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Terri had been caring for her father who, sadly, had terminal cancer. She was also caring for her teenage brother and her two small children. That meant she wasn’t able to work, but that doesn’t stop the bills from piling up.

They were on the verge of homelessness when Bethany Community Support started supporting her family with housing.

The Geelong Giving Tree Appeal provided Terri a huge relief that Christmas. She couldn’t have been more grateful for the gifts her two children received.

“I’m grateful and thankful to the community who made my kids smile. They were so happy with their gifts, and it gave me a huge relief that I didn’t have to stress about Christmas.”

Continue reading “The Geelong Giving Tree.” →

National Day of Action on Gas – Shoe Strike. Please come and please SHARE! Join in this national event as our community shows its desire for Climate Action.

Environmental groups have been very busy advocating to Local, State and Federal Governments to take climate action and hope that you can support this work by joining them for a ‘Shoe Strike’ to show your disapproval of the ‘gas-led recovery’ and desire to see a swift transition towards renewable energy.

Please bring and leave: a pair of shoes and a small sign or note to express how you feel about the ‘Gas-led recovery’ and why you want to see renewable energy supported and delivered now.

Please register to attend here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2772734566307758 and SHARE this with your networks.

Continue reading “Shoe Strike.” →

“The MY STORY Project is one of the City of Greater Geelong’s key events in celebration of International Day of People with Disability 2020. It is an opportunity for people with a lived experience of disability and mental health to find their own voice and ‘tell their own story in their own way’.

“To ensure that the project was inclusive to all, stories have been told through words, paintings, digital imagery, photography, sound, music, movement and film. The project included 119 participants, aged between 15 and 82, seven mentors from a range of professions and creative disciplines, and four key regional stakeholders.

“The result is an extraordinary collection of multi-media ‘stories’ from people who share their voice, vision and insight into living life with the experience of disability and mental health challenges.” From the City’s website.

View the diverse range of stories and art disciplines at https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/mystoryproject/default.aspx

International Day of People with Disability 2020 is Thursday December 3^rd.

Artwork by team member Brandon Dellow.

Warm Safe Home project. “My youngest daughter, when she was little, was as cheeky as they come. When she wrapped her little arms around me it was the best feeling in the world.

“She started taking money here and there. She said it would help pay my bills. And then she was asking for more. And then the bank rang. I didn’t think this could happen to me. It was her sister that said something in the end.

“Elder abuse is hard to picture but it happens every day. What starts out small doesn’t stay that way for long.” Story based on a true story of elder abuse from the Respect Victoria – Respect Older People Call It Out Campaign

The Barwon Warm Safe Home project is a community art project about taking a stand against elder abuse in our community.  We are inviting community members to harness their inner artist and help us make 1,000 crafted houses. (as pictured here)

Continue reading “Warm Safe Home Project.” →

We’re thrilled with the video that @breatheablueocean made for the Humans in Geelong Online Expo. It is a compilation of his inspiring and thoughtful beach artworks, photographed by @Adam Stan Photography. Ed talks to us about motivation and inspiration. He also explains how he constructs the artwork during the night, it takes a couple of hours and he uses only a single implement, no ropes or guides. It remains on the beach for a few hours before the tide washes it away.

The full video can be viewed on Humans in Geelong’s Youtube along with over 120 diverse, inspring videos that made up the Online Expo 2020.

Breatheablueocean’s story can be found on our website at https://humansingeelong.com/2020/08/21/breathe-a-blue-ocean-ed/

You can follow him on Instagram @breatheablueocean and view is artwork, early in the morning along the Bellarine or Surfcoast.

Sharing the traditional Persian recipes she once cooked with her mum has been a “dream come true” for one of Geelong’s newest restauranteurs, Somi Adh.

Growing up in Iran, Somi remembers that whenever she had playdates with cousins or friends, she would always pretend that she was running a restaurant and serving up delicious food.

“From the age of nine or ten I cooked with my mother, learning authentic Persian recipes that had been handed down for generations,” Somi says.

Somi worked as a chef for many years, both in Iran and Australia, but it wasn’t until this year that Somi, together with husband Harry, opened their first restaurant.

Continue reading “Somi Adh, Restauranteur.” →

Snags and Keith… where to start? We’ve had Snags for 9 years, he’s the wise old man of the pair. Keith is the rambunctious little pocket rocket that came in to turn our world upside down. The first week we had him, we were convinced we’d made a horrible mistake in getting another dog, Snags was extremely unimpressed, to put it lightly. But they are now literally inseparable, with Snags discovering a whole new lease on life. That was just over a year ago.

The pair provide us with joyous daily entertainment and have managed to introduce us to a whole range of new people, via social media, but also there isn’t a walk we go on that we aren’t stopped countless times for pats and chats.

Continue reading “Snags and Keith.” →

Everyone is doing it tough this year and that’s why our friends at the Rotary Club of Kardinia have creatively thought of a fundraiser that will not only help raise much-needed funds for our local community, but it will also support local small businesses. Geelong Gourmet Goodies.

They’ve designed, beautifully presented gift boxes full of Geelong’s local tasty treats. These are a great gift for Christmas or otherwise, for family, friends, staff or clients. There are two sizes to choose from $80 or $120. Be assured the funds raised will support Rotary projects here & abroad.

The gift boxes are available immediately and you can place orders up until November 30^th. The Club are offering free delivery within 50kms of Geelong CBD. Deliveries will be in early December or you can arrange for them to be earlier. Any queries please call Phil 0408 323 430.

To order and for the full list of all the delicious goodies, go to their website:

https://kardiniarotary.org.au/page/geelong-gourmet-goodies

How easy is that?

The Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools (GVFS) presents the inaugural ‘Art for Timor’ Art Exhibition.

‘Art for Timor’ celebrates the unique connection the Geelong community holds with the district of Viqueque in Timor-Leste. GVFS is proud to have maintained a strong connection with the people of Viqueque since the organisation’s establishment in 2008. The focus of GVFS activities is to improve educational opportunities for the Viqueque community.

‘Art for Timor’ opens at the Rachinger Gallery at the Eastern Community Hub:

                        Address: 285a McKillop Street (corner of Humble Street),
                                       East Geelong, Victoria 3219 

                        Open: 2-28 November 2020

                                    Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

                                    Saturdays 9am to 2pm

Continue reading “Art for Timor.” →

No need to advertise this service in Ocean Grove. Success spreads like wildfire! People keep coming and Luke helps them. He worked as a youth social worker, then with Bush and Beach Outreach for twelve years. There was minimal progress and Luke’s strong feelings told him to let it go. He knew he had much more to give in the area of disadvantaged people who were suffering little self-worth.

In his early days, Luke lived in the Corio and Norlane area, with life experience on the not so good side. This prompted him to study practical youth work, and he continued on to achieve a Diploma with Praxis. This involved overnight respite for families with disability and depression. Luke lived amongst the community on the fringe. During this time, he built a strong relationship with people who respected him, and that relationship still remains. He also worked in Foster Care with McKillop Family Services. Luke would like to add “there are kids out there who won’t have a home for Christmas. If any families would consider Foster Care, please get in touch with McKillop Family Services.”

Continue reading “Luke Whatman” →