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‘A friend said to me “If you had a heart attack, they’d find a replacement for St Mary’s by the next day but they wouldn’t be able to replace you at Lifeboat”. That got me thinking and eventually I came to the decision to move from Geelong. I have been asked to go to the (just slightly) smaller parish of St Simon the Apostle at Rowville, and I should have a little more time to continue my important role with Lifeboat. I believe it is vital that the people using this support group are given support from someone who is in the Church.’ I was very privileged to meet and interview Father Kevin Dillon. A name that keeps coming up as he has made extensive contributions to our community including working with Anam Cara House Geelong to establish a palliative care and respite centre in the former Presbytery (priests’ home) at St. Mary’s and helping to initiate the crisis accommodation centre for homeless men ,  Samaritan House.

Lifeboat Geelong was founded by Fr Dillon in 2013, with a strong committee including survivors of abuse and a variety of professionals and wonderful volunteers from Geelong. It provides support to survivors of child sex abuse, mainly from a Catholic background, but by no means exclusively, through pastoral care, welfare and social aid from a base of community donations.

Continue reading “Fr Kevin Dillon & Lifeboat Geelong” →

When you are looking for a job it is often not what you know but who you know that counts.  But what if you are a career changer moving into a new town? Or a retrenched worker looking to take your skills into a new industry?  Or a parent returning to work, or a Uni graduate trying to get a start? The ideal solution would be to find a mentor, someone from within the new industry who could help you  experience  a day in their lives.

How good would it be to enjoy  a high level immersion, some insider tips on the kind of training and experience your new industry values, and even some all important contacts?

Until recently this kind of experience was limited to students doing VET (Vocational Educational and Training) studies in school.  But now Experience for Work is available to everyone.  The Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network  project enables any career seeker to access experience for work as part of the Geelong Careers website.

It was just the start Ian Campbell was looking for.

Continue reading “Experience for Work, Ian” →

What impressed me about this lovely 16 year old, was the twinkle of passion within her eyes. She wants to make a difference and with her enthusiastic and caring nature, I can see it happening. Sammy Sutherland from Barwon Heads tells us about an exciting project that she was involved in ‘Giving for a Better World’ at her school, Geelong Grammar.

‘It was an 18 week program where a Year 10 worked with a Year 8. As Year 10s it gave us the opportunity to develop our leadership skills, to mentor and show we cared. I found my partner, Ella has a similar mindset, we both want to create change. We’ve become good friends, I just recently wrote to her at Timbertop.

Continue reading “‘Giving for a Better World’, Sammy” →

Sand Whisperers – we used to write love letters to each other using ink, pen and paper, now we write our love letters together, using sand, a rake and the shore as our canvas. This story begins when we met at 12 years old. We randomly met again when we were 16. We reconnected a few years ago after 20 years. Writing in the sand really became a healing tool, it felt therapeutic being by the sea, listening to the oceans symphony. It became a form of meditation, a journey within, that allowed us to reconnect with ourselves.

As we spiral on the shore together we connect to the elements and we listen as nature speaks to us. We hear the wisdom of the earth when we are on the sand. We feel her breath as she softly whispers upon each wave. We see her divinity in all her grace and glory. Mother Nature has a message for all. Nurture me as I nurture you.

Continue reading “Sand Whisperers, Stella and Ondrei” →

Humans in Geelong – Celebrating Volunteers Week! Experience for work – the break through Career Seekers need. One retrenched worker’s story. Looking for a job can be the hardest thing you will ever do. Especially when you have been retrenched from a career you might once have thought would last a lifetime. Spase Saplamaev started his search for a new career two years ago, as soon as Ford Australia made the  announcement his assembly line job would finish.

‘I thought this is my chance. I enjoyed ICT.  I had been helping friends with their computers, building websites. I thought maybe I can turn my interest into a career.’ Spase started computer studies courses and by September last year was completing his Diploma in IT.

Continue reading “Volunteers Week, Spase” →

The Road Home – a project to end homelessness locally. ‘We aim to raise awareness of homelessness and to provide a means to assist people to turn a house into a home, by providing dignity, warmth and identity to those experiencing homelessness.’ We hear from Richard Walter. ‘I was born in Melbourne, lived in Glen Iris with my parents and 4 brothers and sisters, I married in 1983 and moved to Corio, with my wife and have been living there for 30 years. We’ve brought up our 2 daughters in a supportive family environment.

Continue reading “‘The Road Home’ project, Richard” →

Save Our Library! This group took Action, this afternoon, in the hope of saving their local Highton Library. The Highton Library is one of three, small community libraries, set to close. The residents of Barwon Heads and Chilwell are also working together to keep their libraries open.

Spokesperson Ron Nelson tells us ‘We are extremely disappointed with the Administrators’ decision to close the Highton Library and will fight their decision. In the last week I have had almost 800 people sign the petition and hope we can get that figure to 1000 before I table it at the next Council meeting on 23 May 2017, which I encourage you all to attend. The petition is available at the Highton Village Shops.

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Laughter is the best medicine! We hear from ‘the laughter lady’ Phillipa Challis who has been running the community Laughter Club Geelong since 2002. It takes place in front of the wading pool at Eastern Beach at 9am on Saturdays. It’s free and everyone is welcome! www.facebook.com/Laughter-Club-Geelong-1514509078863429

‘The sessions appeal to all ages and all abilities, male and female. You come away energised as it’s a chance to let the inner child out. Children laugh naturally so many times a day. It’s our chance to be playful, clap to a rhythm, do some deep stretching and have big belly laughs. Newcomers often feel inhibited but laughter is contagious and very quickly becomes genuine. It is infectious.

Continue reading “Laughter Club Geelong, Phillipa” →

Neighbourhood House Week is May 8^th – 14^th and this year’s theme is ‘Belonging’. Neighbourhood Houses play a vital role in nurturing a sense of belonging for all participants through innovative and diverse community programs, activities, community planning and development. There are 27 Neighbourhood Centres in our Barwon Network. Visit their Website to find out What’s Happening in your local centre: http://www.bnnc.net.au/whats-on/nh-program-guides

Khudai Rahim is pictured here, he has a heart-warming story to tell. As a refugee, he knew no one when he first arrived in Geelong in 2013. He missed his family, was socially and culturally isolated and was unemployed. As a result of these challenges he experienced mental health issues and sought support and advice from his GP and a psychologist who recommended that he make contact with the local Neighborhood House. After joining Cloverdale Community Centre as a volunteer Khudai made new friends, learnt new skills and eventually found a job. His connection with Cloverdale changed his life for the better. He is eternally grateful to Cloverdale for helping him start to build a whole new life for himself in Australia.

You can view Khudai’s story online at: https://youtu.be/91wr0IH-6yo

Continue reading “Neighbourhood House Week, May 8-14” →