Author: humansingeelong

“I’ve had a lifetime battle with anxiety but it was really exacerbated with the onset of chronic pain, due to a series of severe back injuries 18 months ago. I realised the only way I could gain control over my body was to learn how to ease my anxiety. One thing that could always calm me down was the presence of my housemate’s cats. They released an undeniable calm due to their soft touch and distraction. I wish I could take a cat with me wherever I go but because I can’t, that’s why I’m launching a classic denim jacket with a wellness edge – fashion with an ‘edgy’ look but a calming effect.” We hear from Geelong designer/artist Emily Rastas. “My dream is to see people wearing my jackets and benefiting from them.

“My jackets work by harnessing our sense of touch to help relieve nervous energy, anxiety and stress. I’m leveraging a Kickstarter campaign to drive my world-first designs into production.

“My denim jackets are like a wearable stress ball and security blanket. Each jacket has six different tactile elements to play with that can help ease your inner tensions.

“I want the jacket to help wearers feel more secure and confident. To be a security blanket for when you are feeling insecure so people can distract themselves in a positive way.

Continue reading “Denim jackets with a calming edge, Emily.” →

A musical angel named Juliet floated to this earth over 80 years ago. This beautiful angel is gifted with unique qualities; the most outstanding are her passion for music and to give enjoyment to many groups of people with her singing.

Juliet Tripodi organized a group of Italian people in the year 2000 to visit Grace McKellar. Juliet’s large sponge cake with fresh cream became a most welcome flavorful treat. Eleven years later, the sponge cake was still arriving and patients, regardless of their state of health, were entertained with singing. Then other nursing homes took on this entertainment on a monthly basis.

Continue reading “Juliet Tripodi, Life is a Song and Music is Love.” →

“Great things happen when you find your passion in life.” About eight years ago, and after careers as a DJ, interstate truck driver, and tour guide, Bruce Kirby was ready for a change. “I wanted to do something I’d loved since I was a kid. I thought back to my school days and it was out of art or sport – and I’m too old for sport,” Bruce jokes.

Fast-forward to today, and Bruce has completed a Bachelor of Creative Visual Arts and is about to open his second gallery, at 1 Gore Place, Geelong. Through social media and his first gallery, at the Fyansford paper mill, he has sold his hyper-realistic fine-liner ink drawings to buyers around the world.

“I describe my artworks as sophisticated scribbling,” he says. “It’s a technique you can’t just go and copy.”

Continue reading “Bruce Kirby Art” →

Do you know a young person learning to drive? Perhaps you’re the wonderful (and patient!) experienced driver giving your time and nerves to helping a young L plate driver get some much-needed experience on the road? If that’s the case, then make sure you sign up for ‘Carpool’, an Interactive Road Safety Webinar, free for the Geelong Community, run by the Fit to Drive Foundation. @fittodrivefoundation

“The Fit to Drive Foundation was founded on a community’s passion and commitment to act to keep their young people safe on the road. It is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to reducing road trauma in young people aged 16 to 25.

Continue reading “Fit to Drive.” →

“I’ll always put myself out there if it creates hope” says Kane Nuttall, Founder of ‘The Power in You Project’ PIYP. Kane willingly channels his personal pain, from past addiction and mental health challenges, and uses this lived experience to support others who are trapped in the cycle of despair.

Home, for the program, is 44 Little Fyans St, South Geelong, which was generously donated for renovations by Tony and Christine Alsop.

Continue reading “The Power in You Project, Kane.” →

Geelong Community Survey – have your say! A group of Geelong and Bellarine residents has created a short survey to hear your feedback about the progress of the City of Greater Geelong across a range of issues, especially in relation to Council’s Clever and Creative Vision. Humans in Geelong endorse this survey and encourage everyone to fill it in.

The aim of the survey is to gather and present the community’s priorities and concerns to all candidates nominating for the upcoming Council elections in October. Results of the survey will be shared with everyone who completes the survey. Then, in October, a scorecard of all election candidates assessed against the community’s priorities as identified by the survey, will be sent to you as well.

Please have your say. This is a great way for your views to be shared with current Councillors and election candidates to show them what the community wants them to focus on. And it will be an important means to help assess which candidates will act on the community’s top priorities.

Just click this link to complete the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBL6F3Y

For further information about this survey go to www.geelongcommunitysurvey.org.

Please help us by sharing this survey and encouraging your family and friends to fill it in.

Photo: Community-minded team member Rosemary Nugent with other enthusiastic gardeners, taken by Phil Hines.

Lazarus House is where Geelong’s most vulnerable and homeless can go for a warm meal, a friendly chat, a shower and to clean their clothes, five days a week. Ally Wimmer had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Nolan of the Lazarus Community Centre. Michael is one of last year’s Westfield Geelong’s Local Heroes. Here’s why:

“Michael, a former Priest, has an amazing presence and warmth that is beyond goodness. He led the team that opened Lazarus House in late 2017. He insists ‘The tireless effort of many supporting him allowed a wonderful collaboration and outcome’.

“Three Geelong churches came together with Geelong Rotary Club, to secure the location, within the Geelong gaol. Michael, in his inclusive manner, mentions all who have helped from those working to provide food, those serving and assisting, to Geelong Connected Communities. He tells the story of the carpet received from the Geelong Cats and the woman who dealt with council and regulations enabling it to be laid for the benefit of the centre. He praises Rotary who painted and supported the project every step of the way, to Salvo Connect and the Neami team for providing showers for the homeless.

Continue reading “Lazarus House, Michael.” →