Earlier this year I spent a few days finding out about the work done at the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre in Bundaberg on the east coast of Queensland. The IWC’s approach is to involve the local indigenous community in all their decision-making and utilise many of the community elders to bridge the gaps between cultural groups. The centre fills a void that has been experienced, for many years, throughout Australia’s healthcare system for the indigenous community and is working to provide more effective support than current government measures.

This is their story.

[UPDATE: Video is currently offline, I'm working on restoring access to the video as soon as possible]

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It’s that time of year again! It’s the time when Australians get together and celebrate all that’s good about our fantastic country. Most of us celebrate by throwing some snags on the barbie, and watching a bit of Cricket or catching the Tennis action of the Australian Open. However Australia Day for many people means so much more.

Many people choose Australia Day to become Australian Citizens. They choose to make themselves part of this fantastic country. Celebrations happen all around the country to celebrate. It is a truly special moment for all involved. If you ever have the privilege to attend one of these events it is well worth the effort.

Australia Day is also the time where we celebrate some of the most inspirational people you will ever meet. These people generally have done whatever they can to make a difference in the world. They have done whatever they can to bring about change. They range from educated professors, to scientists, to human rights advocates, to sports personalities, to elderly people who have dedicated their life to their careers, to the young Australians who are just starting out. The Australian Of The Year Awards not only celebrate everything that Australia stands for but they celebrate people who are really changing the world!

Here are a few of those people!

2009 Australian Of The Year - Professor Michael Dodson AM

Professor Dodson is an Aboriginal Leader and proud Australian who has played a significant part in the push for equal rights for indigenous people. He played a key role in pushing for the Australian Government to say sorry to the stolen generation in 2008. Professor Dodson serves as Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, and has worked in roles for numerous organisations including the UN. Professor Dodson is a brilliant but yet humble Australian and represents all the values which Australians believe in. He is a very worth recipient of the highest award offered on Australia Day.

Find Out More About Michael Dodson HERE!

2009 Senior Australian Of The Year - Pat LaManna OAM

The Italian born Pat LaManna moved to Australia in 1948 and suffered years of racism and financial trouble before he found his calling as an entrepreneur. However Pat LaManna did not ever forget his background and used his skills to benefit many charities and organisations. He founded the highest fundraising Lions club in Australia, The Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 and has been elected president of the club seven times. Pat LaManna has also raised significant amounts of money (over $1.5 Million) though the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation. Pat LaManna is certainly an extraordinary Australian and worthy receiver of this award.

You can find out more about Pat LaManna HERE!

2009 Young Australian Of The Year - Jonty Bush

29 year old Jonty Bush has already experienced terrible tragedies in her young life. While she was 21 her sister was murdered. Not only did that cause immense sadness and grief but just 5 months later her father was killed in an unprovoked attack. Most people would take a long time to recover, however Jonty decided to volunteer for the Queensland Homicide Victim’s Support Group and help others through their time of need. From her excellent work as a volunteer Jonty was made CEO by the age of 27. Jonty has also been a campaigner to prevent further tragedy by starting the One Punch Can Kill campaign. The campaign has been so successful that the Queensland Government has taken it on in an attempt to prevent further deaths. Jonty is no doubt a worthy recipient of the Young Australian Of The Year award and is certainly an inspiration for all other who have gone through any kind of tragedy.

You can find out more about Jonty Bush HERE!

2009 Australia’s Local Hero – Graeme Drew

Graeme Drew is a professional fisherman living in Bremer Bay, Western Australia. Graeme has played a significant role in making the oceans off Western Australia safer. He is involved with Sea Rescue and founded the Bremer Bay SES. He has been known to always help out in times of need, often at the sacrifice of personal time and money in the search for missing people and vessels out on the water. Graeme started a trust to help with ocean safety in honour of his nephew, who was swept out to sea by a rip and died in 2003. Graeme Drew is a true Local Hero and worth recipient of this award.

You can find out more about Graeme Drew HERE!

Congratulations to all the recipients! You are all truly inspirational and deserving of your awards.

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After watching the great video on the importance of saying thank-you, I realised that this is one area where I fail. Sure I say thank-you all the time, but those people are not really the ones who are important to me. They are not people who I spend all my time with. They are people I meet in an elevator at work, or in a class at university.

While I do connect with some of them, the time I spend with them is very short. Most of my time is spent with family and friends. These are the people who deserve a lot more thanks and appreciation then I give. In fact I probably give those superficial friends more thanks and appreciation than my closest family and friends.

I know I’m not alone, I know many people struggle with this. So what can we do about it?? What can we do to let people know that we appreciate them?

Here are 3 quick steps that you can follow to let people know you appreciate them.

Step 1: Take the Time to Say Thank You

Ok it seems pretty obvious that it is important to say thank-you…. but how often do you actually say it?

