Dr Affie Adagio – Page 7 – Life Coach, Family Therapist, Marriage Celebrant, Trainer specialising in dependencies: compulsions & recovery

UN IWD International Women’s Day Seminar March 10, 2014

UN IWD International Women’s Day is officially on 8th March and this year that takes place on Saturday. However a Seminar is held on Monday 10th March. In Sydney UNAA(NSW) and co sponsor Humanist Society of NSW are committed through me, the Convenor/Founder, to celebrate this important women’s event by raising women’s profile and at the same time enabling access for the community to State Parliament House.

UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (NSW)

AND

HUMANIST SOCIETY OF NSW

PRESENT

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY on 10th MARCH 2014

STATE PARLIAMENT HOUSE THEATRETTE

THEME: Ending Poverty for Women & Girls

(photo: girls from Afganistan)

2.30 MC/Convenor: Dr Affie Adagio Exec Ctee UNAA(NSW), HUMSOCNSW Hon Sec, Past President

Welcome to Country: Aunty Joan Tranter, Aunty Joan Tranter, Inaugural Elder in Residence, Jumbunna, Indigenous House of Learning – University of Technology

Opening Ceremony: The Hon Marie Ficarra MLC Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier of NSW representing the Premier and Parliamentary Sponsor for the Event

2.45 Introduction Valerie Weekes Past President UNAA(NSW)

3.00 Grameen Foundation : Duncan Power

3.15 Ending Poverty for Women & Girls: Sue Conde Past President UNWA

3.30 Resettlement of Immigrants in Australia from Great Lakes of Africa: Dr Nadine Shema (GLAPD)

3.50 The Position of Indigenous Women Today: Aunty Joan Tranter, Inaugural Elder in Residence, Jumbunna, Indigenous House of Learning – University of Technology

4.10 Palestine and Israel: A Woman’s View: Vivienne Porzolt (from the Airport to the IWD Seminar)

4.30 Afternoon Tea : please RSVP asap for catering purposes

$10 pre-payment to UNAA(NSW) or HUMANIST SOCIETY OF NSW PO Box K229 Haymarket 1240 Peter Airey

payments will be accepted on the day but it will be easier if payments are made before by Friday 7th March by post.

My 70th Birthday & International Woman’s Day Fundraiser

You are invited by these 2 sponsors:

Â Â Â Â UNAA (NSW) (United Nations Association of Australia) and HumSocNSW (Humanist Society)

to bring your friends and family and celebrate my 70th birthday which is also UN IWD (International Women’s Day). This is a FUNDRAISER for those 2 non profit organisations so instead of bringing me a present please donate $20 per person (children under 16 free) – food and soft drink provided (byo alcohol)

VENUE: Turanga Building (private garden)Â 1 Phillip St (opp George St cnr) WATERLOO
Free parking areas other side of No 1 and 3 buildings Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â for this party only so disregard NO PARKING SIGNS inside

COME AND HAVE REAL FUN, DANCE, LAUGH, EAT, AND ENJOY LIFE – GREEKS CALL IT “KEFI”

Â ENTERTAINER: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SAM PELLEGRINO:Â Singer/Guitarist

He will have you dancing in the aisles to “rock ‘n roll”, “twist again”, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Latin American street dance and the latest music too

Â DATE: SATURDAYÂ 8th Â MARCHÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â TIME:Â Â 1-4pm

For children there is a playground,Â bicycle path, and basketball court, for parent supervised play in the largeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â landscaped park area.

Pre paid booking PLEASE and state Affie’s 70th

RSVP 1st MARCH for catering purposes. will collect on the day too (call Affie & book)

DONATIONS by mail before 7th March please:UNAA(NSW) PO Box K229 Haymarket 1240 Attention Dr Peter Airey or
HUMANIST SOCIETY OF NSW PO Box 617 POTTS POINT 1335 Attention Dr. Victor Bien

Honouring your heritage

It’s great to integrate into the culture which we have chosen to settle, such as I was born in Romania of Greek father. We came out as refugees, 300 Greek families from Romania who had been released by the Russians to leave due to our Greek nationality and from Greece on the Marshall Plan (agreeing to be declared stateless) choosingÂ Australia and arriving on the transport ship – General Ballou at Sydney in March 26th 1950 with my family. We settled in our new country nicely – my father George Polimeris, mother Eugenia, brother Apollon (5) and myselfÂ Aphrodita (6) all speaking Greek and Romanian, except that my mother spoke self taught Italian, French, Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Hungarian, Spanish,Â and my father learned Italian in Australia, we all learned English too

The Greek Romanians formed the Hellenic Cultural Association Acropolis (Greeks from Romania) and they organised regular get togethers such as the New Year’s Eve Dance and a picnic in the Royal National Park each year. In my thirties I became an Office Bearer on the Committee of this organisation then moved away and now I have returned to them and been voted on again at the end of 2013. This January we had a picnic at Ashfield Park and it was well attended with the Romanian Consul and his wife being there. There was music played on a violin by Olga just as she did when I was younger and we ate bbq skinless Romanian sausages with salad and shared the New Year’s Cake (Vasilopita) hoping to be the one to win the $400 gold coin. I felt warm and fuzzy inside with a bit of sadness because my father, mother and brother have died and yet it all seems just like yesterday with all these familiar people who know me and I know from so far back, how amazing is that – it’s like I’ve come home from a trip away.

