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“A minor disability should not be a reason for deportation. Let our family and our little son, Adyan stay in our hometown Geelong. PLEASE SHARE and sign our Change.org petition to let us stay here: http://chng.it/QwXm2VcB2T We love Geelong and Australia, and think of it as our home. I have completed my PhD in engineering here, and my wife who was a doctor in Bangladesh is becoming a registered GP here. We are hardworking, self-sufficient parents who have built a life for our son in this beautiful country, we will have the means to pay for any physio that Adyan requires.

“Adyan was born in Geelong on 26 December 2013, our own Boxing Day miracle. Due to a mild stroke that he suffered during delivery, Adyan lives with a minor disability, mainly in his left hand. Because of this, the Government is trying to deport our entire family to Bangladesh.

Continue reading “Let Adyan and family stay.” →

“Diwali means a social gathering, I get in touch with all my relatives including distant ones and closer ones. In India we celebrate in a different fashion, we go to the houses of neighbours and give special sweets. It’s a holiday for everyone, I’d compare it to Christmas for Christians.

“Deakin has been celebrating Diwali for 11 years and I appreciate being able to celebrate here with my friends in our cultural dresses. The best part is that all of Deakin and community get to see what Diwali is about. We’re pleased to be able to educate the community on what Diwali is and its significance for Indians.” Quote from Sanjay Sharma who’s studying a Masters of Engineering at Deakin University and is a member of Study Geelong. He is pictured here with friend, Priyanka Polagani who’s studying a Masters of Cyber security.

Diwali originated in India and is one of the most popular dates on the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and takes place each year after the harvest, to coincide with the new moon. The exact dates change each year. Diwali 2019 falls on Sunday 27th October. It takes place annually and lasts for five days, marking the start of the Hindu New Year.

The word Diwali (or Deepavali ) means “row of lights” in Sanskrit, the Ancient language of India. People decorate their homes with lights and oil lamps, called diyas. For many people, Diwali honours the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. It is believed the lights help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come.

We have video footage of the Geelong Bollywood Dance Group on our facebook and instagram. https://tinyurl.com/yyqwre5c

Story and photo: Jacqui Bennett.

We’d like to share quotes collected from some of the sustainability/environmental groups and individuals who participated in the Humans in Geelong Expo at Deakin Waterfront on Sunday 6th October 2019.

• Ocean Minds

“The oceans are our playground, they’re where we come to heal. If we don’t protect them, we’re not protecting ourselves.”- Rachel Parker, Ocean Minds.

• Fridays For Future

“All of science says we’re headed for extinction. Even if we don’t change anything, we have to at least try.” – Ron Fletcher, Fridays for Future

• The Farm Next Door

A community garden in Norlane that provides spray free organic produce that is half price to locals with the aim of reducing food miles.

“It’s nice to see arts, crafts and community groups from around Geelong coming together.” – Christy, pictured below in read more.

Continue reading “Quotes from Sustainability groups, Expo 2019.” →

Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s violence. It allows women and their communities to come together to speak out against violence and to celebrate strength.

Last night Reclaim the Night was held in Geelong, to launch the Barwon Month of Action. The aim is to raise awareness and stop Men’s violence towards women and children. There are many events and all are welcome. https://www.monthofaction.com.au/

Let’s make violence against women history! This year the Barwon Month of Action wants to challenge the violent history of silencing women. HERSTORY aims to elevate the voices of women both past and present and will recognise and celebrate women of our First Nation, women of all backgrounds and cultures, their stories, their struggles and their achievements.

It was great to see so many at Reclaim the Night, including students from Clonard College.

“Climate change is having a huge impact around the globe now. This is no future holocaust (although things will get worse). As sea levels rise, we are starting to see more coastal impacts around Australia. Scientists have been predicting the impact of Climate Change for 30 years. Today we are seeing those impacts almost on a daily basis.” We hear from John Foss, award winning filmmaker and member of the Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch.

“North of Newcastle little Stockton Beach has been hit by a series of ocean storms that have eroded its beach. A local childcare centre next to the beach has been shut while roads and houses are also at risk of falling into the ocean.

