingly about her new gallery and workshop space. “It’s been used as a storage space for years and I’m very excited about its new identity.”

“Our property is the old Quambatook Shearing Shed at 135 Winchelsea Deans March Rd. The Surf Coast Arts Trail, is next weekend, 6th and 7th August from 10-4pm. Wear your gumboots or sensible walking shoes as a number of studios are in rural locations.

“We are hoping for good numbers for the 10^th Surf Coast Arts Trail this year, after two years of cancellations. A number of new studios have been included in the trail. We have a strong arts group in my area, Winchelsea, called ‘River Lee’ and a few of these artists are showing their works in the arts trail too. Find out more and download the map here https://surfcoastartstrail.com.au/

Continue reading “Sally Miller” →