Earlier today I was really proud to speak at the launch of the “Soundscape” project at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Briefly, I was on stage with the Prime Minister, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Director of the AWM, a representative from Google (they’re building an app), and with a young student who participated in the project.
One of the students speaks about his involvement in the soundscape project with the Director of the AWM, Dr Brendan Nelson
In short, primary school age students from all over the country have come into ABC Local Radio studios to record the names of those who appear on the WW1 Roll Of Honour. The soundscape will play at the AWM over the next four years. It’s also been turned into a radio broadcast which runs on digital radio, streaming and mobile all this week. Details are here http://www.abc.net.au/radio/digital/extra/4051261.htm
Hope you like the photographs and here’s what I had to say about the ABC’s involvement…
I would like to say how very proud the team from ABC Local Radio has been to work on this project
What seemed like a very simple idea when it was first proposed, has gone on to become really important, and very, very touching. One of our Regional Managers, Gaye Pattison from ABC Goulburn Murray in Wodonga, told me, and I quote, “This has been one of the sweetest and most sincere projects I’ve been involved with. Loved it from start to finish”. Another senior network manager told me in an email today, and I quote, “I’m a bit of a weeper at the best of times and this has completely done me in”.
For ABC Local Radio, this has involved staff in thirty-five regional stations. Our regional stations have only a small staff. Generally half a dozen. The manager of the station also usually presents the Breakfast Show, and then when he or she is finished doing that, they come off air and do everything else to lead their team. For them, this Soundscape Project has often involved a lot of extra work. But for many of them, it was a matter of personal passion. Andrew Dunkley, our Manager and Breakfast presenter at ABC Western Plains in Dubbo has recently published a book about his grandfather’s experiences in World War 1. Reter Riley, our Manager and Breakfast presenter at 97.3 ABC Illawarra in Wollongong spent 10 years of his life in the navy, and comes from a family of people who’ve dedicated their lives to war service over a number of generations.
As the school children came in to our stations they had great stories to tell. Nicole Bond, who leads our team at ABC Western Queensland recorded the stories of children in her vast patch who drove up to 400 kilometres to come into our radio station. There was a great response all over the country, including for our team at ABC South Coast in Albany, Western Australia. Later this year, that team lead by Andrew Collins, will also contribute to a national live broadcast on ABC Local Radio of activities around the anniversary of the first troops leaving for Europe from there.
The team from ABC Local Radio in Western Australia have also been approached by the memorial there to do something similar with names of people in that state. And right now, on our pop up radio station, ABC Extra, we’re running part of the soundscape for the entire week. So if you have a digital radio, or if you have a mobile phone, or you can listen online, if you tune to “Roll Of Honour on ABC Extra” you’ll hear the soundscape anywhere in Australia, or indeed anywhere in the world until midnight Friday. Visit abc.net.au/radio
It was a wonderful project to be involved in, especially to hear about how the students practiced and researched the names they recited. I was particularly touched by the comments of one of the children who came into our studios at Longreach. When he asked what he had learned from the project, he simply replied “That they were all real people. They weren’t just made up names”.
Photograph taken by Kerry Alchin Order reference: PAIU2014/152.28 Contact: esales@awm.gov.auPhotograph taken by Kerry Alchin Order reference: PAIU2014/152.16 Contact: esales@awm.gov.au
I have had a day pretending to be Swedish. I mean, I don’t look Swedish, and I don’t sound Swedish, and for the most part, I was probably a complete failure. But I had to pretend to be Swedish, just in case anyone thought I was American, Italian or German.
It all started at lunchtime with the most “touristy” thing I’ve done this trip: watch the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace. It’s all a bit of a cliché designed for the tourists, and of course, the current Swedish royal family is French anyway, but failing to do it would be like going to London and not seeing Buckingham Palace.
Frankly, the ceremony goes on far too long and not enough happens to justify the time involved. I got a bit bored, to be honest. But to my left, there was an American woman who clearly thought it was very very important to see. “Get out of my way”, she said, to the johnny-come-lately’s who stood in front of her just as all the action began. “I’ve been waiting forty-five minutes”, she told them.
