Author: humansingeelong

“We hope to fill beautiful St Paul’s Church with decorated and lit Christmas trees and would like to invite charities and community groups to participate.  The Christmas Tree Festival is a community event hosted by St. Paul’s Anglican Church, and an opportunity for groups to promote their organisation. We also plan to have children’s activities in the rear of the church.  E.g. Make a Christmas Tree decoration and colouring in.

“This is a community event with all welcome and only a gold coin entry for adults. St. Paul’s Geelong, through the Christmas Tree Festival, wishes to share the amazing stories of all the wonderful works of compassion and generosity that are happening in the Geelong community.  The festival is not just about decorating Christmas trees but is an offering of a space that calls us to rediscover the gifts of compassion, generosity, love, friendship and community through the Christmas message. 

“Trees can be between 1m and 2m tall, smaller trees will be placed on a table.  They can be real, artificial or home-made.  We suggest you might like to think of a theme that ties in with your organisation.  There is no exhibit entry fee.  Organisations are welcome to provide leaflets, donation forms and literature about their organisation and its activities.

“The event at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Latrobe Terrace, Geelong is the evening of Friday 1^st December and 10 – 3pm Saturday 2^nd December.  There will be a concert on the Friday evening, and musical items throughout the day on Saturday. All welcome. The trees are to remain in the church until 11^th December.”

If your community group or charity would like to exhibit a tree you can receive more information from Rosemary McCoy rmccoy42@gmail.com

Sidenote – Geelong’s Floating Christmas Tree will be lit this Saturday night.

Sleeping Beauty, the enchanting love story set over the course of one hundred and 18 years – plus intermission, is being brought to life by Medimime Productions, this November at the newly refurbished Geelong Arts Centre. This classic children’s tale has been remixed to include modern pop music, featuring songs from some of the world’s biggest artists over the last 60 years and as usual, there will be lots of laughs!

Sleeping Beauty Director, Paige van der Chys, a local Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Support Worker, is thrilled to be leading this group of performers, “Raising money for such important services in our community is vital to the health and wellbeing of all Geelong residents. Now more than ever do we need funding for evidence-based therapies.”

This year, all funds raised by Medimime will be donated directly to the Swanston Centre for a new project to support evidence based therapeutic groups for acute patients within the inpatient Swanston Centre.

After being absent from the stage for the last 4 years, Medimime Productions is excited to be back with their take on this pop pantomime. There are only 8 performances between 10-18 November, with proceeds being donated to Barwon Health, so don’t miss out!

Buy tickets at Medimime’s https://geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/medimime-productions-presents-sleeping-beauty/, by calling 1300 251 200 or visiting the Box Office at 81 Ryrie Street, Geelong VIC 3220.

Please do come, Love from the Medimime Crew. Photo supplied.

A Remembrance Day Service will be held at the peaceful rural park in Waurn Ponds at the reserve which is dedicated to the servicemen and servicewomen of Waurn Ponds. The local Committee will be hosting a service, next Saturday 11th November at 10:45am, followed by a BBQ and light refreshments. They’d like to invite all interested and add that wreaths and floral tributes are welcome to be laid.

The reserve, located on the corner of Cochranes Road and Waurn Ponds Drive, is often a spot for passing cyclists and locals who enjoy sitting in the quiet, peaceful reserve with an opportunity to reflect and remember the lives that did not come home. Also, many bird watches enjoy the varied, native wildlife that call, the over 100 year-old, trees home.

My journey into Forest Therapy began with a profound encounter in the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, USA. As I wandered on the trails, I was inexplicably drawn to a single leaf in the canopy. Bathed in the gentle sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy, this leaf’s vivid green hue held me captive.

Within this solitary leaf, I discovered a world of wonder. Its intricate veins, resembling nature’s intricate map, revealed tales of growth and resilience. The gentle serrations along its edges showcased the finest craftsmanship of nature.

While the forest enveloped me with its whispers—the rustling leaves, the soft hum of insects, and the distant calls of birds—it was this lone leaf that anchored me. It instilled patience and served as a reminder to cherish even the smallest moments.

As I continued my unhurried walk, that leaf etched itself into my memory, a testament to the profound impact nature can have on the human soul, urging us to pause and savour its inherent beauty.

This experience sparked a deep curiosity and led me to explore the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, also known as ‘Forest Bathing.’ I yearned to understand more about the therapeutic benefits of immersing oneself in nature, a connection I had felt so deeply during my forest walk. The practice underscored the profound impact of nature on well-being.

