If only we could NEVER stop seeing the world through a child's eyes......................

Children are living proof that we humans are inherently good and that hatred, bigotry, racism etc are learned traits.  Visit any school playground and, the younger the kids are, the less likely they will be seen to care about a persons racial background or disability/difference.

We recently saw this first hand, when Canberra schoolboy Ross Kelly learnt Auslan - the deaf sign language - so he could communicate with a new kid in the class named Isam Gurung.  Isam had recently transferred from a specialist school for the hearing-impaired and Ross befriended him, communicating initially by passing written notes to each other.

Ross went on to learn Auslan so he could communicate with Isam.  Isam went from being a shy person who barely interacted with his classmates to someone who is now a happy member of the school community.

While the school provided interpreter services, Ross' efforts for his friend reach a whole new level of friendship and he was awarded a Special Humanity Award from the Fred Hollows Foundation.

The ABC story includes a video - great story.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/humanity-award-for-boy-who-learnt-sign-language-to-help-friend/7806050

End of a great trip - but Kath's journey continues.

Well, after 10 days and 3,000 klms relying on the kindness of people to eat,  sleep, live and travel,Kath is heading home.

I hope I've gained her a few new Facebook friends/followers and supporters.

Goodonya Kath :)

https://m.facebook.com/kindnessfactory/

Kindness Factory - changing the world with one act of kindness after the other.

 This is a bit lazy in some ways, but the best way to explain what Kindness factory is all about is to cut/paste from the website's home page:

The Kindness Factory was created by Kath Koschel, a former elite cricketer whose life spiraled into despair and darkness without warning. She fought through the horrible ordeal however, and emerged with a renewed passion for life and a complete understanding of just how powerful kindness can be.

In 2011 Kath made her debut for NSW against South Australia on the famous Adelaide Oval, but no sooner had her career started it came to an abrupt halt. Kath sustained a back injury and just a few months later developed complications from surgery that saw her go within 24 hours having her leg amputated.

It was only Kath’s sheer stubbornness that had prevented surgeons from removing the dying limb sooner. At the eleventh hour her persistence was rewarded when professionals discovered a small bleed in her abdomen that was limiting the blood flow to her leg. Emergency surgery fixed the bleed – her leg was saved.

It was during this period whilst attending rehabilitation that Kath met Jim. There was an instant connection.

Jim had a smile that could make all of the worries of the world disappear. He was the type of man that made everyone feel welcome. They fell in love, and planned a future together. Jim was Kath’s light in this otherwise dark journey.

With a heavy blow, tragedy struck again for Kath in 2012 when Jim passed away; taking his own life. Kath’s new light was snuffed out and her journey plunged into darkness once again.

Kath’s recovery from the mental and physical trauma was a tough one. But throughout it all one thing shone out – the kindness of others who simply wanted to help.

They were small gestures, like offering to help her with a door, but they all helped Kath feel a little bit better. Little things were adding up to make a really big difference.

While on the journey to recovery, on Australia Day 2014, Kath Koschel was awarded the Pride of Australia Medal as someone who had shown courage in overcoming adversity. This courage Kath attributes not to herself, but to the power of kindness shown to her by others.

With a new understanding of just how powerful kindness can be, Kath launched the Kindness Factory on 13^th November 2015 to encourage people to show a little kindness in their community, and to share experiences of kindness shown to them.

After all…
One small act of kindness can make a really big difference.

So Kath Koschel is now on the most amazing journey. As I write, she's on day # 3 of a trip that depends almost totally on the kindness of others.

Last Friday, Kath left home with only the following items:

• the clothes she was wearing and a back pack
• toothbrush and hairbrush
• 1 week's worth of prescription medication
• her phone and charger (so she can document her journey)
• one change of clothes
• empty water bottle

You can join me and loads of other people and follow Kath's journey here: http://kindnessfactory.com/kindness-journey/ and, please, Like her Facebook page as well : https://www.facebook.com/kindnessfactory/?fref=ts and keep up with her travels.

If ever ANYONE is an example of "Stff that is good in the World", it's this lady! :)

Good news - but I'm having a whinge also...........................

Australia is blessed with a really good climate.

• The only areas where snow is likely to happen out in regional areas and contribute to a great tourism destination - for local and international tourists.
• Cyclones in tropical zones happen a lot less often than in other parts of the world
• Droughts and floods are hazards, of course, but they are balanced by the benefits of living in productive farming areas or beautiful scenery for 95% of the time without these extreme weather conditions.

We also have a LOT of sunshine. Today, in Sydney, in mid-winter, it was about 20 degrees (even warmer yesterday) and there was hardly a cloud in the sky all day. 

So, Australia is perfect country, I'd have thought, to have thought, to have a significant proportion of our energy needs provided by solar power.

Yet, we seem to be so far behind, when compared to other counties.

 OK , less have a break from my whinge to read some GOOD news from the USA.

California USA is often compared to Australia in a number of ways. 

