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Rock Off MND is next Saturday January 20^th at Deakin Waterfront. ‘I lost my beautiful wife, Jenny Simko, 55, to the cruel and indiscriminate Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Jen was diagnosed in August 2014 and Rock Off MND was her idea and inspiration.’ I’m talking to Peter Simko. ‘The aim of Rock Off MND is to raise awareness and much needed funds that will go into research of this dreadful disease. This is our fourth event. http://www.rockoffmnd.com.au/

www.facebook.com/rockoffmnd/ ‘There will be three performances at Rock Off MND 2018 in the attractive outdoor courtyard at Deakin Waterfront on Saturday 20^th January. This year we are thrilled to feature Kate Ceberano, Woodlock and Madhouse. We hope you can come along.

‘MND is a progressive terminal neurological disease in which the nerve cells or neurons that control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, swallow and breathe slowly degenerate and eventually stop functioning.

Continue reading “Rock Off MND 2018, Peter” →

‘We’ve been blown away by the response and the interest!’ Those in Geelong and region, suffering from the rare chronic pain condition CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) formerly known as RSD, have a support group that is welcoming and educational. They meet up every month on the first Wednesday and third Saturday at the South Barwon Community Centre in Belmont. We hear from Kate, who with her friend Rose, founded the support group in August 2016. ‘We are sure there are more people with CRPS within the region who would be feeling isolated, not knowing we exist. Please spread the word and SHARE this story.

‘We saw the need for a CRPS support group after a small group that we’d been attending at a private pain clinic ended. I wanted it to be inclusive and open to all in the Geelong region, including caregivers.

‘This is a rare neuro-inflammatory chronic pain condition but we have more than 50 people in the group. Each person thought they were alone and had no idea there were so many of us in just one town. There might be others out there who’d like to join us too.

Continue reading “CRPS Support Group, Kate” →

Globally, 1,800 children under the age of five die every day from diseases linked to poor water, sanitation and hygiene. Georgie Demir, 13, who attends St Ignatius College, Geelong, is doing something in our world to Make a Difference. Please SHARE! In 2017 she travelled to Cambodia with her Mum, volunteering to build a school wash house with Head, Heart and Hand Holidays. Georgie fell in love with the Cambodian kids and wants to return to help them.

‘They don’t have much, but they are so happy. Everyone says ‘arkoun’ which means thank you, that inspired the name of my business,’ Georgie said. She saw the good the building of hand-wash houses does, so thought about starting her own enterprise, Arkoun, to fund more projects.

Georgie was inspired by the video of an American boy who made soaps for the homeless. After much deliberation she decided to make soaps with scents with hints of Cambodia like coconut, orange, jasmine and honey. The names of the soaps are ‘Cambodian Sunshine’, ‘Hello Darkness My Old Friend’, ‘Don’t Be Afraid to Sparkle’ and ‘Bee Kind to Others’. ‘The image on the packaging is from a girl I met at one of the schools. She couldn’t speak English, and I didn’t know Khmer, but we still had a lot of fun and the friendship continues.’

Continue reading “Arkoun, Georgie” →

What is your New Year’s Resolution? Our newest #humansingeelong team member, Mollie Vaughan, tells us hers. ‘After thinking it over, there is nothing that I wanted changed, I was happy were I was and at peace with the thought that at this point in time things were actually o.k.

‘So, my only New Year’s Resolution is to keep giving love to others, to the planet, to everything I do. Because when you give love you will always receive it too.’

Mollie is in her second year studying photography at Deakin University, she is also a passionate activist for the environment.

Tell us your New Year’s Resolution.

Photo of the New Year’s Day sunrise: Mollie Vaughan

1,150 disadvantaged children received a personalised card and $30 gift voucher for Christmas thanks to VIEW – Voice, Interest and Education of Women. I’ve had the pleasure of presenting to each of the four VIEW Clubs around Geelong, so now it’s their turn to talk to us. Together, VIEW Clubs around Australia sponsor over 1,150 disadvantaged students through the Smith Family’s ‘Learning for Life’ Program. The Smith Family believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

The Geelong Evening View Club have 22 members and have been running for about 25 years. The Monday I met them, they were collecting goodies for Christmas for Bethany to pass on to women who are experiencing domestic violence. Gwendy Beck who has been a member since 1995, the year after the Club was formed, had a funny story to share.