Stress is the health epidemic of the 21st century and is responsible for many forms of chronic illnesses. Forest Therapy is a therapeutic approach rooted in immersing oneself in natural environments, often within forests. Its aim is to alleviate stress, enhance overall well-being, and bolster mental health. This practice offers numerous benefits, including anxiety reduction, blood pressure normalization, immune system enhancement, and the cultivation of a profound sense of tranquillity. Beyond these individual advantages, spending time in natural surroundings encourages relaxation and mindfulness, aiding individuals in re-establishing their connection with the environment and finding solace in its captivating beauty.

Moreover, Forest Therapy underscores the wisdom of indigenous traditions, highlighting the healing potential of nature connection and the holistic benefits it can offer.

To join our guided Forest Therapy walks:

1. Research and Schedule: Visit our website for walk details and sign up. https://infta.net/
2. Register Early: Secure your spot in advance; some sessions have limited availability.
3. Come Prepared: Wear weather-appropriate attire and comfortable shoes. Bring essentials like water, insect repellent, and a small backpack.
4. Arrive Promptly: Be at the meeting point on time to check in, meet your guide, and get to know your group.
5. Mindful Participation: Fully engage with an open mind. Follow the guide’s prompts and participate in mindfulness activities that connect you with nature.
6. Disconnect: Turn off your electronic devices and tune into nature.
7. Share and Reflect: Join group sharing and reflection sessions to discuss your experiences and insights.
8. Practice Afterward: Apply what you’ve learned in your future nature excursions and daily life for lasting benefits.

Attending our guided forest therapy walks at the Geelong Botanic Gardens lets you experience nature’s rejuvenating effects and learn to incorporate them into your daily life.

By Susan V. Joachim, President, International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA) She brought Forest Therapy to Australia. We loved our Forest Therapy session, thanks. Interested in finding out more? Google Phytoncides or Forest Bathing.

Story posted by: Jacqui Bennett (Life Coach). Photo supplied.

“Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It is often described as reminding us that ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. We bring the spirit of Ubuntu to Geelong. Our free Bantu Fest. is this Sunday 29th of October 12pm – 5pm @Geelong West Townhall and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

“We’re a newly established African community organisation named Bantu Collective Inc. Bantu Collective comprises of members from different African countries which include Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi, Botswana and Zambia. 

“Bantu tribes belong or relate to a group of people whose roots begin in central to southern Africa. The languages spoken include Swahili, Xhosa and Zulu. It is one of the largest tribes in Africa. 

“Our organisation was formed in 2021, an aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. We were looking for meaningful ways that our community could engage with each other & the wider Geelong community. 

“We’re creating opportunities and social platforms in Victoria, for our community participation and engagement through celebrating Africa and its cultural diversity.

“Our event, Bantu Fest provides the Geelong community and visitors a unique cultural celebration experience and helps to build social cohesion. It aims to boost cultural pride, social engagement, communication, awareness of our culture and knowledge for the Geelong community.

“This is a family friendly event. That gives us the opportunity to showcase the positive aspects of our community while breaking down social disconnection.

“We hope it supports our community’s cultural identity across generations and increases our capacity to enhance the lives of marginalized or isolated people in our community by trying to make Geelong their new home.

“We have the following performances this year:

-The Seben Brothers (Congolese band)

-Immy Owusu (West African inspired) Local Torquay male with a new album (Lo Life) currently nominated for the Music Victoria Award for best regional act.

– Mael + Octave ~ Afrobeats Dance class + performance 

– Burn City Queens ~ Dancehall Dance class + performance 

– Joy from Zimbabwe (playing the mbira)

– Dj Mvua (Uganda)

“There will also be raffle prizes, face painting, a jumping castle and kids’ activities. We hope to see you there to join in the fun. Please share.

“Follow us on Instagram @Bantu_Fest “ Love from Bantu Collective Inc.

“This is the first ‘Geelong Comedy Festival’ and we are very excited to kick things off this Thursday. We plan to make this a yearly event on the Geelong Calendar for people to look forward to.”

Geelong local, Blaise White, use to be a plumber but gave up the commute to Melbourne and long days, to follow his dream to create ‘Anything Goes Entertainment’, with his soon to be wife Kelly Baker. Blaise admits “Kelly is behind the scenes, the countless amount of paperwork, contracts, emails, websites, designing of guides, trivia and festivals. It’s truly a team effort to get these events off the ground.

“We both love this town and with my background in performing and Kelly’s background in Admin. we created ‘Anything Goes’ with the mission to bring fun and different events to Geelong ‘cause it’s an amazing city, with amazing people and you deserve it.

