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“I joined Victoria Police in 1988 after completing year 12 at St Joseph’s College. It was all I wanted to do growing up and I’m very thankful for the opportunities policing has provided me”. It was a pleasure hearing from the humble, dedicated Inspector Brett Harman.

In his 30+ year policing career, he’s worked in a diverse range of roles including road policing, intelligence and covert support, strategic planning, general policing and emergency and major event management.

During his career Brett was seconded to Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission, to Vic Roads International providing technical expertise to a road safety capacity building program in Vietnam and also to the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in an advisory role assisting the Indonesian National Police.

Between 2017-19, Brett and his wife Rhonnie moved to Geneva, Switzerland where he took on the role of senior policing advisor for the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), a hosted program of the International Federation of Red Cross. The position saw him providing technical expertise to various governments and enforcement agencies in low-and-middle-income countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America supporting the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS). In 2019, the success of GRSP’s program saw the team awarded the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its successful capacity building program.

Continue reading “Brett Harman, GRSP.” →

Old sneakers to help others. Donate your preloved or new sports shoes by dropping them off at the City’s Leisuretime Sports Precinct in Norlane.

Shoes in reasonable condition, will be passed on to people who need them, providing aspiring athletes with the appropriate footwear to participate in the sports they love.

This initiative comes about because the City of Greater Geelong has joined Lazy Sneakers to bring its sneaker bank project to the region, its first location outside of New Zealand.

Local business The Running Company Geelong has kicked off the initiative by donating 40 pairs of runners.

Photo supplied. Jacques Verstraten from The Running Company Geelong, Cr Belinda Moloney and Thewin Robertson, City student intern and Lazy Sneaker ambassador.

“This all started when I finally realized that the party lifestyle was taking its toll on me. After witnessing a number of suicides in my early 20s, I began the slow path towards a healthier lifestyle. It was out in nature, out in the elements where I really started to get to know myself. The cold of winter was what grounded me.

“I was born and raised in Geelong, but I lived in Melbourne for 7 years. That’s where I started to immerse myself in the health and wellness scene. Melbourne was full of communities that were that were doing great things for the world, and I learnt so much. But it didn’t have the natural beauty and charm of Geelong. The coast, the calmness. So eventually I came back and started Cold + Conscious.

“Cold + Conscious is a way to step out of your comfort zone, in a controlled supportive environment. I’d been to many events similar to this while living in Melbourne and personally found the benefits to be life changing. When I started it here, I didn’t want it to just be a once-in-a-blue-moon event for people who could afford it. I wanted it to be accessible to everybody, and consistent enough so that people could add it to their regular wellness routine, just like a yoga or fitness class.

“By challenging ourselves on a regular basis, surrounded by people that are ready to help us out no matter what, we create a safe environment for personal growth. I believe that if more of us do that, we’ll be able to have a real positive impact on the world.

Continue reading “Cold + Conscious.” →

“Through our line of work, we found there was an enormous need among children who couldn’t access NDIS support. That’s why we founded The Joey Project.

“The Joey Project, started in February this year. We’d looked in to Big Brother, Big Sister and ended up creating The Joey Project because we wanted to offer these kids help from trained providers. We wanted to help kids with their behaviours at an early stage.

“We are running a pilot program and running research alongside this to make sure it is making a difference.

“To access support, email The Joey Project then we’ll go from there. It’s for 7-17 year olds. We are also looking for volunteers. joeyproject@abilitydn.com

“I’m really proud that we have so many people who are really passionate about what we are offering.”

Kayla of Ability Disability Networks goes on to explain. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be able to help whomever I could, however I could. This includes fundraising, volunteering or participating in community events.

Continue reading “The Joey Project.” →

5 years ago, Jennifer Chiu made a decision that changed her life. She saw a post on Facebook by a friend promoting the Otway Rotaract Club, a fledgling club at the time. She had never heard of Rotaract, but the chance to engage with people of a similar age who wanted to do good in the community and come together in friendship, was enticing. So, she went along to a meeting and joined up.

Now, she has been nominated for a Westfield Local Hero Award for her role as local branch leader for the charity Eat Up. The project has so far fed 6,000 students in 6 Colac district schools. The project engages volunteers from different sectors of the community to make sandwiches for marginalised children who would otherwise go hungry at school.

Otway Rotaract runs a number of hands-on community service activities including an annual Mothers’ Day Appeal for preloved children’s clothing and related goods, which are provided to Geelong Mums.

But it is not just the social action that Jennifer enjoys. Participating in Rotaract has helped to develop her self-confidence. At the time of joining, she considered her skills set to be narrow, focused on communication and media. However, through Rotaract she has been supported to develop her personal and professional skills.

Continue reading “Jennifer Chiu.” →

‘My partner David was diagnosed with a GBM (Brain Cancer) in 2016. At the time we were both working full time and leading very happy, busy lives. Our worlds changed completely after his surgery, with me becoming his carer for the 14 months of his illness, something I did willingly as I didn’t think anyone could take care of him as well as me!’ We hear from Peace of Mind volunteer and Humans in Geelong team member, Bronwyn Haskell. You can help by voting for Bronwyn to be a Westfield Local Hero, link below.

