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WILD (Women in Local Democracy) is establishing a new Network, Empowering Women 50/50 to reach the State Government target of gender parity at the next Council elections.

The Network will be chaired by City of Great Geelong Councillor, Dr Belinda Moloney, and launched by Dr Niki Vincent, Victoria’s Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, at an early evening event at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Thursday, 30 September – please save the date.

WILD invites you to join this exciting initiative.

We are aiming for 100+ Network members of both progressive women candidates and supporters by the launch date, and building to 1,000 in the lead up to the October 2024 elections.  In this way we will demonstrate strong community-wide support for gender equality in Council representation.

WILD hopes you will join the Network, and also encourages you to promote membership of the Network with friends/colleagues/neighbours who support the achievement of gender parity on Councils by 2025.  Please feel free to forward to others who might be interested.

If you would like to be part of this exciting initiative to achieve gender parity on Councils please email your name, phone number and email address to wildgeelong@gmail.com

Photo supplied. WILD committee: Maria Bohan, Mahnaz Khan and Priscilla Pescott.

“Being out on the streets has depressed me at times. I was born in Apollo Bay, grew up there, went to school there. I worked on a dairy farm for a while, did roadworks and Council work.

“I think the most significant challenge was getting use to not having my parents around. They use to help me out at times if I needed it.

“After I lost my parents, it made me realise, ‘I have to do all this on my own’. I had a job working on King Island at the meat works. Before the redundancy happened, I thought I’d be sticking that one out until retirement. The redundancy threw a spanner in the works. I ended up in Geelong staying at a friend’s but that didn’t work out.

“Just a couple of bad breaks and you are out on your butt, out on the streets, with a back pack on, thinking, ‘what am I going to do now?’ The worst thing for me, and a lot of homeless, is finding somewhere to camp for the night, out of the weather and all.

“I’ve found an abandoned house with a shed out the back. I have a mattress, couple of blankets and a pillow, it is somewhere to go back to. At least I’m not camped in the mall or in a street somewhere. How long that’ll last, I’m not sure.

Continue reading “Lazarus Community Centre, Les.” →

Would you like to see a miniature railway in North Geelong? Geelong Miniature Railway Inc and the Lions Club of Corio Norlane Inc, have come together, and joined forces to make this happen. This exciting and unique project will provide an affordable outdoor family recreational activity within a safe and inviting environment. The miniature railway would be a 7 ¼ inch and 5 inch passenger carrying railway.

The miniature railway site will offer a place for people from all socio-economic demographics to participate and forget life’s trudges for a while. Geelong Miniature railway plans to construct a fully equipped fabrication workshop, which will allow us to teach and train the wider Community trade-based skills from welding, metal fabrication, electronics, spray painting, small engine repairs, and much more…

Involvement in the project will minimize the issues of isolation, loneliness and depression among interested members from our community.

Both Clubs have a great interest in our youth and want to engage with local youth and teach them trade skills on and off local high school campuses. Skills learnt through the project, will give students an advantage, when applying for trade-based apprenticeships and employment.

Continue reading “Miniature Railway.” →

‘What I have been preparing to say is, that in wilderness is the preservation of the world.’ HD Thoreau

“I moved to Geelong from the United Arab Emirates in 2017.  I was happy to discover the mangrove forests at Barwon Heads and began to learn the history of the land around my new home.  I researched how the mangrove landscapes of the Port Phillip and coastal fringe areas were irrevocably transformed by colonial occupation.  I also discovered that such change has caused a loss of biodiversity that unfortunately is now a feature of Australia’s ecology.” Zahidah Zeytoun Millie tells us more.  

“Mangroves – Vanguards of the Sea.  Ecologically important in linking land and sea, mangroves are part of Nature’s wilderness.  The estuarine forests along northern Australia’s coastline are at risk, as stated by the Australian Government, Department of Environment and Energy.  In southern Australia, though, where wilderness areas have suffered all so greatly, mangrove forests are rarely noticed or celebrated.  A common perception of the beauty of the Victorian coastline is white sandy beaches, not an estuarine forest of mangrove trees.  Searching tourism and environment websites of the Barwon Heads region where mangroves surround Lake Connewarre I find information about ocean greens relating to golf clubs and white sandy beaches for surfing, swimming, or walking.  One can be amazed by plants like bull kelp, sandstone arches and sponge gardens, yet nothing about mangroves. 

Continue reading “Mangroves from the Water, Exhibition.” →

“Last year, the statistics show that there were 3,318 suicide deaths in Australia. 75% of these deaths were males. Play On has been inspired by Abraham Knox. We hope to make a difference. The event is scheduled for August 15th or when Covid rules allow. All males are welcome at this event.

“There will be a traditional Welcome to Country and ceremony. Guest Speaker and Ice Bath facilitator, Mark Kluwer, will share with us breathing techniques that can be used to connect mind and body, which builds physical and mental strength. Ice Bath optional.

“Facilitator, Joel Hines, brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, in regards to teaching different techniques and exercises that we can use as blokes to change the way we view and discuss mental health.

“Guest speaker, Boh Evans, will share his story about his own battle with mental health and the loss of his nephew Abraham Knox. You can read Boh’s earlier story here: https://humansingeelong.com/2021/04/29/just-breathe/

“To finish off the day there will be delicious roast free range pork from Catherine Farm and 100% grass fed beef from Brooklands Free Range Farms, Blampied, Central Highlands, Vic.