“Port Beach near Fremantle has also been hit by storms that have closed beach restaurants and carparks. The scenario is familiar. Sea storms hitting the coast during high tides is leading to significant erosion taking away the sand that protects coastal infrastructure. Our sea levels may only be rising by 5mm a year but we are starting to see real impacts on king tides during storm events.

Continue reading “Climate Change, John Foss.” →

“Dad, what are you thinking? You’re 71. You can’t start a tour company.”

The ducks weren’t lining up that day. No business background. No tourism background.

In fact, not much more than a belief that this was something that I could do.

I drove for Uber for a while and was surprised at the number of people trying to head to a couple of wineries but couldn’t find a tour operator or service that could accommodate their needs.

Enter ‘yours truly’. I did some research and decided that this was not only possible, but also needed.

At least that‘s what I thought and it was enough to get me going.

Continue reading “Elwyn Davies.” →

“I’m not sure how I would have got through those months and years without HOPE.”

“It was a necessity for me to cope with what had happened and what was ahead.”

“I was so grateful that HOPE was available to attend.”

Hope Bereavement Care (HOPE) is a Geelong based not for profit offering free information, support and counselling when grieving the death of a baby or child, the sudden and unexpected death of an adult and those experiencing the loss after suicide.

Continue reading “Hope for the Future.” →

Active and energetic, living life by positive affirmations for herself and others, and inspiring the community through her enlightening and uplifting personality. This is Irene. “I was born in a small town called Ngweshe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I did not see or spend much time in my homeland. All I remember is disturbing stories of war told by my parents, and the difficulties they experienced handling five children under the age of 5 during the war. I grew up in a small town called Muchatha in Kenya.

“My childhood was tough and I never could be able to compare my difficult life in Kenya to the privileged life most Australian kids have.  After 10 years of hardship and struggles in Kenya, my family was accepted to come to Australia.

“We arrived in Geelong in September 2010. Being in Australia has enabled me to fulfil my education dreams I once dreamt of as a little girl. I am currently in my third year at Deakin University, studying a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Teaching (Secondary).

Continue reading “Irene Mombi Bakulikira.” →

Jake Langenegger volunteered as photographer at the Humans in Geelong Expo on Sunday. There’s a lovely story behind it. He’d been a student at Fyans Park Primary School where our chief volunteer photographer Phil Hines use to be Principal.
One day while Phil was inside the fence, taking photos of the Geelong Cats game at Kardinia Park. Jake leaned towards the fence and called out. ‘G’day Mr Hines. That’s where I want to be one day.’
When our star photographer wasn’t available to take shots at the Expo, he thought of Jake. We love giving opportunities to up and coming stars! Thanks for the stunning photos Jake, we are happy to give you a reference anytime and hopefully be a pathway to work.
Thanks to all our volunteer photographers at the Expo. We couldn’t have done it without you. Here are the links to their beautiful photos. Please share and credit the photographer.

Photos by volunteer photographer Jake Langenegger https://drive.google.com/open?id=12w7_PQBfX8ti9gzTJkUMLlNPSkOZjJtM

Photos by our talented team member Vic Downey. https://photos.app.goo.gl/mr5UYwp5omN71mF1A

Photos by volunteer photographer Jade Craven of Geelong Street Photography who has volunteered at all three Expos. https://www.flickr.com/…/1559008…/sets/72157711223951212

Thanks for generously sharing your photos Michael Chambers of the Surf Coast Times. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A7bUyGacYIyyAFkL45rGlI7bZbX2o1bx

Photo of Widya Luvtari Indonesian Dancer taken by Jake Langenegger.

Geelong artist Shamana Seery radiates a positive force, as do her paintings, which she will display at the Humans in Geelong Expo on tomorrow, Sunday October 6, 10-3pm at Deakin Waterfront. She will be one of 50 exhibitors: artists, authors, creatives, sustainability groups, action groups and community groups. Come and celebrate all things great Geelong!

Shamana has been painting for 17 years and has trained as an art therapist, intentional creativity coach for women and a primary teacher. Despite her years of creative experience academically and practically, Shamana is studying Visual Arts at Gordon TAFE this year, motivated to add jewellery making, print making and sculpture to her skill set.

Continue reading “Homage to Colour, Shamana Seery.” →