New Course of Action

Published in 'Newslink', Headstart ABI Service; September, 2016

Okay, so the job I wrote of back in March fell through. Long story short, I’m no longer working there as the correct support structures were not put in place. Though disheartening at first, in the months since I have found new focus and regained my zing.

At the end of August I began working at a Kombucha plant in town nearby. Dating back many, many hundreds of years, the drink Kombucha is said to be full of healthy bacteria which is of great benefit to the digestive system. There a despatch assistant, I help organise and put together the boxes for the online orders, as well as maintaining the drinks store-room.

I have also been attending the North Arm Cove writers’ monthly meetings. They’re a good bunch, all productive writers who make good use of the well set-out local community hall over there. That was a real pick-me-up, and has provided a welcome link with like-minded contemporaries who are always ready to share tips and advice.

As well as that, since last year I have been involved with the Artist Run Initiative Newcastle (ARIN) run by the Octapod. They will hold their inaugural exhibition in November this year with the theme being, ‘Not My Place’. This recognises the many individual barriers we all face…barriers which in turn help each of us define our place in this world. There are a total of 16 artists who will feature in this exhibition, including painters, graphic designers, poets, and musicians. A diverse bunch, it promises to be an interesting show.

North Arm Cove Writers

Club Newsletter, Wyong Toastmasters; September, 2016

Since May I’ve been involved with the North Arm Cove Writers, who have been together since 1997.  

The group meets at the same time each month. After the meeting’s opening where general business concerns are looked at, people are invited to share. In May, for example, one lady said how she’d seen on QI that “there are 923 exceptions to the rule I-before-E”, which prompted another chap to explain that it was “more a convention than an actual rule.” 

Then comes the bout of ‘slam writing’, where we simply write whatever we wish for two minutes then share that round the table. You’d be surprised what some people can do in just two minutes. This is followed by that month’s lesson which will vary in topic- already since May, we have looked at writing mysteries, comedy writing, rhyming poetry and children’s writing. Exercise from the previous month is shared, and the quality is always admirable.

They’re a good bunch, with some interesting characters. There’s a (very funny!) bush poet, brilliant at Clarence Town the other week, who can churn out poems like you wouldn’t believe. The NACW secretary is simultaneously the secretary for the Fellowship of Australian Writers and writes the North Arm Cove News, bringing a wealth of skills to the fore. And another chap is an artist who has also published a couple of fantasy novels as well. Networking is encouraged too, with a successful BBQ with visitors from Port Stephens held in July that is set to be reciprocated in November.

NACW is a long-running and industrious group of fellow-minded individuals who encourage each other to keep striving towards their goals. About to enter its third decade of operation, it shows no sign of winding down. I hope to be a member for some time yet.

The proper channels? Trust me- it's worth it

Published in 'Newslink', Headstart ABI Service; March, 2016

IT'S BEEN 10 years coming, but I finally have a job! After last year studying Aged Care, in February I started working with RSL Lifecare over at Hawks Nest. Can’t rest on my laurels, though, as Centrelink requires me to regularly check in on set dates.

To make the most of my pension, Centrelink needs to know the correct information- who my employer was, the number of hours worked and the total amount earned for that two week period. With this information and done via an individual online account, the system can then be updated every fortnight.

To help users out, employment worksheets can be found and downloaded from online at humanservices.gov.au. Having these and payslips close at hand allows you to easily keep track of your working life and quickly refer back to the needed details. When the time comes, then, all that has to be done is to log on to your Centrelink account and report your earnings!

For years it’s been frustrating, as talking to anybody there has typically required either waiting until a summons is issued, sitting for hours on the phone or visiting an office nearby (which isn’t always as easy as you’d think). But now with an online account, hopefully all those measures will be a thing of the past. Let’s just hope I can keep my eye on the ball…

We Are Richer For His Legacy

Published in 'Newslink', Headstart ABI Service; December 2015

ON THE 22^nd of October, several hundred people met at Paddington Uniting Church for the funeral of Sam de Brito. As an author, columnist and amongst many other things supporter of the Disabled Surfers’ Association, he’ll be sorely missed.

Waiting for the ceremony to begin, it was impossible not to overhear snippets of conversation. “He was a rattish rogue,” said one friend; “possibly the most infuriating person I knew,” said another. Sam loved to goad, see, and was not afraid of a good verbal stoush. The minister of the Wayside Chapel recalled how one evening Sam rang saying, “so what’s Luther’s problem?”

In his eulogy, Sam’s brother-in-law spoke of how he was called once just before a news conference. “What’s up, Sammy?” he’d asked. “Nuthin’,” came the reply. “Just called to say I love’ya, mate- you love me too, right?” “Of course I do, Sammy!” “Well, how do I know if you never say so?” “Okay Sammy- I love ya’ too, mate.”

As the ceremony ended, the reverend told us he’d once been dragged along to a game of baseball. “Never understood the thrill of whacking a ball about with just a matchstick,” he said, “but that night a player hit the ball right out of the park and he got a standing ovation.” It was like he had covered all the spectators with glory, he explained, and in the way he had lived with his genuine quest to understand life, Sam did much the same for us.

So that’s exactly what we did on this day. As we all stood there seeing off the hearse on Oxford Street, suddenly clapping, whistles, cheers and even a cry of “yeah, Sammy!” erupted, lingering in the air as the vehicle receded. You may have abruptly left us, Sam- but your memory will not.