• San Francisco/Sydney as large coastal cities with beautiful harbours and other features
• A dryer/desert inland away from the coast, with beautiful natural features
• LOTS of sunshine

So, when I read today that, earlier this month, solar power plants (that's not including private solar cells on homes and office building, by the way) contributed over half of the power demand in San Francisco during a recent heat wave, I was really impressed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/california-powered-6-million-homes-solar-energy-beats-state-record_us_578f94b3e4b07c722ebd24ec?utm_hp_ref=good-news

Which, i'm afraid, brings me back to my whinge.......................................

WHY NOT HERE???

Villar SIPAG - take a look at what this great organisation can do in a community.

I've been following this organisation for a while now on Facebook and I'm continually impressed by their "Teach a Man to Fish"attitude to supporting their community.

The following is from the 'About Us' page on their website:

Social responsibility is the guiding principle of the Villar Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1995.

Since its inception, Villar Foundation has initiated, implemented, and supported various projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the people in the communities where we live and maintain a business presence.

One of Villar Foundation's earliest programs was 'Pagtatanim Para Sa Kinabukasan', a tree-planting program, to create urban forests in open spaces of subdivisions, residential communities, and schools.

Over the years, its advocacies and beneficiaries have expanded and diversified in order to reach more people and sectors of the society. These include the poor and underprivileged; overseas Filipino workers and their families; the youth; women; the church; the environment among others.

Villar Foundation's programs and projects include (but are not limited to) nutrition caravan (regular feeding programs for schoolchildren); medical and dental missions; river rehabilitation program; religious projects such as building of churches; repatriation of distressed overseas Filipino workers; livelihood and entrepreneurship.

By sharing our resources with the Filipino people who have made possible the success of our endeavors, we shall strive to provide opportunities to the underprivileged and the economically disadvantaged, for them to rise beyond their limitation and pursue meaningful lives as productive members of society.

Ultimately, we envision a healthy, peaceful, decent, and productive life for all Filipinos.

One of their ongoing projects has been to recycle waste plastics and turn them into school chairs - the one with the small attachment that folds up/down to make a desk space. There's a video here about a recent batch of these chairs. https://www.facebook.com/VillarSIPAG/videos/1036223909793440/

75 of them were given to an elementary school on Iloilo. 

And last Friday, another batch were handed over to a school in Las Pinas.

I'm looking forward to reading about more of their good work. The website gives a history etc and is worth a look, if I've piqued your interest :)

http://www.villarsipag.org/

It's been a while, but let's see if we can can get this fired up again :)

Been about 2 years since the last Post and I think I'm ready to start this up again.

The reasons for starting the Blog in the first place haven't changed and I actually find it rather therapeutic and de-stressing to source things and create the posts.

So...........................................................

This young lady deserves a BIG pat on the back.

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/3985846/ali-celebrates-20-years-of-helping-others/?cs=1003

Ali Leate has been working for 20 years in a retirement community in Sylvania. Ali has Downs Syndrome, which, I guess, makes her story even sweeter.

Frankly, I think she deserves to be recognised for 20 years working in an environment where she makes a real difference in the lives of others, many of whom would probably be aged on infirm. Her Downs Sydnrome is worth noting, I guess - but goodonya Ali and all the best for another 20 years :)

Hastings shopping centre - a snapshot of the way the world SHOULD work.

Mum and dad moved (finally!) from their house Dromana to a retirement community in Hastings in early 2012. They agreed very soon after the move that they should have done it about 5 years earlier - but better late than never.

There's no doubt that they couldn't have lived in the old house had they both been as ill as they became, so the move was timely. Mum is there on her own now and I can visit a couple of times a week, comfortable in the knowledge that she has a secure and safe home, surrounded by caring - but not interfering - neighbours. My cousin Elaine lives 10 minutes away - an extra safety-net.

Hasting could well be described as "God's Waiting Room". Go for a walk any weekday through the shopping centre and you won;t have to look our for Hoons On Skateboards - it's Seniors On Scooters you'll see weaving in and out of the pedestrians on Main Street.

Every shop or business we visit recognises this demographic bias in the area and makes sure that they are alert and empathetic to their customer base.

Cafe staff hold the door when they see mum coming (she's an a 4 wheel walker, not an electric scooter) and make sure they find her a table where she has access. They escort her through the back doorway to the WC and make sure she's OK getting back inside on her own.

Banks staff, post office personnel, the wonderful staff at the local pharmacy - all of them go out of their way to help the aging members of the local community. The average age of those in Mum's doctor's waiting room would be 70+ - and that's allowing for kids with their parents all bringing the mean average down.

It stands out to me because I see the opposite when I go to busy shopping areas, whether it be Chadstone or Prahran or the Melbourne CBD. That's why I think Hastings is, sadly, the exception and other locations, where older people receive little or no special consideration are the norm.

So hats off to Hastings!

Back (again!)

