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“The last day filming at Point Impossible in July, there was a large swell running and I thought I would get as close as possible to waves breaking over rocks. Sure enough, a rogue set of waves hit and I suddenly found myself standing in waist high water holding my camera above my head. I got the shot… and was soaked in the process!”

John Foss is an award winning local filmmaker who has just released his latest short documentary about a significant coastal area in Torquay.

“Respect Point Impossible tells a unique story about a local beach under threat and what people can do to help protect it and the environment. Point Impossible is a very special area under significant threat from development. It also has such a rich history of being abused and then protected by surfers.”

Continue reading “Respect Point Impossible.” →

Ikani Vaitohi is from Tonga and he is a big man with a big heart. He is the Minister at Belmont Uniting Church. He has a wife called Moana (she even looks like the girl in the movie!!) and a bus load of kids. Words to describe Ikani are kind, fun and a wonderful cook!

He loves music very much and noticed some school kids in Geelong were not getting to play an instrument. Ikani set up the Whittington Strings project for children whose families could not afford for their children to play violin or cello. It has been an AMAZING success.

Ikani is making a huge difference in children’s lives. He has a load of LOVE to give.

Story by Anna Wood, from Grade Prep at Christian College Junior School, the winner of the Lower Primary School Section of Humans in Geelong Writing Competition “Discover your Inner Journalist” 2018. Photo: supplied

“’You won’t make a living out of music!’ I’d been told, but here I am living my dream.” How does a boy who grew up on the land in Ceres become one of Geelong’s leading showmen? I was fortunate enough to find out. Meet Joss Russell, the 22 year old who delights audiences at the Piano Bar.

“I love working there, it’s party central and so energetic. I look around the room at everyone’s smiling faces and I feel very proud. I can’t speak highly enough of the Piano Bar. The guys do so much fundraising and it’s a safe, inclusive place where people can come and not be afraid of being the person they are.”

Continue reading “Pianist, Joss Russell” →

Ange Liston-McCaughley is running the New York Marathon on November 4^th, to honour Madison Lyden, a Geelong student who lived with Type1 diabetes and was tragically killed in August when riding a bike in NYC. Ange will wear Madison’s photo on her running singlet as she runs through the streets of NYC. The funds raised will go to honouring Madison’s Legacy and to allow Type1 children to have access to connect with one another.

Ange is the Founder and Director of Geelong based charity The Type1 Foundation. Geelong Mum of 4 children, Ange, ran 10 Marathons in every state around Australia 2 years ago to raise enough funds to start the local charity The Type1 Foundation. Read this story published on our website Nov 4^th 2016. The charity supports families living with Type1 diabetes. It started off small, supporting just 4 families and now supports over 200 families and grows weekly.

Continue reading “New York Marathon, Ange” →

Hi everyone. We care about our futures. Our names are Milou and Harriet, and we are fourteen. We live in Castlemaine and are in Year 8 at school. We have decided to go on strike from school to make our politicians do something about the climate emergency. PLEASE SHARE. We’ve been inspired by Greta Thunberg, a fifteen year old girl in Sweden, who has been striking from school, on Fridays, in front of the Swedish Parliament.

Climate change is one of the biggest problems facing the world and it isn’t being addressed quickly enough. We are striking because in Australia, education is viewed as immensely important, and a key way to make a difference in the world. But just going to school isn’t doing anything about climate change. And it doesn’t seem that our politicians are doing anything, or at least not enough, about climate change either.

Continue reading “#ClimateStrike” →

Liam’s Art is amazing! The Humans in Geelong team and our writer Stephanie Downing are now the proud owners of two of Liam’s artworks. Liam donated “Who needs a Hug?” and $200 raised for Headspace Geelong. The photo shows Humans in Geelong’s Founder Jacqui Bennett with Liam and Sheldan CommEngagement of Headspace.

At the Humans in Geelong Expo, Liam painted “There’s always one”, this painting was raffled and won by Steph, pictured below with her prize. The $220 raised from the raffle went to R U OK Day and their Ambassador Tony McManus presented Liam with a Certificate of Awesomeness at the The Treehouse Cafe Geelong on Monday.

Thanks Liam for your generosity and for raising awareness of the importance of positive mental health. Liam is a 25 year old autistic man who has found art to be his talent and passion. You can read his story which was published on September 23rd.

Photos: Phil Hines

“It’s amazing what people can achieve when they work together!” Glen Munday, Associate Pastor- Community Services, explains how Kardinia Church are an example of people working together to achieve a difference in the Geelong community. They found themselves challenged at a conference a few years ago when asked “Would your community miss you if you weren’t there?”

Rick and Leonie Wright, Senior Pastors at Kardinia Church, responded to that challenge by way of Groundforce – an annual one day landscaping makeover of a local school or community group in need.  Glen has been leading the Groundforce team for the past 5 years.  He describes this colossal effort as “a practical, hands on way can you serve others, that empowers people to make difference in the community.”

Continue reading “Groundforce” →

Preferring (humbly) to talk about Geelong’s community spirit and resilience, Andrew Balaam: Special Projects / Advisor for Cottage By The Sea, has, over many years, willingly experienced and achieved plenty for Geelong.

Known fondly by the Costa family as Andrew ‘The Magnificent’, Andrew has been involved in numerous community organisations- all philanthropic pursuits-inspired by his parents and, has been an advisor to Frank Costa and many other prominent figures in Geelong. Andrew is currently on the board for Samaritan House and Ambassador for SecondBite.

Continue reading “Andrew Balaam” →

“A weekend to remember” is planned for 60 women who are coming from all over Australia to Geelong. It’s the third Women’s Brain Cancer Retreat run by Geelong group Peace of Mind who offer brain cancer support. The group are made up of sufferers and carers. They’ll be staying at the stunning Waurn Ponds Retreat at Deakin University.

Our community have pitched in to make this a special treat for the girls. The Torquay Rotary Club are cooking a BBQ which will be held at our picturesque Eastern Beach. For those who are up for a party, we are heading in to town to the Piano Bar and other venues.

On Saturday after an optional early morning yoga session, pampering begins. Up to 40 professionals are volunteering their time to deliver massage, foot baths, spray tanning, nails, hair, makeup etc. Lunch is on Café Palat and hosted by Beavs.

Continue reading “Women’s Retreat for Brain Cancer.” →

The Heart of It … How genU Training Helped Launch Lisa’s Dream… When Lisa decided to go back to study last year and enroll in a Certificate IV in Disability with genU Training, she said the timing was right for her. Her children were teenagers and she was keen to retrain, and get up-to-date with current frameworks.

“I had done all my training with Karingal (now genU) and I never wanted to use another provider. I didn’t look at anyone else because I knew the outcomes were good and I knew they were supportive.” www.genutraining.org.au

Lisa said that the support of her trainer gave her a solid foundation to build from. The course was also immediately accessible to her with flexible study hours and inexpensive enrollment fees.

Continue reading “genU training, a pathway to work.” →