I was fairly sympathetic towards her, actually. Imagine if you would a situation where the guards are trying to make it safe for the public while about thirty horses come through, and you have stupid tourists who don’t pay any attention to them. And who then stand in front of people who have been waiting for ages and doing the right thing.
I also felt sorry for the guards (a bunch of kids on military service) who must have felt like they were herding cats. I lost track of the number of times they told people to stay behind the lines for their personal safety.
Changing of the guard, Royal Palace in Stockholm
And then there was the stupid German man who kept whistling to attract the attention of his wife on the other side of the square, right next to the horses which were already fairly agitated.
In the midst of this group of Americans, Italians and Germans who thought their photographs or making contact with their family or friends were more important than public safety, I just kept quiet, smiled at the guards, and did my best to pretend to be Swedish. Or at least, anything except an American, an Italian or a German.
After that I headed into deep suburbia, Solna Central, to buy a t-shirt and some socks. I’ve already thrown out some things, including a shirt I never liked and a book about last year’s federal election which seemed like a good idea at the time, but I was in fairly desperate need of both a new t-shirt and some socks. So I decided to hit the train line and look for a suburban centre. As it turned out H and M at Solna was excellent value. I felt Swedish and suburban.
Coming back, I went along to Parkteatern on Djurgarden where the band, “A Beautiful Friend” were due to play at 6.30 pm. Even by the time I’d arrived at about 5.45, many people had already staked a claim on the grass, such is the way of Swedes with their summer concerts. Unlike Australians, though, who would happily sit on the grass, most of the Swedes I noticed had blankets or even pamphlets to sit on.
Musicians play in the park in Stockholm
I understood most of the patter in between songs. Mostly it was nothing more than “this is a song about a lost love from my album”. There was an occasion, however, when the singer told an anecdote about being mistaken for someone else by a drunk in a bar in Jonkopping. I understood all of the story, except for the punchline which got a huge laugh, but which was obviously a very definite Swedish reference.
The concert was okay enough, though to be honest, I got a little bored. There were lots of very earnest singer-songwriter songs if you know what I mean. None of the lyrics (all in English) was particularly profound, nor was the music especially memorable, in my opinion. Still, the crowd seemed to enjoy the show.
Patricia Nightclub in Stockholm
On the way home I popped into a legendary bar, Patricia, located on a boat in the city. Unfortunately, almost everyone on the boat was an American aged about fifty and gay. Like “really gay”, like “professional gay”, if you get my meaning. They’d been on a “gay cruise”. Can you imagine anything worse? As I listened in to a few of the conversations, they mostly revolved around where people came from (in America) and what they did, and “being gay”.
Magnus Carlsson playing at Patricia, Stockholm during Europride 2008.
I found a quiet spot, had a few drinks, and smiled and chatted with a couple of Swedes.
Best of all, though, I picked up a flyer which shows another of my favourite Swedish performers, Magnus Carlsson is performing there next week. The big music week just got bigger. So it’s now…
July 27 – Peter Joback and Eva Dahlgren at Skansen
July 28 – Magnus Carlsson at Patricia
July 29 – BWO at Allsang pa Skasen
July 30 – Arrival at Pride
July 31 – Schlager night at Pride
August 2 – Misc, including Alcazar at Pride
August 3 – Svenne & Lotta at Pride
August 5 – BAO at Allsang pa Skasen
Does life get any better?
In other news, I’ve cancelled this week’s accommodation in Uppsala, because I’m enjoying Stockholm so much.
Thirty-ish years ago, I was a young ABC Radio presenter, fresh from my move to Wagga Wagga. My first big national story revolved around the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir being asked to change its name to compete in the national choral championships, held in Wagga Wagga. It was a significant story at the time. Recently, I’ve updated the piece I recorded back then, incorporating new material, and after securing the rights to use some additional material. With Mardi Gras approaching, I wanted to share this radio package, reflecting on the events of the time and how much has changed since.