Over a year ago, back on May 2013, my last post was an "I'm back" post, recounting how 2012 and early 2013 had gone very pear-shaped for me. I then went on to post a 'Thank God for the Salvos' message.

Then the tap turned off.

From late May, Dad got very sick very quickly and passed away in August. Johnny and I accelerated our plans to move to Melbourne (back to Melbourne for me) and I left me job with Fairfax, after 34 years in the industry.

We moved in early October 2013 and Johnny found work within 2 weeks of beginning his search (after we had a short break after the move, etc).

I set up Trevor Weeding Media sales, got me an ABN and set about building my own business.

Then mum had a fall and was in hospital for 2 weeks, then rehab from November until early February. Each round trip to her home (for clean clothing, mail, check security etc) and the rehab was nearly 200klm and it was happening up to 4 days a week.  So, the business took a back-seat and that's where it's stayed, pretty much.

What's GOOD about all of this, you ask??

In the past 14 months I've had to cope with:

• the illness and death of my dad
• the stress of an interstate move
• the uncertainty of leaving a GREAT job and having no secure income at all (my total earning for the past 12 months are about 1/5th of my old salary)
• dragging my partner away from his job and family in Sydney (Thankfully, he LOVES Melbourne. Phew!)
• had to dip into my retirement savings to get by finacially
• my mum getting sicker and having a serious health issue and recovery - 

all of this plus the usual day-to-day issues everyone gets in their lives..................... and my blood pressure has come down and my medication has been reduced.

Go figure!  Just goes to shows that even a job I loved was clearly not doing my health much good, huh?

So - Post #1 for the renewed "Stuff that's good in the world" ends with the story of my hypertension:)

It's been a long time between drinks (posts) - hope it's worth the wait :)

A few weeks ago, Johnny and I did our small bit to help raise some funds at the Sutherland Relay for Life. Numbers aren't finalised yet, but they'll raise over $500K for sure. This is Year 8 for me with this Relay event, being directly involved, and 11 years with RFL overall. I'm pleased and proud to have had a significant and real impact on the $$ raised in that time.

This weekend is the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. In the past, I've happily gone out door knocking for them.Not much raised and negligible influence.

Why am I so supporting of this event?

It's not because of the good works they do with the money raised. It's not necessarily because I agree with the Salvos religious convictions ( I did the doorknock about 10 times and I'm still an agnostic).

One recent anecdote sums up what  makes me feel good and supportive about this appeal.

While I've been to regional launches, especially Western Sydney, in the past, this year was the first time I was invited to the NSW Appeal launch event. Held at the Westin Sydney, with Andrew and Nicola Forrest as 'special guests'. Andrew and Nicola pledged $1M at the event and I believe that the 1,000 or so people in the room matched that.

At the event,  I saw a Salvo officer who looked familiar. I couldn't remember where I knew him from.

2 days later, I went to my local, inner suburban pub for a quiet drink after work, followed by dinner with Johnny. As always on a Friday evening, the Salvos came in to rattle the tin and collect some money. The Salvo officer was the same man I seen at the Westin event. We had a chat, I gave more money from my pocket and I wished him well.

I saw him AGAIN a week later when I attended a breakfast to launch the Red Shield Appeal in Rockdale & Kogarah.

Think about this - Wednesday lunchtime; organise an event for 1,000 attendees and raise $2,000,000. 48 hours later, do what you do every Friday night and maybe raise $50 at the local pub. 7 days later, help organise a business breakfast where a few thousand dollars are raised.

It's a single minded philosophy - NO amount is too small and the cumulative sum of many small amounts of money raised is what matters.

 Thank your God for the Salvos.

So, what happened to my Blog and self discipline etc???

Long story short - 2012 was my own annus horibilius. Carried across into 2013 to some extent as well.

Self pity etc now done with and normal posting should resume shortly.

There IS stuff that's good in the world and I've experienced some of it first hand recently, so looking forward to sharing.

PLEASE DONATE YOUR ORGANS!

Let's start with the message I hope to leave at the finish - PLEASE do not take your organs to heaven or the grave or wherever you believe you go when you die.

Every day of every week in every country on Earth, someone is dying because they need an organ transplant. Often, the transplant only buys them a few years or even months, but imagine what they can do or achieve in that time.

What did you do in the past two months that made you feel good or made others' lives better or happier? How about in the past year? The past 5 years?

Here's some inspiration, if you need it:

When Tianna was 18 months old doctors found two holes in her heart and two blocked arteries, faults that left her breathless and with a blue tinge to her skin. Over the years the condition worsened, leading to an ever-lengthening list of symptoms.

''Walking is really hard,'' Tianna said 18 months ago. ''I get heart palpitations, chest pains, nose bleeds. I get light-headed and get leg cramps and back pain. I'm in and out of hospital. I don't have much of an immune system.''

The illness had affected her social life, as it became hard to keep up with her friends.