I don’t mean saying thanks as an off handed remark. e.g ‘thanks for passing the salt’…. but I do mean ‘Mum, I love you and I really appreciate all the work you put into dinner tonight, it was fantastic! Thank-You!’.

See the difference between those two remarks. Both were simple. Both conveyed thanks. However only one was out of genuine love and appreciation.

It is important that we do take that extra heartbeat to express our thanks in a meaningful way. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it shows how much you really care.

Step 2: Give a Hug

Such a simple gesture can mean so much! Giving people we appreciate a hug should never be awkward. It should be easy, and it means a lot. People need to feel loved and appreciated, and hugging is one of the best ways! and Men, a manly handshake is not going to do it for everyone! Don’t be afraid to go in for the big bear hug!

It is often said that people need up to 10 hugs a day to feel truly loved. Maybe that one hug you give a person could be the thing that brightens their day. If you really appreciate someone, maybe even more than one is appropriate.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2

What good is a plan if you aren’t going to repeat it over and over again?

Take the time out of your day to truly let somebody know you care…. but don’t just stop with that one person! Let everyone who matters to you know how much they mean. A few simple words and a hug are enough to brighten someone’s day.

Not only will it make them feel great.. but you will be feeling pretty fantastic yourself!

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Photo credits, wedgienet, Lst1984, and Jey-Heich

How great does it feel when someone says a simple thank-you! It is one of the greatest feelings. It makes you feel wanted, needed, and loved. However we often don’t say thank-you to the people that really need it.

Check out this video of Dr. Laura Trice examining the issue, and take the time to say Thank-You to the people that matter.

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Once of the most valuable resources a student has is time given by a teacher. Time is the ultimate gift, and is something that should be shared. Check out the video below of Dave Eggers great idea for tutoring, and then think about what you might be able to do in the life of a student you know.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QbzvT6vko

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A friend sent me a link to an amazing website today. The website is called TED. This website is unlike any I have ever come across. TED is about spreading ideas, spreading real ideas, explaining things which you may never have ever understood.

The link my friend sent me was for this great video on moving sculptures. Arthur Ganson makes machines out of different objects. However these are not just any machines… these machines have a purpose. A sole discreet responsibility that they serve. They are absolutely amazing!!

Check out the video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://enspri.com/2008/10/18/amazing-moving-sculptures/feed/ 0 http://enspri.com/2008/10/10/10-years-of-the-vienna-vegetable-orchestra-the-health-benefits-are-amazing/ http://enspri.com/2008/10/10/10-years-of-the-vienna-vegetable-orchestra-the-health-benefits-are-amazing/#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:47:01 +0000 Kristofor Lawson http://enspri.com/?p=274

When I was younger I was always told to eat my greens. However it seems that members of Vienna’s Vegetable Orchestra may have missed that vital message.

If you did not pick up by the name, the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra is an orchestra which plays on instruments made from vegetables. They have it all from the pepper trumpet, to the leek violin, to the cucumberphone.

They also claim to not be limited by musical style, and in fact one of the members has been quoted as saying their style was – ‘electronic organic music’.

Each show they perform apparently requires 70 kg of fresh organic produce. They then carve out the instruments for each concert. Thats quite an effort!

Anyway, this year is their 10th birthday. I wonder if they have spun out a great rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ yet.

Check out the video! It’s pretty amazing if you ask me!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo credit, Nickwheeleroz

If I said to you that Jayme Paris won a bronze medal in Beijing, you most probably don’t know who I am talking about. However you should!

Jayme is an Australian Paralympic cyclist from Maryong, NSW.

She started cycling just a few short years ago, after seeing a call from a 2004 Paralympian for more people to take up the sport.

Jayme has Cerebral Palsy, but has not let herself be stopped. In fact there are many cyclists who would never be able to beat her times. She is a truly brilliant cyclist with a list of achievements in her short career which would rival someone who had been cycling for many more years.

After the 500m Time Trial, Jayme is now a world record holder, and now a Bronze medalist in Beijing.

Just when you thought all the brilliance of the Olympics had come to an end, the event with the real inspirational stories have just begun.

Last night marked the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic games.

Beijing turned on a show for the many athletes. The ceremony was in every way just as spectacular as the opening for the Olympics.

After watching several of the events, I am convinced that each one of the athletes at the Paralympics deserves every bit of support. Just watching them compete was absolutely amazing.

They are doing an incredible job for their countries, doing many of the same events as in the Olympics.

They have all beaten their disability, and are there to represent everything they have been through.

They are the real heroes of Beijing!

Watch out over the next few weeks for all the action from Beijing.

Here are a few photos from the ceremony.

Photo credit, WQ

This is no other way to describe this video but amazing! You have to watch the video and you will see what I am talking about!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click Here for High Quality Version