TRANSCRIPT
ABC Radio Archives: From Westside Story, somewhere by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. The issue was whether Wagga might be that place because earlier this year, the championships’ organizers asked the choir to consider changing its name to the Eastern Suburbs G&L Choir.
James O’Brien: It was 30 years ago on The World Today on ABC Radio. I remember I had just arrived in Wagga a few months earlier, presenting the morning show, and it was my first big national story.
Stephen Schaeffer (from the documentary “Something To Sing About”): It’s obviously an important one. It’s the one just before we hit Wagga, okay? I understand there’s been some flurry of excitement in the press about our imminent arrival in Wagga. ABC Radio Riverina rang me at nine o’clock in the morning on Monday in my office, and before I’d even had my cup of coffee, I was talking live on ABC Radio. Is the choir’s participation political?
With permission, taken from the documentary, “Something To Sing About”
James O’Brien: That’s Stephen Schaefer, musical director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir at the time, and he was talking about being on the radio show with me.
Meredith Knight: And then the job of actually applying to go to Wagga was my responsibility to put in the application form.
James O’Brien: This is Meredith Knight. She was secretary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir at the time.
Meredith Knight (Choir Secretary): And I remember clearly to the day that I was at work as a property manager in my own office, when the phone call came through from the secretary of the organizing committee to say that they had received our application, but I can’t remember exactly how she said it, but I think she said, “Look, there’s just one problem.”
And I said, “Yeah, okay, well, what’s that?” And she said, “Well, we’ve discussed it with the committee, and we’d like you to change your name to the G&L Choir.” I mean, she said to me on the phone, because I said, “Well, why do you want us to change our name?” And she said, “Because we kind of think there’s going to be children’s choirs involved, and that might discourage them from participating. And also, we have a lot of sponsors to sponsor this event, and we don’t want the publicity of there being a gay and lesbian choir that might chase away sponsors.”
Of course, it didn’t, as far as I’m aware. But I remember when we got into the final, that there were two, I think, school groups that stayed behind to cheer us on. They were actually supposed to be going back home, wherever they were from, I don’t know, but they were supposed to be going back home.
But they asked their supervisors and their teachers if they could stay because they wanted to cheer on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir in the final.
James O’Brien: I caught up with some of the choir a couple of years ago. In particular, I remember one woman who talked about her apprehension at returning to Wagga as she’d previously lived there.
Choir Member: I won’t go into my whole life story, but in 1979, I was in a relationship with a woman that came from Wagga. In 1978, we were sacked from the Mater Hospital for being gay. Yeah, and so she was dragged back to Wagga by her family.
Six months later, I went to Wagga to live with her. It was probably the worst time of my life because it was the most homophobic town. Of course, her parents, I won’t say their name, were quite well-known in Wagga at the time, apparently.
They did everything they could, so I couldn’t get work, I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do anything. It was just a nightmare. Eventually, I left, and many years later, some years later, fell in love with Tamina and never looked back until Stephen announced that I was going to Wagga.
James O’Brien: So was this a bit triggering for you?
Choir Member: It was, absolutely. I was petrified going back to Wagga. Yeah, yeah, petrified, because I was worried.
I mean, in hindsight, it probably never would have happened, but I was worried I’d run into the girl, I’d run into her family, because people were really horrible to me in the town when I was there, so I was petrified. But none of those things happened, and it was actually a lovely experience. And once I was there with the choir, a lot of those panicked feelings I had sort of settled.
Stephen Schaefer: Hi, I’m Stephen Schaefer. I was the founding music director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. I always went there with a great sense of confidence.
I mean, I think I raised the idea with the choir to general incredulity, if I remember. We’d only been going for a little over a year, maybe 18 months, something like that. And for some crazy reason, I thought we should go and do it, even if we didn’t win, which wasn’t exactly on the agenda at the time.