''Sometimes, they end up carrying me,'' she said. ''I feel like I drag them back a bit because they have to walk slowly with me. I tell them to walk on and I'll walk just behind them at the back of the pack. It takes a toll on your self-esteem, trying to keep up with them and seeing everyone do stuff that you can't.''

Major surgery was necessary and the Ingleburn teenager became one of the 1700 Australians on waiting lists for organ and tissue transplants. She also became a face of the Journey of Hope campaign, aimed at getting Australians to discuss the issue and to encourage more people to register as organ donors. The campaign by Transplant Australia endeavours also to attract more funding to support people who are on waiting lists, organ recipients and their families.

Here's what I think is the saddest part of the donor/transplant story. According to this story in today's paper (I'll post the link), only 309 Australians donated organs last year. Close to 6 million Australians are on the Organ Donor Registry (in other words, they WANT to donate their organs and save lives) but only 58% of families allowed the organ and tissue donations to proceed. That means 42% of families stopped the donations from happening.

HOW DARE THEY!!!! How dare they go against their relatives wishes AND how dare they destroy what may be only possible chance another person has to have a better life  -or to have a life at all! 

HOW DARE THEY!!! If religion is the reason, then I am even angrier!

My drivers licence says I am a willing donor. My Will says I am willing donor. I have registered with the relevant web sites and organisations. And now this blog tells the world, if they care to read it, that I am a willing donor.  NO ONE has my permission to stop my organs or tissue being donated when I die.

Please, do all you can to make your wishes known. tell everyone. register with your local Transplant/Donation service or authority.

Please - don't take your organs with you when you die.

Tianna's story

Knit-wits rule!

From time to time I like to reminisce about days gone by (and, in the process, sound exactly like my parents did, thus boring the socks off of anyone under 40). Thanks to the changes I’ve seen in my lifetime – especially during my working years – I am the proud possessor of skills that are totally useless in 2012.

The short list is:

• I can (safely) tap a beer keg. Not the new ones, but the old fashioned type. These are the ones that, if badly managed, can result in injury or even death as the rod flies up and into your head (usually entering the head or, at best striking you very hard under the chin).
• I can change a ribbon on a manual typewriter.
• With a little bit of refresher practice, I think i can remember my copy fitting formulas, so that I can tell you how many words at a given font size will fit a given space.
• I still remember most of my proofreaders marks (and still use them, much to the confusion of my work colleagues who wonder why I wrote # and 'stet'  on their document.)
• I (vaguely) recall how logarithms work – and I can certainly do long division without a calculator.
• Although I never learnt how to cast on or cast off, I can knit – but I forget how to do pearl stitches.

I seem to recall there was a (shot lived) fad at primary school. A lot of boys were knitting in arts and craft classes and I recall that the needles were overly thick, perhaps to make it easier for kid’s fingers. I made a longish scarf, only because knitting a big long thing was all I could do.

It’s this last, lost skill that came to mind most recently, thanks to the ABC’s annual ‘Knit In’ promotion. I was still home from work and listened to a lot more radio than I would normally be able to and so, the annual ‘Knit In’ got more of my attention than usual.

The event was, as always, remarkably successful. More than 1,000 knitters headed along to the ABC studios in Sydney and beavered away knitting squares (I think they’re around 8” square or so), which are then packed up and sent off to be sewn together to make blankets.  These are sent overseas to people in need.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2012/08/04/3560598.htm

The ABC ‘Knit In’ was launched 10 years ago, to support the main initiative program, called ‘Wrap with Love. ‘Wrap with Love’ began in 1993 and, since then, over 255,000 wraps have been knitted (square by square), sewn together and sent off overseas.  There have also been around 8,000 distributed around Australia, with over 3,000 going to victims of the Victorian bushfires in 2009.

http://www.artsandcraftsnsw.com.au/Wrap.htm

Here’s another of my special ‘likes’ – a lot of people doing relatively small things to make a real difference in the world. In the first year, the founder (the late Sonia Gidley-King OAM) and 30 supporters sent 38 wraps off to Mozambique in a container of farm machinery. So, the 250,000+ total is even more impressive!

They got into the spirit in my local are as well, as reported in The Leader.

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/knitting-warm-gifts-for-the-needy/2646982.aspx

Time to break out the knitting needles Trev! J

The real value of smaller things...............

I LOVE this stuff:).

All too often, the business world and people in general get themselves caught up with pictures that are just too big. I recently signed on for 'Dry July' and managed to raise $100; $40 of which came from generous donations from family and friends. Overall, 'Dry July' raised about AU$3.4 million, a lot of which came, I'm sure, from smaller fundraising efforts like my own. (See http://www.dryjuly.com/ ) 

In our local communities, there are stories every week about community groups needing relatively small amounts to get over tough times or even just to survive. Today's Leader contains a great story about one such organisation that's been saved because of the generosity of some locals. No huge donations were received, but the sum of the parts made up the lifesaving amount.

