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“Hells Gates is the story of when, in 2020, five hundred pilot whales turned up unexpectedly on the West Coast of lutruwita / Tasmania, leaving rescuers scrambling to try and save them. Over the weeks that followed, community members rallied around each other, in a race against the clock to prevent a major ecological disaster.

“Over the past two years, I’ve been working with writer, James Jackson on this remarkable Australian story – travelling back and forth between Geelong and Tasmania for interviews/research – and the resulting theatre show will have its world premiere at the newly imagined Geelong Arts Centre in August 2023,” states local Joel Carnegie, Founder and Creative Director of The Space Company.

“This will be the very first production to be staged in the Geelong Arts Centre’s brand new 550-seat theatre space, The Story House from 10 – 12 August 2023 (exciting!). Something of a real moment.

“Hells Gates is an emotional rollercoaster of a production about courage, humour and determination – combining drama with comedy, poetry, and live music, to highlight the spirit of a remote community banding together – and what can be achieved in the face of adversity – as the whales arrive at Hells Gates. 

“The show is by Katy Maudlin (IPHIS, Slap. Bang. Kiss), and stars Louise Siversen (Heartbreak Choir, House Husbands, Prisoner) Natalie O’Donnell (Come From Away, Next to Normal) and Dushan Philips (Stay Woke, Angels in America, Bernhart/Hamlet), with a captivating live musical soundscape from Xani Kolac. 

Details and tickets: https://geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/hells-gates-world-premiere/

Joel reiterates, “We’re really honoured to be custodians of this story in this new original Australian production, fuelled by courage, humour and determination. We can’t wait to show audiences what The Space Company has been working on over these past two years. Plus, as the first production to be staged in the newly imagined Geelong Arts Centre, audiences will get to have a sneak peak of The Story House before the Geelong Arts Centre officially reopens. It’s Super exciting!”

Photo Credit: Sarah Walker and Studio Found.

Geelong Mums are celebrating! They’re celebrating their 10th birthday! “We’ve come a long way since April 2013 when we were established by a group of five local mums. In our first year, we supported over 300 babies and children and now we support over 6,000 each year. In the past 10 years, we are proud to announce that we have helped over 40,000 babies and children and provided families with goods worth over $13.4 million.

“It’s a team effort. THANK YOU to the local community for all the goods. THANK YOU for your money and time you have generously donated over the last decade. We can only do, what we do, because of your amazing support. Collectively, you, our fabulous volunteers and donors, including individuals, schools, community groups and businesses from the Geelong region, have been a fabulous support.

“We’d also like to acknowledge all of the amazing case workers and Maternal Health Nurses in our large network. These are the people who work day-in day-out with mums and carers, identifying what’s required to support those in need. Thank you for turning to us for help – we love working with you to provide life-changing support.

“Geelong, you are an incredibly generous community and we are so grateful for the support you give Geelong Mums. We look forward to continuing our essential work and to make sure we share more, waste less and ensure every child thrives.” @GeelongMums https://www.geelongmums.org/

Kiko Wayne Jr, 23, came to Geelong from Ethiopia in 2018. He couldn’t speak English but learnt the language at school.

Joining a community theatre program to further improve his English, inspired Kiko’s dream of becoming a writer and actor.

In 2019 he wrote his first short play which became part of North Youth Theatre’s production, ‘Waiting for Something Better’.

Kiko developed a passion for writing his own stories. He tells us “I grew up around my grandfather who was a great storyteller, and he also inspired me to be a storyteller. I decided to tell my stories through the screen. My plan is to make more short films to raise the awareness of deaths, violence and other challenges that my people are facing.”

He was an integral to the writing and performing of North Youth Theatre’s successful show, ‘Maps of the Heart’ in 2022.

The short film ‘Ran’ is his writing and directorial film debut, for this piece he drew upon his personal experiences and observations of life,

“It was great to collaborate on this short film with Benj Binks, who is a highly experienced filmmaker. I want to see more African filmmakers stand up and tell their stories on-screen.”

With support from The Bluebird Foundation, ‘Ran’ debuted at the Courthouse in April.

Photo supplied.

I was born in Sydney, the eldest of four kids. My mum was an Irish immigrant from a big family of seven kids, and my Dad and his brother were born in Australia.

We moved around quite a bit while I was growing up as my parents followed work opportunities, from Sydney to Wollongong and even to Canberra.

Dad worked in retail – beginning at a service desk and working his way up to a career in management. He always had a strong interest in natural history and our environment and brought us up to share in his love of nature.

Mum left school at 15 and worked all sorts of jobs, including a long stint doing night shifts at a media monitoring company, and of course, keeping busy looking after us.

When I was finishing school, Mum enrolled in Uni and became a teacher. It wasn’t easy but she was determined, and we were all really proud of her.

We were a big, busy family and all had to chip in at home and were brought up to always think about others.

I was a pretty nerdy kid and loved school – it really opened up so many opportunities for me.

Continue reading “Sarah Mansfield MP.” →

As Australia’s very first Brain Cancer Support Worker, Jonathan Muller is delivering a unique and incredibly important service to families in the Geelong region.