It would be a great experience. It’d be a weekend away, never to be forgotten, as indeed it was. It was sort of like several weekends away, never to be forgotten.
But it was such a wonderful experience. It really put the choir on the map, certainly when we won. But I think it did a great deal for us, each of us, just starting on what has become a 30-year journey.
James O’Brien: One of the interesting things for me, as well as reporting on the story, is that I was also a member of the local gay and lesbian community. So I was given a bit of access behind the scenes to the story as it unfolded.
ABC Radio Archives: Because every time someone stands up and says, “I’m gay and lesbian,” it’s a brave act.
And when 70 people get up and say it and sing it, and they win a competition, it’s really wonderful. Given that early adverse publicity about the choir coming to Wagga, was there any trepidation about coming to Wagga? Well, we didn’t quite know what to expect when we got here. In fact, you know, we got off the train and got onto the bus, and that was that.
But yeah, we had little second thoughts and stuff, of course. And so winning in the face of that is, you know, even sweeter. The gay and lesbian choir took first place in the community choir section, fighting off six others.
With it, political and artistic kudos. We were competing tonight in the mainstream, nationally, with other mainstream choirs. And as a gay and lesbian choir, we won.
I think that’s really important for the community. Stephen, artistically, what is the significance of this? Musically, it means that the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, which is a group of totally untrained and unauditioned singers, most of whom just can’t read music at all, can meet the challenge, can discover something that they love sharing and communicating with their friends and the wider community, and perform to an Australian class standard. After Wagga, what next? We’ve been invited to sing at the Fifth National AIDS Conference closing dinner, which is a very exciting and prestigious event.
We’re very proud to be part of that. We’ll probably mount another concert early next year as part of the Mardi Gras, and we’re planning to release a CD. International touring has not yet crossed off the agenda.
Getting the choir to Wagga was a major undertaking. So New York or London is a little further off, I think. And I think we’ll actually try and aim to go to the Gay Games in New York in two years’ time.
And I would also like to see the choir go to the Australian Gay Games, the China Standards in Melbourne, in January, long weekend next year, I think we’ll be there. Well, that’s a good thing because we’re part of an ever-widening and very active community in all areas. It’s just fantastic that gay and lesbian people are everywhere and are living and functioning, funnily enough, and enjoying it and starting to say, “Hey, we’re here.”
And celebrating as we can hear. Absolutely.
POSTSCRIPT : I attempted to locate some local members of the organising committee, but unfortunately it was such a long time ago that most have died.
But this is something I recorded at the time. This was the item which played locally on ABC Radio in Wagga, which was very much about the success and challenges for the community itself, as the competition gained further national exposure.
JO: Both artistically, and in terms of popularity, the National Choral Championships are undergoing rapid growth and rapid change, and will expand in coming years, according to one of the judges, Adrian Wintle.
Adrian Wintle (AW): We started very modestly, as you’re aware in 1990 with seven choirs actually entering, and it’s been pretty much a slow moving thing, but it’s starting to spread around, the word of these championships, and as people get to hear about it, and realise it is the richest choral event in Australia, we expect to see even more entries next year.
JO: In terms of quality of performance, where to from where, do you expect to attract better choirs from Australia?
AW: We’re all acutely aware, the judicators, that there are squillions of choirs out there in the wilderness, and we would hope that some of the cathedral choirs, for instance, the collegiate choirs, the university choirs, might see fit to come to Wagga. We also held a think-tank session on the Sunday morning after the event, and we as a committee, gleaned from that various things that will help run the championships in the future including, possibly, the subsidisation of choirs coming in, if we’re to gain sufficient sponsorship to cover the basic travel costs, because we are conscious that Wagga being situtated as it is, represents expenditure of a high order for groups coming in from abroad.
JO: But there was also high praise for the choirs which won from the audience…
Voice Over: The first prize for the male and female choir goes to the Melbourne Chorus of Sweet Adelines.
JO: But Adrian Wintle is fast to point out that it’s artistic merit not just popularity that assures a choir of a win.