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/community-rushes-to-support-sylvanvale/2641903.aspx

The program that was in jeopardy was an after school hours care program for children aged 5 -11 who have 'high needs". Obviously, these special kids can't be looked after by just anyone outside of school hours. The tragedy was that the shortfall in funding was just $7,800 and, as one person wrote in the Comments section on the leader's website, it probably cost more for the decision maker (in a Government department) to make the decision that the $7,800 that they are refusing to provide.

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/children-in-jeopardy-special-care-may-be-axed/2628911.aspx

But, the money has been raised from the local community, proving yet again the value of local support in our communities.

I'm back at work next week and my mantra to anyone who'll listen will be "Think Locally and Act Locally" - because thinking globally won't help your, your business or your community anywhere near as much as entrenching yourself and your business in your local community will.

Nurses - part two.

My recent post about nurses deserves a big brother. The experience at RPA lasted around 48 hours and gave me a taste of what a ward nurse's life is like. I came home at the weekend after 7 days in Strathfield Private Hospital and wanted to provide a further insight into a nurse's life - from a patient's point of view.

OK, so details first. I was in for a partial nephrectomy. They cut you open (in my case, the incision is around 18" long) and remove the tumor from your kidney. They have to cut through 7 layers of muscle and all of those layers are stitched back together and have to heal. My operation was a complete success and, in fact, left me with more of my kidney (80%) than everyone hoped for.

Now, enter the nurses, as the recovery begins. This ward was made up of either urology patients like me or osteo patients (knee replacements, etc), so the recovery period, it seems, falls to fairly standard patterns and procedures. It begins the day after the operation, when they try to get you out of bed. This is for very good reasons, as congestion settles on your lungs very quickly and is an ideal breeding ground for infections. Just how easy it is to get one of these, I'll explain later.

Well Day #2 didn't go as planned and I couldn't get off the bed. Excruciating pain and I wanted to hit the next person who tried to get me up, but they came back and tried again in the afternoon - because it is SO important. It's important for fighting the congestion, but it's also important for other reasons. My second night was really uncomfortable, due to some friction grazes from the mattress and general  muscle aches from too long in bed.

Here's a tip for all you blokes reading this - the sooner you get up, the sooner the catheter comes out, ok?

Well day #3 saw be raise myself off the bed relatively easily, albeit painfully. Still needed a sponge bath in bed, but sat up in a chair and walked a little. Physio now becomes the most important person in my life, nagging me (necessarily) to get breathing deeply and to cough up phlegm. Ouch! (I'm writing this a full week later and coughing is still very painful). Day #3 also saw a temperature spike, because the bugs were loving my chestfull of muck that I hadn't been able to cough up yet.

From day #4, the nurses really come into their own. Now it's their job to get me up each day etc. The Ward Manager. Sister Hong is the sort of person every team needs as a leader. She led by example - "Do as I do" and is clearly respected by both her staff and the doctors. The catheter comes out (yay!) and is followed by my first shower, where I'm being treated with dignity and respect. By the end of the day I was using the toilet on my own.


I also had dressings changed and bandage-blisters tended too. Was the person gently removing the messy bandages and carefully tending to the painful open sores really the same person who was determined to drag me up off the bed on Sunday, despite my cries of "NO!!!"??


Another temperature spike on Day #5 brought on a stern lecture about the need to breath, walk and cough. Mixed with all of this Jekyll & Hyde personality came a person only a little younger than my self who would stop by for a chat briefly and we'd share stories of what it's like to manage Gen Y. A typical day for Sister Hong was 12 hours and, even on an unusually quiet Thursday, staff were set to work checking stores etc. It reminded my of a printing manager, taking advantage of some downtime to fit in some much needed maintenance.


The Ground Floor West team followed this example and went about their work in the most efficient and caring manner. I'm reminded of mothers with big families who can somehow keep an eye on 4 or 5 kids at the same time. They also cheerfully allowed my in-laws and Johnny's extended family to have a virtual picnic in the corridor when they came to visit me en mass. (They brought food, as always - I'm still nil by mouth at this stage. When I got out of bed the day after their visit, there are 2 cans of coke and 4 oranges beside my bed, in case I needed a snack during the night)


And so to my final day. I'm not allowed to leave until Sister has checked my dressings and given me her personal instructions about follow up care etc. Paperwork is brought down my another nurse and all is set to go. I'm waiting for my lift in the lounge outside reception, even though I was told I could stay in my room if I wanted to. As I said my final goodbye to Sister Hong and her team, I could sense a degree of distance already forming. I was going and there were sick people who needed her attention. I was a bit like a tradesman's finished work - no time to sit back and be satisfied, there's another urgent job to get on with.


And then, just when you think that chapter is closed completely, Sister Hong wanders over when she sees me pacing around the reception corridor (sitting for too long is a no-no, remember?). "You OK buddy? Need anything?".