Employed through Peace of Mind Foundation, Jonathan meets with brain cancer patients and their loved ones in their homes and builds up the sorts of relationships that mean he can provide support that it is tailored to each person.

“The goal is to deliver support with the knowledge and experience of a health professional but with the approach of a friendly neighbour acting as an ally to patients and their families,” Jonathan says.

“Every person and household is different when engaged. Giving guidance to understand the implications of a life limiting diagnosis, mapping out areas in life which may need attention, enabling people to engage with all the moving parts that make up a life.  This ranges across family and social interactions, personal identity, meaning making and values, medical, financial, legal aspects and the plain daily activities of life. I can be mowing someone’s lawn, completing an Advanced Care Plan, being present in a crisis, celebrating a sweet life moment and attending a funeral,” Jonathan says.

Continue reading “Jonathon Muller.” →

This is like #FightForTheBight all over again. A number of fossil fuel companies have plans to extract fossil fuels from Victoria’s southern coastline. The first step is exploration by blasting the seafloor with high-powered airguns (a kind of powerful horn) and measuring the echoes with long tubes to map offshore oil and gas reserves. This means;

• Sound waves louder than atomic bombs, blasted into the ocean every 10 seconds,

• Marine life is displaced, injured and killed,

• People and communities are impacted,

• Facilitates the extraction of more fossil fuels, and subsequent emissions into our atmosphere.

The largest of those plans is proposed by TGS for seismic blasting of 5.5 million hectares of ocean off our west coast between Cape Otway, the North West coast of Tasmania and all the way to the South Australian border, taking in prime blue whale feeding habitat, whale migration areas & southern rock lobster fishing grounds.

We are running a  community forum to explore and provide more information about this proposal and we will have presentations by a marine biologist, our campaign manager and potentially the proponent, TGS who have shown interest but are yet to confirm.

When: Wednesday 14th June

Where: Australian National Surfing Museum

77 Beach Road, Torquay, Vic

Doors Open 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.

This is a free event presented by Surfrider Foundation Australia and Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch. Please reserve your seats at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/seismic-blasting-community-information-session-tickets-645146569757 and share this with your mates. All welcome!

A smaller seismic blasting proposal by Regia/CGG/Conoco Phillips which, if gas production proceeds, will be visible off the 12 Apostles. With consultation presently open on a number of these proposals off our west coast, come and be informed to assist with writing meaningful submissions.

Consultation links here https://www.tgs.com/seismic/multi-client/asia-pacific/australia/otway-relevant-persons-consultation

https://klarite.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/regiamss/regia-home

https://www.beachenergy.com.au/vic-otway-basin/

We hope to see you there!

#SaveSouthernSeaCountry

Kind regards,

Surfrider Foundation, Surf Coast Branch

‘On St Patrick’s day 2025 it’ll be 50 years.’

Glenys Smith is the school crossing supervisor on South Valley Road Highton, a post she has held since 1974, watching two whole generations of children safely navigate the streams of traffic on South Valley Road as they make their way to Bellaire School, Highton Primary, or Belmont High, or maybe Christian College, or even Clairvaux Catholic School.  Then there are the bus kids, heading out for Iona College at Charlemont, or Kardinia College at Bell Post Hill.

Glenys remembers when Geelong Tech occupied the buildings where Clairvaux is now, and the tech boys and girls also used her crossing.

‘I was President of the Parents Club and the band parents’ group, because my son went to Belmont Tech. It went co-ed while he was a student there, so I had Tech girls crossing here too.’

Continue reading “Glenys Smith, School Crossing Supervisor.” →

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

In this sixth episode, we meet Julie Cantwell, Prepaid Funeral Consultant, and learn how she can assist you in pre-planning a funeral.

“Make that first step. Not just with funerals but everything … Don’t put off what you can do today.” Julie Cantwell – Geelong local.

Reconciliation in the Park is now in its 14th year, after it was created through the friendship and partnership of the late Uncle David Tournier at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and the late Ron Milligan from Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group.

Educating all communities about the strengths of First Nations culture, languages and community is the intention of this National Reconciliation Week project.

Come and join and learn from local First Nations people at this free event, which has a market alongside selling local creations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Reconciliation in the Park is Sunday 28^th of May from 10am – 3pm. There’s a traditional smoking ceremony, local dancers, lots of fun for the kids and a free BBQ from 11.30am.

As Wadawurrung woman Nikki McKenzie says: “Your voice will be heard for generations. Be wise with it.”

Photograph supplied of smoking ceremony, 2022.

Libraries require adequate funding! Thank you to all who came along to Geelong City Hall this evening for the Council Meeting. The Mayor informed everyone that questions regarding the library funding have been answered online and via email.

While library questions weren’t taken at the meeting, other questions were asked and responded to. Other budget questions were on Social affordable housing, keeping the Kardinia 50m Outdoor Pool open year around and green spaces & trees.

Put in submissions to the CoGG online Have Your Say site: https://yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/2023-24-BRRP

Please note submissions close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

Photo by Sarah outside City Hall. Great to see Gideon Haigh there among the crowd supporting adequate Library Funding.