“All profits from this event will be donated to Hope Bereavement Care Geelong, a not-for-profit organisation based in Geelong offering free information, support and counselling when grieving the death of a child, the sudden and unexpected death of an adult, and those experiencing loss after suicide.

“Due to the subject that will be discussed, parental discretion is advised. Come on men get behind this great initiative and be a part of keeping Abe’s legacy alive.”

From the Play On team. Photo supplied.

Humans in Geelong love a chance for artistic talent to shine, especially  in our local area, so if you’re a First Nations artist, here’s an opportunity not to miss!

Geelong Arts Centre are looking for First Nations artists to have their creations be part of the  centre’s redeveloped spaces.. but be quick as applications close 5pm next Thursday 29 July 2021! 

Find out more at   https://geelongartscentre.org.au/news/calling-all-first-nations-artists-and-creators/

Yes, I’m a tree hugger! I always get excited to see that National Tree Day is coming up. This year the school’s Tree Day is next Friday 30^th of July. I’ve planted thousands of trees over the years with students at Leopold Primary School and now Highton Primary School.

National Tree Day, City of Greater Geelong planting, has been rescheduled to Sunday August 29th.

The City of Greater Geelong holds community tree planting on the Sunday. With the assistance from the community the aim is to plant 3,500 trees along the large section of the Ted Wilson Trail at the rear of Haines Reserve. The address is 1a Wilks Street, Hamlyn Heights, VIC 3215

You can find out more and register here: https://treeday.planetark.org/site/10025503

It’s always great to see families working together planting trees.

Organisers tell us “Dress according to weather condition. Hat, sunscreen, gloves & appropriate foot wear. Lions Club will be in attendance with a sausage sizzle and refreshments along with Blood Toyota Geelong who are a major sponsor of Planet Ark National Tree Day & Barwon Water.

“Come for an hour or come all day and enjoy being a part of protecting the future.”

Photo supplied.

“Everyone is very impressed that 4 boys have worked so hard on their Gender Equality project.” I’m talking to Brock, Jarrod, Michael and David from Grade 6 at Northern Bay’s Tallis Street Campus. The Grade 6s are participating in the Kids Thrive Program. The students form small groups, inquire in to those in need and formulate a way to help. 

Brock tells us more. “There’s a Cultural Diversity group who are collecting food for the Food Bank to help the culturally diverse in need. An Animals group are supplying snuggle blankets to Geelong Animal Welfare Service (GAWS). Another group is collecting clothes and blankets for Geelong Mums who support families in need.

“The Kids Thrive Program raises awareness for helping and caring for others. Our group is about Gender Equality and I can relate to that because I have two younger sisters. We investigated and found out that some girls miss school if they don’t have the sanitary items they need. My little sister adores school and I wouldn’t want to see her, or anyone like her, missing out.

Continue reading “Kids Thrive 2021.” →

“It is wonderful to see these connections being formed, and families from both schools look forward to the zoom calls each week.” Kardinia International College Principal, Catherine Lockhart, describes the benefits of the school’s ‘Homestay GoKIC’ Virtual Homestay Experience.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international student exchange programmes have been unable to run as usual, so ‘Homestay GoKIC’ provides an innovative alternative. Kardinia International College students are connecting with students from Kardinia’s sister school, Gotemba Nishi High School in Japan, through a virtual homestay experience called ‘Homestay GoKIC’. Through weekly Zoom calls, Kardinia International College and Gotemba Nishi High School families learn about each other’s schools, food and everyday life.

Kardinia International College was founded by the late Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata, who was the owner of Gotemba Nishi High School. Gotemba Nishi High School Vice Principal, Mr Takahiro Katsumata is the grandson of Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata and a member of Kardinia International College’s Board.  The two schools share a strong bond, through student exchange and study tour programs, but with international travel suspended, the schools decided to continue these important student cultural experiences online.

Continue reading “Kardinia International College’s virtual homestay experience.” →

Wally Conron has worked with animals for most of his 92 years, and keeps four horses at his home in the Barrabool Hills.  Wally, along with Sally Miller and Pom MacKenzie, who learned to ride with him, told this story of ‘Ladies’ Day’

Wally:  When I moved to Geelong 30 years ago, the Barwon Valley Pony Club invited me to be a riding instructor. I thought it unfair that the mothers were expected to just lead their children’s ponies around.

So when one of the mothers approached me tentatively and murmured, ‘I was wondering if you could teach me horse riding?’I hesitated-because teaching an adult beginner is not a simple matter. For one thing, they don’t bounce like kids do when they fall.

She walked away thinking I was refusing her request, but her dejected air got the better of me.  I asked her to come to my place, and explained that I teach horsemanship, not just riding.

‘It’s no good riding if you can’t saddle up and don’t know how to treat your mount.  You’ll learn to approach a horse confidently, then you’ll put on the head collar.  After that, you’ll lead the horse, standing at its shoulder, and you’ll learn to groom it. Then,’ I concluded, ‘you’ll be ready to put on its saddle and bridle.’

The word got around and before long I had several enthusiastic women wanting to join what I began to call my ‘Ladies’ Day.’

Continue reading “Ladies Day.” →