No Sister, I'm fine thanks :). And it's thanks you and your team. Dr Sved did a great job on my operation ans the staff physio gave me some great self-help tools, but it's the nurses who made me well again.

Nurses definitely get counted amoungst Stuff that's good in the World' :)

A wonderful life - and then some!

This post is written right in the middle of NAIDOC Week. For anyone not reading this in Australia, here's an explanation:

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

There are a couple of reasons why this week of events is a bit special for me. Firstly, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established on the lawn outside what is now Australia's old Parliament House on my birthday in 1972 - January 27.  It started off a year of political awakening for me, as a 13 y o student, that culminated in the election of the Whitlam labor Government in November - and we all know how that ended a few years later!

The second and by now the most important reason that I like all that is associated with NAIDOC Week is the depth of local activities across local communities.  The list just from NSW alone has just over 70 events and activities across the state, most of them outside of the Sydney CBD and in suburban or regional communities and local government areas.

http://www.naidoc.org.au/naidoc-events/event/?mylist=New+South+Wales&check=Check

Some of the events are held outside of the week itself for a variety of reasons. Homebush Bay High School held their event early because NAIDOC Week itself falls during the school holidays, while at Blacktown; they have the Western Sydney NAIDOC Dinner dance on July 13.

There’s also a series of awards presented during the week and I was particularly taken by the story of the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Ned Cheedy. Ned Cheedy died in April this year, aged 105.

(I’m aware at this point that there may be some cultural sensitivity associated with writing or talking about aboriginal people who have passed on. I mean no offence and hope that I can be forgiven if I am breaking any cultural taboos here.)

I remember a conversation once with my ‘adopted’ grandpa, Pop Bresnahan. He was born early in the 20^th century and told me that, in his lifetime, man had conquered the power of flight and, by the time he was retiring from work, was sending men into outer space and had landed on the moon. Even in my own lifetime, we’ve seen the invention and introduction of cassette tapes to CD’s to MP3 players, mobile telephones that first looked like brick blocks and are now miniature and can have video and a myriad of other applications, Kodak instamatic cameras to multi megapixel digital cameras on mobile phones, etc. etc. etc.

But, imagine what Ned Cheedy saw in his 105 year lifetime! He spent pretty much all of his life in Western Australia, mainly in the Pilbara region. As an adult, he worked tirelessly to rehabilitate people addicted to alcohol, having seen first-hand the devastating effect it had on people’s lives and on families and communities.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/aborigines-lose-a-guiding-light-with-revered-elders-death-20120402-1w8ve.html

He traveled extensively in his region, educating students/children, archaeologists, anthropologists, environmentalists and biologists and helping them to gain a better understanding of the land that he called home. Importantly he was a vital link across generations. Family members who were elders when Ned was a child would have witnessed first-hand the early settlement of Australia and their parents would remember times before white people came to the country. His experiences and his ability to share them with others are a strong testimony to the value of older people in our communities.

I’m a little over half of Ned’s final age and I can’t imagine what the next 50 years will be like, if I could ever live so long. What’s GOOD about this story is that Ned was listened to, respected and recognised for his life, his experiences, his work and his contributions to society, even though I’m sure each one of those lives he helped would have seemed like a relatively small achievement to him.

Next time I’m asked: “Who, from history, would you invite to a dinner party at your place?” Ned will be on the list, along with my g. g. grandfather (the first of my ancestors to migrate to Australia from England) a few others.

Feel like commenting on this post? Tell me who you’d invite to your place.

Little by little - that's how the job gets done!

Wars are rarely won with just one major battle. Napoleon had his Waterloo of course, but that was the final battle in a long war.  The struggle to find cures for the various forms of cancer is another war that is being one, slowly but surely, but people in communities all over the world, raising their relatively small amounts of money to fund research, technology and ongoing care for cancer victims and their families.

I've written in an earlier post about Relay for Life. On the global scale, the Sutherland RFL is one very large example of an event that is held in communities world-wide. Few of them raise anywhere near the same amounts as this fantastic community event in the Sutherland and St George region, but all of them contribute much-needed funds to help with their common goal.

This post is intended to highlight just a few of those smaller events and activities happening at any one time around the world - each of which adds to the total ' war chest'. None of them are as well-known as the McGrath Institute, the PCI or Relay for Life and, thanks to their local community newspaper, they receive both recognition of and assistance in publicising their events and activities.

In Penrith, New South Wales: Young musicians get together to raise funds with a $10 per head concert.
http://www.penrithstar.com.au/news/local/news/general/young-musos-performance-to-fight-cancer/2598552.aspx

From Westchester County in  NY, USA: A local Relay for Life committee put a new twist on their event, with a Canine Relay for Life.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=46080

In Ballarat, Victoria: Two students raise $3200 for the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre, the largest non-metropolitan cancer research centre in Australia.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/loreto-students-get-behind-cancer-centre/2598041.aspx

From Howick [it's pronounced 'Hoyck" folks :) ] in Scotland: Four sisters who have all survived breast cancer (one of them had it twice!) took part in their local version of RFL "Race for Life" in Dundee.
http://www.hawick-news.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/sisters-take-part-in-charity-race-1-2360539

There are events like these happening every week, somewhere in the world. Little by little, this rotten illness is going to be cured one day.  My mum had polio as a youngster and, thank goodness, was able to walk unaided eventually. Polio is pretty much a thing of the past, certainly in Australia. Beating cancer CAN be done - but it's going to take time... and money!