Continue reading “VIEW – Voice, Interest & Education of Women” →

Merry Christmas from everyone at #humansingeelong. On Tuesday, a few of the team went along to Bendigo Bank to receive the BIG CHEQUE from Chris Niven and Geelong Connected Communities. It was very much appreciated and put to good use on the 2017 Humans in Geelong Expo. We’d like to thank all our 2017 Expo sponsors Deakin University, City of Greater Geelong and Snap Geelong.

#humansingeelong are a small team of volunteers who report on the ‘good news’ stories of our home town Geelong, and district. The stories are about the everyday locals who are making a difference. Thanks to all the amazing people of #geelong for supporting the #humansingeelong project. Save the date for next year’s Expo Sunday 7^th of October 2018.

Humans in Geelong aim to:

– inspire

– feature locals making a difference

– showcase creativity, sustainable practices, cultural diversity, equity and opportunities

– connect the community

– create a better world

– spread positivity and hope

Please FOLLOW the page, SHARE the page and SHARE the stories.

‘We feel like match makers. We see a whole other world out there. We all know the traditional volunteering roles but it is amazing when you also get to know all the non-traditional roles and the different ways volunteering can help those who are keen to participate and those who offer them places. We want people to enjoy what they are doing, after all, they are doing it for the love of it.’ We caught up with two of the three paid workers at Volunteering Geelong. Alison Duff, 10 years in her role and Lucinda Tucker, 7 years. Volunteering Geelong was established on August 22^nd 2000.

‘We help people who might be new to the area or new to volunteering. There are lots who are over 55 and volunteer 15 hours a week to gain the Newstart allowance. Our ‘Step by Step’ project helps those with disabilities. We also connect people with non-English backgrounds and international students.

Continue reading “Volunteering Geelong, Lucinda & Alison” →

Everyone needs a place where they are able to have a chat with willing and open ears. We also all need a place where bargains and treasures can be found. The St. Luke’s Op Shop, Pride St. is one place that offers both to the Torquay and surrounding community. Many of the customers who go to the shop visit just as much for the company that the friendly staff provide as they do to shop.

Staff is made up of no less than 20 unpaid volunteers who pride themselves in their friendly and cheerful attitudes. Working hard with smiles on their faces, they ensure that their customers get what they need, and that their friendly and efficient reputation is kept at its peak. These volunteers give up their own time to help their community. They are always looking for more volunteers who are ready and willing to help.

Continue reading “Pride St Op Shop, Torquay” →

CREATING A VISION – From September ‘16 to May ‘17, over 16,000 #humansingeelong expressed their aspirations for #geelong and region and how it should evolve over the next 30 years. This involved 162 workshops, event appearances, community meetings and school visits.

At the Our Future Assembly on Saturday 6 May ‘17, 350 people discussed, debated, deliberated and, in the process learnt more about each other’s aspirations, values and goals. Finally, they voted on a community-led vision for Greater Geelong’s future.

The result is a community-led blueprint to be recognised regionally, nationally and internationally, as a Clever and Creative city-region.  A vision document was created capturing how our community want to achieve this vision which includes Greater Geelong’s community-led aspirations, contributing to a clever and creative city-region. The vision document can be found online at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/clevercreative or at any City of Greater Geelong Customer Service centre.

OUR COMMUNITY’S ASPIRATIONS

-a prosperous economy that supports jobs and education opportunities

-creativity drives culture

-a destination that attracts local and international visitors

-an inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected community

-a leader in developing and adopting technology

-a fast, reliable and connected transport network

-people feel safe wherever they are

-sustainable development that supports population growth and protects the natural environment

-development and implementation of sustainable solutions

Continue reading “A Clever Creative Future” →