AW: There’s a yardstick you apply according to the capabilities, the inherent capabilities of a choir. If you’re judging in a community choir section you can’t expect the attainment of that community choir to rival that of a professional or a sub-professional, advanced chamber choir. And the set works reflect that sort of division, if you like. But within the perceived limits of a particular section you look for excellence.
JO: One of the big surprises was the win by the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir. Crowded earlier this year in a controversy – they were asked to change their name to the “Eastern Suburbs G&L Choir” – the secretary of the choir feels proud of their achievement, to have won first place in the Community Choir section.
Stephen Schafer, Choir Musical Director (SS): Musically, it means the Sydney Gay &and Lesbian Choir, which is a group of totally untrained and unauditioned singers, most of whom just can’t read music at all can meet the challenge, can discover something they love sharing and communicating with their friends and the wider community, and perform to an Australian class standard.: We also got the positive reception from the Wagga people, who were the organisers of the Choral Championships. They were very pleased that we were here; they were very pleased that we won. And that was from the Wagga people, who organised the championships. And that was just terrific to just be accepted for who we are by the people. The other choirs thought we were terrific. In fact we’ve got some here tonight celebrating with us, and we’ve just got a tremendous response from people, in fact better than we expected.
JO: So where to from now? Adrian Wintle believes the championships will grow, attracting bigger and better choirs…
AW: Overall, I think it speaks of an expansion. We as a committee have to be ready to cope with that. We have to be sensitive to the requirement of these choirs coming in, to offer them the prospect of reasonable accommodation, and for that, we need the assistance of the Motelier’s Association, which support us already. We have to ensure they have adequate rehearsal space when they get here. There was a thing that was floated at the “think-tank” session concerning the use of churches which led to a suggestion, perhaps, we should have a category for church choirs. And all this sort of material from around and aired suggests that we’re on the bring of a choral music explosion.
Under the headlights of a nearby vehicle, I happened upon some stencil work in progress in the lane-way between Crown Street and Wiltshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia.
It’s all about the new shop next door which is opening soon, apparently.And this is what it looked like the following morning.
The digitised newspaper project from from the National Library of Australia (aka Trove) is awesome. I love it. I’ve known a fair bit about my convict ancestors, as their lives were reasonably well documented through official government records. But searching through the newspapers, I have discovered a whole bunch of reports about many of my others ancestors family members that I hadn’t known previously, and would have been near impossible if I’d had to spend thousands of hours reading microfilms of country newspapers.
For example, both of my grandfathers appeared in court on charges of public drunkeness and obscene language.
The Southern Star (Bega) on Saturday 1 December 1906, page 4 reported that my paternal grandfather James O’Brien appeared in court along with Joseph Noonan (his brother-in-law) on using obscene language in public.
James O’Brien was charged with using obscene language in Bega Street on the morning of November 11. He pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. Curtis. Constable Turner deposed to being attracted to the Bridge Lane after midnight on the 10th by a row which could be heard all over the town; he stood by the roadside, and heard defendant use the words complained of.
By Mr. Curtis : Was in Gipps street when I first heard the noise; there were five men there; was sure defendant was the right man; did not know who the two were who cleared out; he was not making fish of one, and flesh of another; they were all under the influence of liquor; did not know whether there were two horses or one in the buggy.
James Sirl deposed to having been in bed, and hearing bad language on the road. Defendant denied using the language; there were six of them altogether; he was holding the horses when the Constable arrived; asked him what charge he had against me, and be would not say.
By Sergeant Scott: Had two whiskies and three beers that night, but was not drunk (laughter) ; used no bad language; Noonan wanted to fight; am sober now; had two drinks this morning.
Mr. T. J. Bateman, J.P., of Numbugga, whom accused works for, gave him a good character, and said he had never heard him use a bad word. The Bench were unanimous in convicting defendant, and fined him 5s and 6s costs.
