Mentions: humansingeelong

Geelong’s Type 1 Foundation is honoured and humbled to be named the chosen charity for Lou Richard’s State funeral in lieu of flowers. They are also the receiving charity of the proceeds at the Lou Richards AFL tribute match tonight. This injection of funds will be invaluable.

The charity was chosen by Lou’s family because his 8 year old great grandson, Jack, suffers from Type 1 diabetes. The Type 1 Foundation provide support to Jack and his family by helping to provide CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) technology. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet and is potentially life threatening.

Continue reading “The Type1 Foundation, thanks Lou Richards.” →

There are people in this world that have hearts that are so full of warmth and willingness to help, that their potential is clear to all around them. It may have taken time and effort, but Deakin University is an officially Accredited Fair Trade Certified University. Thanks to those who felt the importance of the cause, like Ally Wimmer Deakin’s Engagement Strategist, Deakin University has Fair Trade products available on all campuses.

From this heart-warming result, it became clear that Deakin required a student representative group on each of the University’s campuses. This realisation quickly lead them to the establishing of the Fair Trade Vision Geelong Deakin team where the students of Deakin University are given a chance to do their part for the Fair Trade cause. Since the creation of these teams Ally has had the honour to work with many wonderful young people who have been nothing short of inspired to make the world a better place. One of these young people was Oscar Edward Bitton.

Continue reading “Deakin Uni Certified Fairtrade, Ally” →

Penny’s Doggy Treats. Penny 20, adores her 9 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Princess. Princess is Penny’s taste tester. Penny is involved in the entire doggy treat making process from mixing and kneading to packaging and adding tags. At the moment, the treats are peanut butter and honey flavoured with a view to making mint ones (mint is very good for doggy breath). Treats are sugar free. Penny’s selling them at the South Geelong Farmer’s Market which is held on the third Sunday of the month. She has a facebook page Penny’s Doggy Treats www.facebook.com/Pennys-Doggy-Treats-473055809693851/

I had the pleasure of catching up with Penny, the girl with the radiant smile, her helper Rachel and Mum Liz. Rachel has been with Penny for over 6 years and feels part of the family. She also has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lola, who is the same age as Princess, ‘They are the best of friends.’ Penny attended Roslyn Primary School and graduated last year from Belmont High with a VCAL Foundation Certificate.

Continue reading “Penny’s Doggy Treats.” →

‘I was one of two selected to spend four weeks travelling around India learning about Fairtrade and then blogging about our experiences.’ I’m interviewing Geelong 4^th Year Deakin University Student Oscar Bitton. ‘It was a unique opportunity to see the other side of Fairtrade at its ground level where you can see how people are empowered and given opportunities to change their lives for the better.

‘I was one of 80 candidates who applied for the opportunity which required us to write an application about why we care about social justice issues and how we have been actively involved with addressing them. I’d travelled to Vietnam to volunteer with Heartbeat Vietnam which raises money for children with heart defects. The money not only goes to the operations but also goes to ensuring that the children are healthy enough to undertake the surgery  by funding a healthy diet and the transport to and from hospital. It was Samantha Michelson and I who won the Deakin competition.

Continue reading “Deakin’s Fairtrade Experience, Oscar” →

‘I don’t want to buy a leather wrist band but how about we get you some food?’ That’s how Jan Johannesen from Bali Smiles, met the young Made Budiasa on the streets of Kuta in 2006. ‘I was holidaying in Bali with my 14 year old son. Made told us, although he would love to go to school, his family couldn’t afford it and instead he had to sell leather bracelets to tourists in Kuta to earn money for his family. He came from Munti Gunung village in N.E. Bali where it is very dry, barren and there are no work opportunities. He came from the poorest of the poor.’

‘The plight of this beautiful, smiling boy affected me so much I felt I had to do something about it. There are two sides to Bali, the tourism side and the abject poverty. While the message is that education is free, the families have to find money for uniforms and all resources. I put Made through school, he is now 21 and recently married. He completed his studies and is a professional driver for tourists. Book him for your transport needs on 082144672832. To get other kids from Munti off the streets selling in Kuta, I started an Education Sponsorship program and there are currently 20 children attending school.

Continue reading “Bali Smiles, Jan” →

‘I was 14 when my mentor Candice 17 became my foster Mother. I was born in Perth, grew up in Darwin, and then jumped around a fair bit as I got older. It wasn’t until I moved to Geelong 3 years ago, that I found out more about my aboriginality, culture and who I wanted to be. I love mentoring for AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience), and I love that it has given me the opportunity to do more for my community, my people and our future generations to come.’

I’m talking to the bubbly Tanisha who has just finished her nursing degree at Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus and works at Barwon Health.

Continue reading “AIME, Tanisha” →

Hair today, gone tomorrow but not in vain, Maria would like to see her hair donated to a good cause. This beautiful head of hair will all be gone on March 17. Maria Kitjapanon, a local lawyer, is participating in the Leukaemia Foundation’s “World’s Greatest Shave”. www.worldsgreatestshave.com

‘I figure that a head of hair like mine could perhaps inspire people to donate a lot of money to this great cause. I’d also like to donate the hair to a charity or business which makes real hair wigs for people who have lost their hair due to illness. Any assistance in finding a worthy recipient for the hair would be appreciated!

Continue reading “The World’s Greatest Shave, Maria” →

Ever wanted to learn African Drumming, the benefits of Raw Food, Street Orienteering or how to Declutter Your Life the Japanese Mindfulness way? These are a few of the diverse range of one-off, fun, short, affordable (around $10) courses available through the exciting new Geelong initiative, ‘Life Learning’. We hear from one of the organisers, Noreen Nicholson. ‘We were inspired by the ‘Brooklyn Brainely’ courses that have been running in New York for years and the ‘Laneway Learning’ version that started about 2011 in Melbourne.

Continue reading “Life Learning, Noreen” →