It's finally over for Lindy Chamberlain

Like a lot of Australian’s – and probably people all around the world – I was sceptical of Lindy Chamberlain’s claim that a dingo stole baby Azaria in 1980. It all sounded so far-fetched and the media were generally anti-Lindy when it came to reporting the story.

There was wild speculation about Jehovah’s Witnesses and other 'non conformist'religions having strange rituals, about “Azaria” meaning something weird or strange in another language, the parent’s attitude and demeanor when interviewed or in court (sees Lindy’s comments about that in the story I’ve linked here by the way) and about the likelihood of a dingo being strong enough to carry off a nine week old baby anyway.

The one thing that stopped me from being ‘anit-Lindy’ was the element of a mother’s love for her baby. Azaria was not her first child and the pressures that new mothers face (post-natal depression, etc) didn’t seem to be a factor. The thought that Lindy could have murdered Azaria (with scissors, I think was the verdict) was just totally against common sense to me.

I have to admit, I was a bit of a coward when it came to this case. I avoided discussions where possible and felt really uncomfortable around people who had strong opinions either way on the matter. The case seemed to polarise society, with the majority believing in her guilt.

Both Lindy and her husband Michael were convicted. Appeals and court cases followed and the conviction was eventually quashed and she received around $1M in compensation. Her marriage broke up her family was split. At least one of her children has been severely emotionally affected by it (traumatised wouldn’t be too strong a word, it seems).

And now, 32 years after the event, a coroner has finally decreed that it was a dingo. So, why does my blog focussing on things that are good in the world contain a story about Lindy Chamberlain??

Read the story in the attached link. You’ve got to admire this woman and her attitude. She is congratulating a journalist/entertainer who apologised on-air for the way she judged Lindy and her husband. I don’t know about anyone reading this blog entry, but I think I’d have understood if Lindy had come out and said: “F*** the lot of you! How do you feel now you heartless bastards?”

Instead, she describes Wendy harmer as ‘courageous’ and complimented her for apologising.

And THAT’S one of the things that are good in the world today.

Sydney Morning Herald Story today

In case you haven't heard already, nurses are the GREATEST!

Hmm. So much for my commitment to a weekly blog, huh?

In my defence, I spent a few days in hospital and a week or so recovering at home after having my appendix out. As is the case with appendicitis, you don’t get time to plan these things and my attack hit at 1am on a Thursday morning.

End result is I missed the Relay for Life and also the annual golf day for the St George School for Children with Disabilities – two really worthy causes that are close to my heart, but for very different reasons. In fact, I’ll make the school a topic of a blog entry at a later date.

Anyway, this entry is all about nurses, so it’s time I started writing about them I thinkJ

When you have tor appendix out at RPA Hospital, you end up recovering in the colorectal ward. My roomies were older men with a variety of gastro/colorectal problems. For anyone reading this who has a modicum of medical knowledge, you’ll know how smelly and, frankly, messy the ward can become in this part of the hospital. Idon't know for sure, but I'll bet the nurses moan a little inside when they find out that they're rostered here.

Stop right there – I want to make it clear that I’m not complaining, ok? Public hospital, shared ward – you take what you can get.

I was the lucky one – in and out in less than 48 hours. One of my room mates had severe pain and had to wear a colostomy bag.  These bags have to be emptied at some stage. They contents are drained into a plastic jug (I think they may have to record the output levels, but don’t quote me) and then carried out for disposal.

Enter the nurses.

Of the 7 different nurses who worked on shifts while I was there (one was a student), one of them had a severe cold, another had a backache and ALL of them deserve to be paid way more than they get each week.

On my first night, I couldn’t wait for the buzzer to be answered at 2am so I could get a new urine bottle. I was still in pain as it was just 5 hours since the operation and i couldn't have made it to the bathroom. There was a bowl on my table and I had to use that instead. No harassment or grumpiness from the nurse on overnight duty as she carried the bowl full of my pee out of the room -  just an apology for not getting to me in time.

Long story short is that nurses are the best people in the world. Sick people usually get a bit self-centred and demanding. The RPA nurses coped with all of that from their patients (I think I can exclude myself – I honestly tried hard to be as little trouble as possible) and still had room for a smile every time they came to see me.

Thanks guys – you’re appreciated, I promise.

Who would YOU be Relaying for?

Update - I didn't make it to Relay. Went to hospital on Thursday and had my appendix out. More on that little story in the next post, but I am SO disappointed to miss RFL 2012.

