Christian College’s Deb Singleton has made 20 trips to East Timor since 2005. We met with her and visitor Samuel to find out why. ‘Howard Williams, Chairman of the Christian College board, organised a mob of dairy cows to go to Fuiloro Agricultural College, quite far from Viqueque. However, a little later, Viqueque was designated the official twin town for Geelong. In 2003 a group from Geelong visited this village in war-torn Timor-Leste (East Timor).
Gabe, a Geelong teenager, has recently been accepted into an elite ballet school in Bulgaria to study full time. No stranger to hard work and dedication, he currently spends four hours each day commuting to Melbourne to dance at the Russian Choreographic Academy in Camberwell. There he is trained by Australia’s own Susan Thomson and outstanding ballet teachers she contracts from Russia. His day begins at 7am and he gets home to Geelong at 8:30pm each night. He does this six days a week, now that’s passion!
Continue reading “Meet passion. Meet commitment. Meet Gabriel Slaven.”
(2/2) ‘One day two of our Sister Srey Café staff members sat us down and began telling us about a family they had met a few months back. It consisted of a grandmother battling cancer doing all she could to care for her five grandchildren, whose parents passed away a year earlier. She was too old to work, the children were still so young, and every day was a constant battle to provide for them with no government assistance. They were living under a small tarp between two trees.
(1/2) ‘From the moment our feet hit the dry and dusty red Cambodian dirt our hearts and our heads knew this place would change our path forever.’ We are talking to Cassie, Co-Founder for Hearts to Harmony, Siem Reap, Cambodia. ‘In March 2012 my sister Lauren and I left home thinking a two year adventure would certainly cure our wanderlust, but like most things in life, our plans didn’t quite turn out the way we had expected.’
Providing comfort and reassurance in times of distress, Trauma Teddies are much sought after by local emergency services and agencies. Supplied not only to Police, Ambulance and Fire Services but also Hospitals, Doctors Offices, Refuges and Primary School Sick Bays children benefit from the cuddle and distraction that such a Teddy can bring.
‘I often think “How would I feel if I was without a home? Without the love and support of my wonderful wife and kids? Without my mates? Without my job?”Volunteering is good for me! It reminds me how lucky I am, how lucky we all are really.’ We are talking to Adam, a volunteer at Samaritan House that offers a bed to up to 13 homeless men in Geelong each night.
‘When my husband was diagnosed with cancer 22 years ago I offered to go back to work. But he said ‘No, stick with your passion.’ I did and I’ve now been volunteering at Geelong Rangers Soccer Club for 40 years. I still feel sad about my husband not meeting his grandchildren.’ We are talking to Lyn Toll.
‘I help seven kids from the club who arrived here as refugees. I transport them to training and games.
‘It’s their chance to shine.’ We hear from Bellarine Times photo-journalist Rebecca Adam who created The Happy Heart Project to give kids and teens with special needs the chance to shine. ‘As a photographer I have taken lots of photos of children and just felt that kids with special needs missed out a bit in this department so I created this project for them, so they could have the chance to be the centre of attention and shine.
‘30 years of addiction wrecked my life and everyone’s around me. I finally put my hand up for help and saw a counsellor. That’s the message I want to get out to the young ones. Don’t try to outrun emotional and mental health problems. Get help! (Rob Lytzki, Foundation 61)
‘My message is deal with the pain, that will help deal with the problem. All my angels have buckled wings, they bump into walls but generally end up flying a good path.’ After overcoming 30 years of addiction, Rob Lytzki now helps others. I had the honour of having lunch with Rob and the guys he’s helping.
HuG 