“The Geelong Comedy Festival runs over 3 days, Thurs – Sat, this week, at 6 fun venues :

The Brewery

Valhalla 

The Green Room

Beavs Bar 

Medusa

The Arborist 

“Without their generosity the festival wouldn’t be possible. We’d also like to give a huge thank you to our sponsors.

“We have over 50 comedians travelling in from all over the country and some from overseas, so we’d love to see the people of Geelong out and about supporting it. The presale tickets tell us that this is something Geelong really wants with a few shows already sold out and many more close to selling out (plenty more shows still available, so don’t worry). 

“We just Urge the public to support it, go to www.geelongcomedyfestival.com.au read some of the blurbs, go pick up one of the guides at one of the venues and check out someone you might not have heard of before.”

Laughter is the Best Medicine. Thanks Blaise and Kelly for all that you are doing to liven up Geelong. Story: Jacqui Bennett, photos supplied.

CRAG, the Combined Refugee Action Group, is celebrating 10 years by holding a photographic exhibition at the Geelong Regional Library. The informative exhibition is on until Friday, so get along and take a look.

“CRAG formed in 2013 as a network to bring together individuals and groups in Greater Geelong, the Bellarine and the Southwestern region to advocate for just, humane and welcoming policy towards people seeking asylum and refugees.

“For ten years we have supported refugees in our community, informed others of the impact of government policies on those who have sought asylum, and engaged in political process to bring about change.

“Over this time, we have enjoyed the support of so many in our community who, through their generous actions and donations, have enabled CRAG to provide legal and other supports for many refugees threatened with return to the countries from which they fled due to fear of persecution.

“Our exhibition is a celebration of what can be achieved through effective advocacy with broad community support. It is a timeline of our actions in response to the last 10 years of government policies towards refugees and people seeking asylum.

“We dedicate this exhibition to the refugees and people seeking asylum who have sought safety and a new life in our community.” Love from CRAG. Thanks CRAG, for all that you do. To help out, please contact CRAG on Combinedrefugeeactiongroup@gmail.com

If you love the ocean, want to know more about the effects of seismic blasting, enjoy a good surf movie, (or all of the above), Surfrider Foundation are hosting a fundraising screening of ‘Southern Blast’ in Torquay on Fri 20th October-not to be missed! 

“Join us for a bev, a chat, and a beautiful film that targets the biggest 3D marine seismic blasting project in history. We promise it’ll be fun, and the world will be better for it. #SouthernBlast #StopSeismicBlasting #SaveTheSouthernSea”

This event includes live music, a panel discussion, raffle prizes and good vibes. 

For more info: https://events.humanitix.com/southern-blast-film-tour-torquay

Can’t make it but want to take action against Seismic blasting in our oceans. 

https://www.surfrider.org.au/campaigns/save-the-southern-sea/

Photo and info: Sarah Treacy.

“She is truly one of a kind!” Larissa Taylor finished up at Kardinia Playgroups after looking after families in the Geelong community for over 20 years. Here are a few loving words from those she’s supported:

“Larissa is life-saving. Inspirational!” Kylie, who knew Larissa for 10 years.

Phoebe, “Friends for over a decade as my family of five boys have all come through Larissa’s Playgroups. She’s given our family nothing but fun and love.” 

“She has welcome us with open arms. She helped my son open up and build his confidence. Now, thanks to her, he’s resilient and loving life!” adds Mary-Anne.

Continue reading “Larissa Taylor” →

Tony Chen here.  I am a local Nuclear Medicine Radiology Doctor who specializes in cancer imaging.  I see a lot of cancer in young patients, which is always heartbreaking for me to diagnose. 

This year, I will be donating my time, money and dignity to Canteen, a wonderful organization that helps young people with cancer. 

I will be shaving my head in front of a live crowd at the Geelong Yacht Club 9-11.30am on Saturday 4th November, and in front of more than 20 thousand doctors on live stream. 

We have a huge goal, to raise $100,000, but I think it’s possible. SO LET’S GO!!! You can donate here:

https://www.raiseit.org.au/fundraisers/tonychen/raise-it?ref=ch_3NsbjVHsNqw2iXPB0gXsVDOy

Below is generic message from the canteen website:

I am Raising It to ensure young Aussies impacted by cancer still receive the support they need during this difficult and isolating time.

Canteen supports young people living with cancer, whether it is their own diagnosis, or that of a parent or sibling.

Canteen is once again heavily relying on Canteen Connect the online platform for counselling and peer to peer support during this even more challenging time in a young person’s world. Now more than ever they need the support of Canteen. 

Please help me help them, by giving whatever you can using the ‘Donate’ button. The more people that know about Canteen, the greater the impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot! Tony Chen. Photo supplied.