This is one that’s managed to become close to my heart.

Relay for Life is a worldwide event, started relatively recently, that has grown, in Australia especially, to be an enormous source of funds for the cancer Council.

In 2006, while I was working at another community newspaper, I first heard about Relay for Life. Because the management of the newspaper had their own personal experiences with cancer, RFL became a cause that they enthusiastically embraced. Good work was done, much needed funds were raised for the fight against cancer and I’d like to think that some people’s lives were directly, positively impacted by the efforts of all involved.

Not long after I joined Fairfax Community Newspapers, a delegation from the Sutherland Shire Relay for Life approached the Leader for support for the 2007 event. We readily agreed and the work began. Long story short – the 2006 Relay raised $164,000 – in 2007 the funds raised reached $280,000. The Committee agreed that the Leader’s involvement was a major contributing factor and the relationship was henceforth set in stone.

Relay for Life began in the USA in 1985, so it’s a relatively young event and it’s grown worldwide being held in 21 countries. The Sutherland Shire Relay for Life (there isn’t one in the St George region and the Shire people welcome those from St George with open arms and hearts) is now the biggest in NSW. It’s only been going for 10 years.

Every year’s results have exceeded expectations and targets. The 2011 Relay raised $654,000 and, importantly, more and more local businesses and organisations have either become involved or have increased their level of support. The first Saturday and Sunday in May see an army of volunteers and works descend on the Sylvania Athletics track and it’s a credit to the organising committee that the event goes like clockwork – rain, hail or shine!

Last years event was hit by miserable weather conditions and the only thing not dampened was the enthusiasm of all of those in attendance. Of course, most of the funds are raised in the weeks and months leading up to the event.

This year, the Leader has been able to increase their support as well. Thanks to the support for Relay for Life from the advertisers in the section, the Leader has published an 8 page wrap for the event. The story of the 2012 Relay is here.  http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/come-help-celebrate-our-community-spirit/2542348.aspx

This weekend will be the third year that Johnny and I have judged the ‘Best Table Setting” at the Relay banquet. It’s basically a big picnic and relayers are encouraged to decorate their tables with a team (or any other!) theme. Johnny’s the expert, I provide the comic relief!

Two years ago, when we made the winner’s announcement, the Chairman Rod Coy asked me the same question he asks everyone at the event; “Who are you relaying for?” because I’d lost an uncle, a cousin and second cousin in the past – three generations of the same family – to cancer, my answer was easy and I’d always added that this terrible illness touched almost very family in some way.

Jump forward to may 2011 and I’d returned only a few days before from Uncle Alan’s funeral, while my brother-in-law Bill Mansfield had passed away in February, both from cancer. Needless to say, when asked:” Who are you relaying for Trevor?” I had a completely different answer.

This weekend, I’ll be there along with thousands of others, doing my very small part to help raise funds. Johnny will be there on Saturday evening, judging the contest again and, of course, adding colour and flair to the event

I can’t think of a better example of a community coming together to help others. If you’re reading this from somewhere else in Australia or the World, get behind your local Relay, if you haven’t already done so.

Kids ARE the future!:)

During a rare tidy up at home (a REAL tidy up - not one of those where I find stuff months later that my dear partner has hidden it from view as visitors arrive), forced upon me because of the need to change cars recently, I found a copy of my will. Yeah, it's up do date, I thought - until i read it!!

Long story short is that is was hopelessly OUT of date and needs fixing. It's led me to consider making a bequest or two. One will be to the St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation. At least one other will be to the Sunrise Children's Village in Cambodia.

I don't know about you dear reader, but I've always thought that well-intentioned, well managed and accountable support programs for children should be encouraged and supported wherever possible.

I first heard about Sunrise Children's Village around 5 years ago from my friend Sue Liu, from Zulu Communications. Sue has visited the village at least once and raises funds for them back here in Sydney. Sue is passionate about a lot of things, but none more so than this great organisation.

Rather than read masses of stuff on my blog, take a look at their website and do what I've done - click the Like button on Facebook to keep up to date with what's happening there. This is from their website ("Geraldine"is Geraldine Cox AM, the founder):


The Sunrise Children’s Villages are two orphanages located in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Australia Cambodia Foundation started in September 1993, following the first visit by Geraldine and a friend in 1993. The orphanages are now known as Sunrise Children’s Villages and they care for hundreds of orphaned and disadvantaged Cambodian children.Our third Sunrise Children’s Village has commenced construction in Sihanoukville.

I can't imagine how many years of recovery are needed to make up for one year of war. I do know about the TRILLIONS of dollars spent after WW2, repairing and rebuilding nations, cities and towns after the horrific damage done by the war, especially in Europe and Asia . I've been to London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila in recent years and I see the result today, after 6 decades of growth. Hopefully the kids at SCV can grow up to enjoy similar prosperity after decades of hard work in Cambodia as well.

http://www.scv.org.au/