“During that time, I learnt how difficult and isolating having brain cancer can be, with little or no support in Tasmania. Sadly, David passed away in 2017 and I moved to Geelong to be near my family.

Bronwyn was keen to help others who are facing the Brain Cancer Journey. She found Geelong based Peace of Mind Foundation which offers support to families in this situation. Since then, she’s helped over 235 families deal with a devastating brain cancer diagnosis.

She uses her lived experience to lead online and face-to-face support groups. She recently formed a bereavement support group for women who have lost their partner.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. If Bronwyn is successful, the Peace of Mind Foundation will use its funds to cover the costs of a retreat for 30 carers, counselling sessions and the bereavement support group.

Vote for Bron before August 30th. It’s quick and easy. Here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/4f479v7j

Thanks, Bron for being an inspiration and also a huge support within the Humans in Geelong team.

Photo: supplied.

Surfers do more than just surf!

Here’s a shout out to all the activists in wet suits! You are the epitome of peaceful protest.

We’ve seen before our locals in the Surfrider Foundation help raise awareness about big oil companies intending to drill in our valuable marine environment, and Government funded gas exploration right around our beautiful coastline. Well, the fight continues to save some pretty amazing places including King Island in Bass Strait, and the 12 Apostles just down the road. 

You don’t have to be a surfer to care about the ocean environment, and if you find yourself feeling like you might not want to support fossil fuel exploration, take 3 minutes to follow one of the links below, sign an online petition, or read about what like-minded others are doing to take action. 

https://pat.ag/ThirteenthApostleOpposed

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/protesters-take-to-water-over-king-island-oil-and-gas-search-20210815-p58ix0.html

Photo: supplied, of surfers in Corio Bay last Sunday, showing the seismic testing ship that was heading to King Island, what they thought.

“To all my Afghan family and friends” from Obaid Jamshidi. “We are going through some of the darkest days in our life. A lot of things are racing through our minds in the last couple of days or weeks – what will happen to the future of our generation with Taliban being in power and what will happen to our hard work over the last 20 years and everything we have achieved is going backwards in a matter of a week.

“I have never ever felt that I will be this upset about Afghanistan. However, here we are.

“Watching the devastating situation rapidly developing over our beloved Afghanistan.

“I don’t want to focus on the political side of this issue. However, let me remind you that Afghanistan has long history of conflicts by foreign affairs. Many tried to control the country but failed; from Greeks, to the Persian, Mongols, Sikh, Soviet, British and even to the American and now back to the Taliban.

“This cycle will continue due to the geographical location of the country and its wealth of natural minerals.

“Let me reassure you that at the end of the tunnel there is light. So please don’t give up, don’t lose hope, don’t panic and most importantly don’t lose your temper. We are well educated now and we have learned a lot from the past.

Continue reading “Obaid Jamshidi.” →

“I never imagined I would find myself homeless. I am an articulate, well educated, professional who has worked as a teacher, security guard and in the welfare sector. I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness in a single parent household.

“At age eleven, I came out to my mum. The response I received was to pray and study harder because my sexuality was not acceptable in the Jehovah’s Witness religion.

“I developed feelings of shame, guilt, isolation, and of not really fitting in or belonging. Over the years I’ve worked hard to change my mindset and become comfortable in my own skin, which in 2015 led me to write and publish a book to help others. I won’t play the victim. I’m going to use my lived experiences as catalysts for change, serving to empower others to be their change.

Continue reading “Catalyst for Change, Lisa.” →

“When I was young, I endured physical and psychological abuse, which resulted in serious trauma. This led to a spiral downwards of alcohol and drug abuse, and mental health issues. But I’ve been able to turn this around.” Dylan Chidley, of Salty Sundays tells us more.

“I’d been working in the mining industry, where I was set up for life, earning an attractive salary, but I felt dead inside. I threw it in, to spread the strength of the power of the mind, clean living and physical activity. I started a Personal Training business called Universal Strength that serviced people in getting strong physically but also mentally, focusing on mental health. Lockdowns saw the end to this business. I’m working a trade now, but I needed to connect with others who wanted more from life. Salty Sundays has been the answer.

“I have successfully beaten cancer twice and overcome a brutal bone marrow transplant. It’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which is Leukemia’s little brother. I know a combination of mental strength, physical strength, healthy diet and supplements helps. If you don’t truly believe you’ll get better, then you won’t get better. I have a very firm belief that the mind controls our every cell. I’ve shared every step of this journey via @sweetchillidilly.

“Salty Sundays started about 4 months ago with me jumping in to the freezing water off the swimming enclosure at Easter Beach. I believe it’s a great way to reset your mind by making the cold your friend.

Continue reading “Salty Sundays.” →