a journey shared ..

The Warangesda: Deep Waters is the next chapter in what has become such a quintessential component of the Griffith Regional Art Gallery's annual exhibition calendar, I think it's the fourth collaboration with Western Riverina Arts and local and regional Aboriginal Artists.

Can I suggest the Evonne Goolagong-Cawley Arena

I understand that Margaret Court is entitled to her opinion, however her stance against same sex partners being entitled to be married under the Marriage Act, continues to be at odds with the majority of Australians and continues to cause pain. 

Reflections on the hidden impact of the Great War on our nation.

Lee Kernaghan, Guy Sebastian, Sheppard, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll & Megan Washington got together a few years ago as began Commemorating 100 years since the Great War, 'Spirit of the Anzacs', a tribute to those that have given their lives, those who have served, and those that still today step bravely into the unknown to serve our country. 

“The blood is the life!”

They're Back!! Yes the Shake & Stir Theatre Company are back to scare us out of our wits with Bram Stokers's gothic tale of "Dracula". As they say "another bloody classic.

Griffith Central Preschool Opening and Farewell

Aunty Gloria, John and Adrian, family and friends, thank you and I apologise for the next few minutes as I share what the last 30 plus years was like and what it has given me.  I also apologise at the start for the tears, those that know me understand that I'm a sook when I stand in front of crowds and even gatherings of friends is no better.

It's Time

On January 13th 1986, I walked through the doors of Griffith Child Care Centre as its new Manager, previously I had worked on a Mobile Children's Service and at TAFE Griffith Campus teaching the first intake of Child Care Students and on February 13th 2017, will be the final day of continuous service with what became Griffith Child Care Centre Inc and its two EC services - Dorothy Waide Centre for Early Learning and Griffith Central Preschool and the family support program Griffith Connections.

Thank you Minister.

Can I just how disappointed I am at the cabinet reshuffle today. It's all about politics, not about the right person for the job, and even in political party's, the slicing and dicing about who deserves this and who gets that, who gets my retribution is played just as hard as across debating table.

Donald Turnbull and Malcolm Trump - twins out of the Alien.

Its crazy isn't it. We have vilified Trump because of we consider him dangerous, a buffoon and someone that everyone has an opinion on. Yet we are no better, we have a government in power that no longer trust facts, and one that is hellbent on staring Global Warming down, until they are under at least 3 metres of water. 

Our Education Future - what is possible

This week I had the opportunity to participate in the thinking on the Future of Education in our community. I have long believed that our system is failing young people in how it prepares them for the world of their future.

One National Park, Three Rivers and Nine Artists

Something has happened, I'm sure that someone, somehow has picked us up and moved us to a parallel universe. Why? You ask! It's like this, I've been taking notice of the creatives in our community, the people who tell our stories, record our histories and even look into dark inner head spaces and extract the dim and dark moments that haunt us.  The stories have become bold, big and told with a  sense of urgency that says notice me, NO LOOK AT ME and then it grabs, caresses you and flashes its blue eyes at you and you are gone, its like a thunderbolt. You are in love.

"Constance on the Edge" Documentary Film by Belinda Mason

Few of us know what it is like to be a refugee, to flee in the middle of the night, as your home or village is invaded and live in the constant fear of being captured, tortured or killed. Actually that statement is wrong, because Griffith is a community that is made up of refugees from wars and hostilities around the world for much of the last century. 

CIRCA - Camille Saint-Saëns “Carnival of the Animals”

A story on the Circus, I believe, should always start with a short history lesson.  I actually thought I was going to be telling you about the Roman Empire, and how those great edifices to entertainment, violence and mass slaughter, the Roman Circuses, were the precursor to the modern circus. Those great open air entertainment facilities, were actually great race tracks, big enough for chariot races, sea battles and then the battles of Gladiators. The areas were not circular either, but instead two linear race tracks with a curved enclosure at each end. So lesson learnt, the modern racetrack owes its design to the ancient roman empire and for the modern Circus we have to look to more recent history.

The modern circus began in England after the end of the Seven Years War (thats the one where Britain had a barney with France and Spain, then Prussia, Austria  and Russia got involved, anyway it left Europe in a bit of a mess, laid the foundation for future conflicts, but that is another story.  Our story is about Philip Astley ho created what we now know as Circus in 1768. He established a performance arena he called a circle or as it would become known as “circus”.   Ashley had served in the Seven Years War in the 15th Light Dragons Regiment where he showed great talent with horses, and following the war he chose to imitate the trick riders that were performing across Europe. With trick riders as the start he then started to add other elements he took from theatre, clowns, jugglers, tumbling, and rope tricks.  His “circus’ was built on the talents of his artists their strength, agility and ability to connect with an audience.   

Transhumanism and its impact on children and learning

Technology is for some of us is an extension of who we are and essentially built into our very being, for others its unfathomable and alien, confusing and irrelevant. I'm listening to the new Guru in my life Jason Silva and his thoughts on technology and humans.  I work in early childhood and see that technology and children are made for each other in way that has never happened before.  The designers of new technology have studied how we engage with tools for so long that now we are at a stage where the machinery we are using is more attuned to how we engage, its intuitive, learning and reactive. We want and need to touch, talk, look and participate, its so powerful.