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Geelong Sustainability’s vision is for a world in which people everywhere can enjoy happy, healthy lives within the natural limits of the planet and in harmonious co-existence with wildlife and wilderness: ‘We believe our consumerist society is undermining the planet’s ability to regenerate itself and exacerbating local and global inequalities.’

President Vicki Perrett’s mantra is that ‘less is more’ and she wants us to ‘be makers and doers not buyers and observers.’ Geelong born and bred, Vicki, joined the group in 2010.

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This four year old girl (pictured with Temujin, a local guide) was found abandoned at the tip with her brother. ‘I found myself cycling across Mongolia to help children like these,’ explains Amy Jolie, part of the recent Noble Challenge team that raised nearly $80,000.

‘The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) does a lot more than I knew about. It runs health and education programs throughout Mongolia and Vietnam. The Mongolian initiative assists over 1,200 kids.

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‘John had been a surgeon, and was still consulting last year, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He would seek out science programs on TV or in magazines, but then forget simple things such as we were about to go shopping.’ We hear from Cathy Roth, Founder of PALZ, a support network for professionals with Alzheimer’s and similar diseases.

PALZ aims to help the individual by instilling dignity, self-respect and self-worth, to link carers with other inspiring partners and cut the costs of health care to society.

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‘I was sick of all the harsh things and fighting that you see in film and on TV. The news is constantly bad news. I wanted to make a documentary about someone doing something uplifting.’ Award-winning documentary maker Farshid Akhlaghi was attracted by the peace and calmness of Music Thanatologist, Peter Roberts.

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(1/2) For the past 20 years Geelong’s Peter Roberts has been the only Music Thanatologist in Australia. He plays the harp, one to one, to people at the end of their lives. He also plays for babies and the ill. ‘I was a furniture retailer and I’d worked in the retail business for 31 years. Feeling dissatisfied and close to 50, I decided that if I was going to make a change in my life, it had to be soon. That was 20 years ago.

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‘I was very fortunate in starting with the Cats as a Deakin University intern and I’ve been with them for a total of 14 seasons. I lived overseas for a couple of years and worked for the England & Wales cricket team but Geelong was where I wanted to bring up my family.’ We speak with Sarah Albon, Geelong Cats Community General Manager about the Deakin Cats Community Centre. The mother of three sons below the age of five, is passionate about football, sport in general and helping the community.

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‘One client calls us angels in human form.’ Healing Hands operates out of the Norlane Baptist Church’s Hall, alternating on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is run entirely by volunteers and offers the health care services that many are denied due to financial constraints (patients are only asked for donations). Services include Chiropractic, Kinesiology, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Podiatry, Buteyko Breathing Technique, Counselling, Bowen Therapy and Myotherapy.

‘3214 is one of the most disadvantaged postcodes in Australia’, adds committee member, Kathy Ryan. ‘That is why it was set up here originally, by Corio Bay Rotary Club, the Chiropractors Association and a dedicated team of volunteers. One of our board members, Zhen, is a professor of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine at RMIT. Students from the RMIT School of Chiropractic practise at Healing Hands under the guidance of a local qualified Chiropractor.’

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‘I thought we might be lucky and collect about 50 bags but we were overwhelmed when we counted over 150!’ tells Lou, who was part of the Rangers Soccer Club group who volunteered to collect bags for the ‘Share the Dignity’ and their It’s in the Bag Christmas project. Bags were dropped off at the club on Saturday afternoon. They contained sanitary items, toiletries and small gifts. ‘Bags for teenagers were tied with a yellow ribbon. We had a bit of fun trying to fit them all into my 4WD but we did it.’

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‘“Speak out, speak up, protect.” That is our catch cry.’ We hear from David Langley who founded ‘The Read the Play’ Program in 2006- an innovative program which addresses the health and well-being of young people. ‘‘We regularly receive testimonials from parents who thank us for saving their kids’ lives.

‘I saw a need after experiencing some family concerns. I’ve always been community-minded and I wanted to do something. Statistics show that one in four youths will experience mental health problems and that our target audience would be 14-16 year olds. I got talking to people – Headspace, Barwon Health, the Police, Football and Netball Clubs – and these groups assisted in writing a program which ran for 2 years. It was originally delivered in an informative classroom style, but following a review of the program it became an interactive game which the kids embrace.

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