Joseph Noonan was charged with using indecent language on the same occasion, and pleaded not guilty, being defended by Mr. Curtis. The constable’s evidence was similar to the former case. Defendant denied using the words complained of, although he may have used other words; he was half-drunk. The P.M.: Which half — the head or the legs?
Witness said they were on their way home, and had a quarrel with two men on the road; O’Brien had a bit of a tussle with Bourke. Jas. 0’Brien deposed that defendant did not use the language.
Larry Bourke was also called, but he stated that he was too drunk to know what was said; he and O’Brien had a row, and he thought he got the worst of it. Mr. Bateman also gave Noonan a very good character, and addded he had never heard him use a bad word. Fined £1 and 65 4d costs. Mr. Curtis gave notice of appeal. Larry Bourke was fined 5s and 4s 4d costs for riotous conduct
My maternal grandfather, Charles Henry Dunn also appeared in court for being drunk in public, as was reported in The Northern Star of June 19, 1940…
Pleading guilty at the Lismore Police Court to having been drunk in Molesworth-street on Saturday night, Henry Snook (72) was fined 5s, with the alternative of three hours’ hard labour. Patrick James Daley (52), who was charged with being drunk in Molesworth-street on Saturday after noon, and Charles Henry Dunn (50), charged with drunkenness in Union street, South Lismore, on the same day, failed to appear, and forfeited their recognisances of 10s each.
I, of course, have never been drunk and have never used obscene language :)
Through Trove, I also recently discovered my uncle, Henry O’Brien was involved in an alleged robbery (though discharged) in Lismore, as was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of Monday, 16 April 1928 (page 12)…
ROBBERY CHARGE FAILS.
GRAFTON, Saturday. Before Mr. Justice ferguson, in the Supreme Court, two young men, John Joseph Creen, and Henry Augusta O’Brien, were charged with having, at Lismore, broken and entered the jewellery premises of Michael Phillips and stolen 12 watches, 50 bangles, and 24 rings. A plea of guilty was entered by O’Brien, but Green pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor stated that as O’Brien was an accomplice, and would be wanted to give evidence, the Crown prayed that no judgment be entered against him. His Honor (to O’Brien): You are released. After evidence had been heard, His Honor said the only direct evidence against Green was that of O’Brien, who was an accomplice. It was dangerous to take the evidence of an accomplice unless corrobated by some material evidence. The Jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and accused was discharged.
Most of these stories would never have appeared in a major newspapers whereas, of course, in country newspapers they received top billing. There’s also a tendency for newspapers to report the negative and salacious, but thankfully, the newspaper search has not all been resulting in doom and gloom, as I’ve also found some lovely reports of weddings, engagements and such.
Anyway a big “thumbs up” to the National Library of Australia for this project and a recommendation to go for a search if you dare :)
The words “rights and responsibilities” were my key takeaways from attending today’s Limbs 4 Life meeting in Parramatta. Limbs for Life is Australia’s peak advocacy and support organisation for the limb loss community. Running a series of regional and capital city meetings across the country throughout the year, the organisation plays a vital role in connecting a heavily dispersed community.
We live in a country with agreed international human rights conventions around disability, backed by a robust medical system and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While the NDIS is currently facing cutbacks with real implications for the limb loss community, we still have access to resources that can genuinely transform lives. We are so much better off than people living in many other countries.
Yet those rights carry distinct responsibilities.
As people with limb loss, we have a responsibility to self-educate (where we are able to) —seeking out as much information as possible to make informed personal decisions. Today’s meeting highlighted diverse channels for this, from peer support and medical research to online groups and educational videos.
We also carry financial responsibilities, particularly when navigating complex systems. A major point of discussion was the stark difference in supports and funding available depending on whether someone accesses services through the NDIS versus aged care, which can drastically shape an individual’s access to proper equipment and care as they age.
Working through practical scenarios—such as handling incorrect or faulty equipment—underscored the need to look after those funds. With reduced funding for disability services in Australia, we must make the best use of the system, appropriately challenge allied health professionals, and look out for one another.
