A visit to Griffith Base Hospital ....

A couple of years ago I had a visit to hospital for a surgical procedure and while it was just day surgery, I freaked out. I was held together by friends who provided amazing support. So imagine my experience this week as I had a simple insect bite, that had become infected and turn into a nasty ulcer hosting a bug that is resistant to just about every medical resource we have available to us, checked after a visit to Emergency a couple of weeks ago.

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. 

"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. 

Boat People - One man's journey to safety.

Thank you Ruby Blumer for this link to the Area News. Politicians, (or their spin doctors) create and build campaigns based on suspects fears of a population, or create bogeyman so the focus shifts from the real Job politicians are there for.

It has been very easy to demonise refugees as Boat People, because its far removed from the real lives of most people. Most of us have never been exposed to what these people have had to survive through, day in and day out for much of their lives and indeed for some its generational. We don't know what it is like to flee the place you love and grew up in, to leave family, friends and everything familiar and just run. We don't know what its like to languish in a "refugee camps" for years on end, no job, no education, nothing nothing nothing util even the hope in your eyes dies and fades.

Murrumbidgee MarraMarra

Recently I walked into the Griffith Regional Art Gallery to view the Murrumbidgee Marramarra Exhibition, and as I stepped into the exhibition space I was overwhelmed with what I saw. 

At this point can I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Gallery stands and the community I am part of and indeed I have spent my whole life on.  The land of the Wiradjuri Nation. I acknowledge Elders, significantly in this exhibition, those who have already passed on ahead, and those who have taken on this critical role today, they have left an imprint of cultural heritage within the artists who have participated and the community across this region. 

This exhibition of Aboriginal Artists from the Western region of the Riverina is exquisite. Works from Wayne Krause, Ros Lockhart, Sarah Weymouth, William Ingram, Rodney Simpson, Veronica Collins, Cory McKenzie, Alan McKenzie, Sos Hawkins, and Tyneika Powell to name but a few, will seriously bowl you over in their beauty, complexity and shear size. 

Exclusive One Off Screening - The Last Man on the Moon

This Screening of The Last Man on the Moon will not happen as we didn't reach the required target of 49 tickets sold by the 20th June.

Okay  team, it looks like not enough of us are interested in Documentaries on Space and The Apollo Moon missions.   Thats a shame because it looks like we missed the 49 bums on seats by 36.  We only had 12 tickets pressed as of 11pm Sunday night. 

So unless there is a big rush tomorrow (the deadline is 4pm Monday 20th June) then you will have to be content with a small screen event. Follow the LINK and book your tickets before 4pm Monday Afternoon. Your credit will not be debited until we reach the magic number of 49 tickets. 

https://www.tugg.com/events/116414

What's it like growing up in Regional Australia?

We are a lucky people, whether you are recent arrival or your have lived here all your life, there are many reasons to say this is a good place to grow up and also to raise a family.

The creation Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme in the early 1900's included the establishment Leeton in 1912 and Griffith in 2016. Narrandera which was already well established has continued to grow, though often as a poorer second or third cousin.

Both Leeton and Griffith share a unique bond with our national capital, all three cities were designed by American Walter Burley Griffin and his partner Marion.  All feature the linked circular roads and linked avenues.  It's interesting looking at these designed today, because they reflect the strong geometric patterns found in the Wiradjuri People culture and story telling. 

“Why, this car is auto-matic. It’s system-matic. Its hyyyyydro-matic. Why, it’s greased lightning!”

Memory is a funny thing isn’t it, one minute you’re happily sitting in aisle D seat 51 at the Griffith Regional Theatre in 2016 and next minute, the music swirls around you and suddenly I’m back at Tulloch Lodge, Wagga Wagga, an off campus student accomodation unit run by Student Services at RCAE (Riverina College of Advanced Education) before it grew into a University. It’s 1978, and the music of Grease and the dance moves seem to occupy all of our time outside of study and drinking. We knew every lyric, dance move and had ourselves choreographed to dance (and sing) every part the building at any time of the day or night, we had even created dance moves for the grand double staircase. Grease filled our lives, it connected us and made that first year of college easier and more alive. It was also a musical for our time, the sexual awakening and taboo subjects of the early sixties were brought to stark attention in sharp script for film that had a PG rating at the time.

Step forward from 1978 to 2016, and here we have a Catholic High School, once again stepping up and out on these bold subjects and not glossing over them. Marian College students and the educator team, have placed before us “Grease”, and bring to life Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Kenickie, Doody, Sonny, Putzie, Frenchy, and the even Vince Fontaine. The cast do an outstanding job as a well rehearsed ensemble to bring the biggest smile to your dial, so big that at times tears rolled down my cheeks.

School is about a lot of things, we mostly think its about learning stuff, the reality is about learning who you are, who you aren’t and it also allows you to discover things about yourself and what you can do that you never really knew. We often never see this when we are in the moment, but time allows us to reflect back and we can see those sparks of knowing that rose up for periods of time.


The creative and expressive side of us, is the one of the important links often given less attention in our high school years. The focus on Literacy, Math, Science and sport often taking the limelight and being seen as critical to success in future years. Drama, Music and Art are often relegated to the side and seen as less critical to our future. However, our story as humans, from as far back as the beginning of the Dreaming, through the Songlines of our first nation people and through the stories that tell the journey of modern civilisation from the Sumarians to now, is told through song, dance, story, art and imaginings created by and presented by artists. Creative spirits give voice to who we are and how we see ourselves, so it is with this focus that Marian Catholic College and its education faculty, continue to give this a place of significance every couple of years to t’s expressive self.

Continuing the tradition of the big musical, that for me started under Mechelle Anderson and Make me a Star, a home grown effort that gave opportunity for talent to shine. With the return of Don Hillam to Griffith and in particular to Marian College, we had the promise of his experience in musical theatre and cabaret in Wagga Wagga over many years, being brought to the drama team at the High School. From Fame, The Whiz and now Grease, Don Hillam and his magical team, have not disappointed. He spirited us back to California 1959 and Rydell High School and also to our own pasts.

The set and use of the stage, tells us the guy behind the wheel knows about theatre and how to make it tell your story. His cast is big, choreographed and can sing. His Rizzo, well what a voice, and his Danny and Sandy are well matched in voice, quality and voice, the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds bring the comedy, chorus and also the big issues of the day to the fore. The ensemble behind them, well what more could you ask for.





Once again the use of a live band, this time sitting high above the stage, really tell us this school is nurturing a range of talent and creative elements. It’s a very classy band, tight, on time and well orchestrated, they shine bright, but never overpower the voices of the cast. In other productions there have always been standout voices, strong and vibrant, sometimes they outshone other cast. Tonight though, the voice of Rizzo really matched the character, as it should, the rest of the cast sang their hearts out, but didn’t over power each other, to me it was maybe the first time that attention had been given to really having voices that blended and matched each of the characters.

We are blessed in many ways, given the world and the troubles that impact on peoples lives and happiness can seem so far away. We have schools in our community that make the effort to go that extra mile so that outstanding moments like tonight can seem commonplace or expected. It’s not, its hard work, tonight is an outcome of educators, facilitators of learning and enquiry showing what is possible when support is given in all facets of a students life. Tonight we saw how literacy, maths, and science manifest themselves through creativity. This is an example of the fundamentals of learning telling our story through art. It’s a powerful reminder of what makes teachers really want to do this job, this is inspiring and humbling.

Congratulations to the faculty and leadership team at Marian Catholic College, the families and especially those inspired young people who stepped up on the stage and into the limelight, its a brilliant show and you should feel immensely proud of the value of this production, how it looks, sounds and feels. Powerful beyond words.