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‘I’ve always been a singer and have traveled the world singing. Arriving at a backpackers in London, I bumped into an Aussie who said ‘I know you, I saw you sing in Geelong on the Millennium New Year. I’ve seen an ad that’d suit you.’ It was for a job singing on a Mediterranean Cruise Ship and I did it for 6 months. When we cruised to Egypt I remember looking up at the Great Pyramids of Giza and thinking, “I am only here because I love to sing.”’ I’m talking to Belinda McArdle of Acabellas, who stage their annual Songs of Peace event this Sunday.

Continue reading “Acabellas, Belinda” →

We talk to Deakin researcher Dr Cristina Garduño Freeman about an exciting initiative to promote Geelong’s creative industries.

What is Hubcaps 2 Creative Hubs all about?

Hubcaps 2 Creative Hubs (#Hc2CH) is a living-history research collaboration between @Deakin University and @Creative Geelong Inc. that will document the creative transformation happening in the Geelong region. As part of Deakin’s ‘Research My World’ crowdfunding program we are raising funds to create a series of three short films to capture these initiatives so that we can share these stories with the wider community. Documenting the way Geelong is revitalising its identity as a maker-city can inform creative and economic investment in Geelong and help generate a more prosperous future for our community.

The project is driven by myself and colleague Dr Fiona Gray, as well as film-maker and TV producer, Nicholas Searle, with support from the team at Creative Geelong.

Continue reading “Hubcaps2CreativeHubs, Cristina” →

‘My mum, three sisters, brother and I were lucky to escape a worn-torn region of Pakistan six years ago. Others have not been so lucky.’ I met with Obaid Jamshidi who is passionate about building a strong community here in Geelong and giving back.

‘I graduated from North Geelong Secondary College last year where I was the Sports Captain. Now I’m studying International Relations at Deakin University. I also work one day a week at the Fort Youth Centre, a free spot for 12-25 year olds to hangout at after school.

Continue reading “Syrian Crisis Dinner Fundraiser, Obaid” →

This time next week Torquay and Lorne will be flooded with Schoolies. Thankfully, Red Frog Australia volunteers will be on hand to help keep them safe. As the parent of two teenagers I was keen to find out more, and talked to ex-Belmont High student Mark Gellie who brought this initiative to Victoria 15 years ago along with a group of Geelong friends.

‘Red Frog was born in 1997 when Andy Gourley, a youth pastor, and his skateboarding mates hit Schoolies on the Gold Coast and realised there was a need for a designated sober person at these huge parties. We are named after the bag of Allen’s Red Frogs that Andy used as an icebreaker- it didn’t take long to realise the party-goers loved these!

‘My friends and I saw a need for Red Frog teams in our local area. Now Geelong supplies the biggest volume of volunteers from any regional town and even travel to Bali.

Continue reading “Red Frogs, Mark” →

Thanks to the Raise Foundation’s Bump Program, these gorgeous young Geelong Mums graduated last week with a TAFE Certificate 1. Humans in Geelong ran the story of Bump Geelong earlier this year. After a year’s mentoring and working through their course, the girls were treated last Thursday to a Dinner Graduation presentation at Werribee Mansion. Arbonne very kindly donated their services so the girls could have their makeup, nails and hair done before riding together in a limousine out to the ceremony. Each walked on stage to receive her certificate and a few took to the microphone to make speeches. A group of five mums from the Melbourne Bump Up program inspired all as they launched a music video they had produced during their program this year. There were smiles, laughter and tears all around. We’d like to congratulate all the girls on their outstanding achievement and thank our Geelong Mentors and our amazing facilitator Jo Ridgeway. Go to http://www.raise.org.au/ if you are interested in mentoring with Raise.

 

 

Rotary join forces with Barwon Health’s Volunteer Services Transport Program. ‘Each year, Barwon Health’s Patient Transport Service completes over 15,000 patient trips for community members to get to their important Barwon Health medical appointments including weekly dialysis and chemotherapy appointments. This year we look to far exceed this number.’ We hear from Lyn Stack of Barwon Health.

‘The Patient Transport Service provides a free service for patients who do not have access to safe or reliable transport. The Service may be the only option for patients with no support system or family to transport them to appointments they need to attend each week.

Continue reading “Volunteer Transport Services, Lyn” →

‘Sometimes you feel like a total rock star when students run up to you and ask if you are with Take 3 for the Sea. It is humbling to hear their stories of change in relation to how they perceive and use single-use plastics.’ Hundreds of school children from around Geelong have been inspired by this initiative after hearing from Tim Silverwood, Environmentalist, who is part of the Take 3 team. The Take 3 team deliver education programs to primary and secondary students as part of Take 3 for the Sea.

Continue reading “Take 3, Roberta & Tim” →

Winner of a Kardinia Rotary Club Volunteer of the Year award, Jeanette Johnstone, tells us about her role in staging musical performances at St Mary of the Angels Basilica, Geelong. Since 2006 these have made a big contribution to the cultural life of Geelong through the ‘Encounters’ and ‘Seasons’ Series and the popular free lunchtime Organ Recitals.

‘When our organist Frank De Rosso first talked to me about putting on @Music at the Basilica, I said, “Certainly, I’ll help out”, thinking it would mean selling a few tickets in the foyer. But it has turned into an enormous learning experience for me. “We’ll keep in touch by email.” said Frank. “Yes,” I said, wondering how I would ever cope with that- at that time I hardly knew what email was! I soon found out and learnt many other new skills at the same time. I really love music and I love learning new things so it’s been a good fit.

Continue reading “Music at the Basilica, Jeannette” →

‘I’ve run 10 Marathons all in a year to raise awareness for Type 1 diabetes. I started ‘The Type1 Foundation’ after my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She was misdiagnosed 3 times, ending up just an hour off a coma on ICU. We were on holidays in Queensland at the time. It was a heartbreaking. I wouldn’t wish this experience on any family. This was the moment that I knew I wanted to do something to change the way others thought of this illness.

‘It’s a chronic, lifelong incurable illness and the most misunderstood illness in today’s society. Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes) affects 160 children in the Geelong region, with rates rising by 3% every year. A diagnosis in a family is the most traumatic event and we wanted to create a support network for families that went through a similar situation to us.

Continue reading “The Type1 Foundation, Ange” →

‘It was the 12^th January 1991 when the police knocked on my door to tell me that my husband had died that afternoon while playing cricket for Jan Juc. Our children were 10 and 8 years of age. When I returned to work as a psychologist, 3 months after his death, I found I was getting many referrals for young widows. I also found that my children were sometimes misunderstood at school. This was when I realised that children whose parents die are not catered for very well. I felt there was a need. This is why I started ‘Wombat’s Wish’; the Geelong based, not-for-profit, for parentally bereaved children, adolescents and their families.’ We hear from Jill Crookes.

Continue reading “Wombat’s Wish, Jill” →