Overcoming Isolation and Discovering Shared Journeys
A report from a few years ago estimated a conservative 180,000 to 190,000 people living with varying degrees of amputation in Australia. Despite being one of the largest disability groups in the country, isolation is a common thread.
I spoke with a bilateral amputee in a wheelchair who shared how isolated she felt in the hospital after losing her legs, receiving zero peer support at the time. That feeling of isolation is something most of us experience.
Conversations today also highlighted the sheer variety of limb loss experiences. My own journey involved sepsis, undiagnosed diabetes, and a cut foot from an infection on the beach that resulted in necrotising fasciitis—a fairly dramatic situation. Yet others have totally different stories.
I spoke with one woman who shared the incremental nature of her amputations starting back in 2010, eventually resulting in the loss of both legs.
For some, living with an amputation has been a long-term adaptation spanning 50 or 60 years. For others, it is a very recent adjustment; I met an older man for whom it had been only three weeks, yet he was getting around brilliantly and felt overwhelmingly positive.
Advocacy, Invoices, and Postcode Lotteries
While social connection was a major anchor of the day, we also dug deep into crucial advocacy issues.
We looked at how to closely examine provider invoices, noting that new line items for “training and education” are creeping in to help company bottom lines, forcing us to question what those charges actually entail.
We also discussed how securing prosthetics often involves mountains of administrative work and billed hours that may not reflect reality.
Furthermore, we explored how drastically different things are between the states, especially regarding postcode lotteries in funding and service access. For instance, in New South Wales and Queensland, we can choose our prosthetists, whereas in Victoria and other states, that choice is restricted.
One regional woman mentioned having a prosthetist just down the road from her small town, but because that provider isn’t covered by her state scheme, she is forced to drive a couple of hundred kilometres to another regional city—a truly bureaucratic and exhausting hurdle.
The Force Behind the Movement: Melissa Noonan
No reflection on Limbs for Life would be complete without acknowledging its heart and engine, Melissa Noonan.
Melissa is a an above-knee amputee who lost her legs in a tragic train accident 23 years ago. Finding herself in a hospital bed with virtually no information, support, or guidance at the time, she turned her personal trauma into a national lifeline.
She co-founded Limbs for Life and has served as its driving force, CEO, and founder for the past 20 years, helping thousands of Australians navigate the realities of limb difference.
She is an incredible force of nature—someone you wouldn’t want to encounter as a bureaucrat on the other end of the phone. She understands the fine administrative details just as well as the big-picture issues, and she delivers her insights with a wonderful mix of empathy, lived experience, and humour. Organisations like Limbs for Life—and leaders like Melissa—prove just how powerful community-led advocacy can be.
You know how the weekend is supposed to be when you relax, and catch up, and get your life back in order after working hard all week? In theory at least you should feel refreshed.
It’s now Sunday night and I’m bloody exhausted. This is despite the fact that I had an afternoon nap on the couch. And despite the fact that I didn’t do all that much today except go out for lunch with some friends.
After my recent lunchtime experience at the Tap House Hotel (excellent roast), I invited four friends to join me for lunch there.
Unfortunately today the roast was a little tough. I’m guessing it had been carved a little too early. The rest of the meal – two plates of antipasto and a swathe of chocolate deserts – however, was excellent.
They’ve done a terrific job on the upstairs renovation of this wonderful old pub, without the need to resort to polished boards or faux-Irish fittings.
Tap House Hotel
It’s a very comfortable place where you can have a meal and then retire to some nearby couches to finish off that last glass of wine or beer.
I’m hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight, as the week ahead is reasonably busy.
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You don’t know this bloke but his grandmother was one of the Love family
You don’t know this bloke but his grandmother was one of the Love family
http://www.pinterest.com/tryphinia/w-h-mclaughlin-9051-7th-field-ambulance-australian/
It looks as if it was a bit chilly, judging from your attire and Mr Abbott’s stance.
The morning started at minus 5!