I remember the first time I learnt to dance atÂ 8 was when all the children my age bounced around close up inÂ front of the band as they played. Then my father began (my mother had abandoned us taking my disabled brother with her),Â teaching me how to dance the tango and waltz. After that I learned for my debut Greek folk dancing which as a mother I taught my children and other children making up the multi ethnic children’s dance group performing at festivals. This came about when I became an ethnic community worker as my profession – I was educating people on the importance of honouring their heritage. In this dance group some of my children’s (Paul and Tina) friends were Italian, Yugoslav (as it was called then), Chinese, Greek Egyptian, and Anglo heritage. So I took my kids to, say, the Chinese Youth dance group and they taught us how to do the scarf dance and to the Romanian dance group who taught us how to dance some folk dances etc. The wholeÂ group then were able to dance a variety of ethnic dances regardless of their ethnic origin. The dancers ranged in age from 7 to 14 and they performed to celebrate events such as Children’s week in the Town Hall square to the opening of the Ethnic Child Care Development Unit in 1979 of which I was the founding Co-ordinator and which was funded by the Federal Government Dept of Social Security. As Senator Guilfoyle was not available to carry out the ceremony the Hon Bob Ellicott,Â Minister for Home Affairs represented her. To my delightÂ in 1980 Minister Bob Ellicott included me as one of the community representatives in the contingent funded to attend the United Nations Women’s Conference/Forum for Peace & Equality – Copenhagen. I had worked with him when he was the member for Wentworth and I was Co-ordinatorÂ for NicNac Community Centre in Surry Hills as I had invited him to come and meet his constituents once a monthÂ to assist them with problems they were experienced with, say, their unfair telephone bills when they were just pensioners. He was indeed helpful especially as he was a good lawyer and had ministerial clout.Â Bob was known as a small “l” Liberal Minister.

As an ethnic community worker it was my role to impress on everyone how important multi-cultural thinking is providing it means being proud of our heritage while at the same time integrating into the host society – that is trying to keep our customs because they are part of our identity – who we are, as well as adjusting those customs that clash too much with the host society so that we fit in more harmoniously. My daughterÂ (18) won the double title of Miss Central Suburbs and Miss Central Suburbs Highest Fudraiser of Miss Australia Quest Spastic Centre (entered from the Greek Australian Region of MAQ ). We all know which those clashing customs are and so I will not list them all here except to mention that I do not believe it is acceptable to continue to persist with woman wearing head gear that covers their faces when being tested for/and driving which can be dangerous to others; or habits which support warmongering and riots, or rape, or female circumcision etc. In cases such as these the host society needs to rethink the setting of legal limits for multiculturalism before we “shoot ourselves in the foot” as hasÂ been witnessed in other advanced minded countries which have been forced to backtrack their multicultural policies due to major conflict andÂ unrest as a result of antiquated customs from other cultures of immigrants entering into these progressive cultures (as in parts of France and the Scandanavian countries to name some).

Also I was for some years an Office Bearer in the Australian Hellenic Educational SocietyÂ of Australia (AHEPA) and enjoyed the fellowship it brought including encouraging my children when they become adolescents to join and my daughter, Tina, experienced her debut with her brother, Paul as her escort, which was lovely however is not something that takes place nowadays (too bad).

All I can say is Honour Your Heritage but make sure you take the part that is useful and loving and let go of the part that is hurtful and painful! It is a powerful feeling to know you belong to a group of like minded people who have the similar “roots” to you.

End of Year Party Humanists NSW 2013

Every year the Humanist Society of NSW has an End of Year Party in December instead of a Xmas party because we are not religious and as secular Humanists we do celebrate the season without the religious tones.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Â 2012 was held at 2pm 2nd Saturday in December 9 and our entertainer George Eynon a New Zealand ex-patriot who can croon the most romantic tunes of Sinatra Elvis and Bee Gees to Country and Western and jive (also transform as he sings the most amazing Maori songs) kept us entertained. We had a great time and enjoyed each others company over food and drinks.

2011 and 2010 the wonderful Rubella caused full house at Humanist House with his Latin American diva act which he performed on cruise ships.

So up until 2009 our parties were Mad Hatters or such which were fun nevertheless poorly attended by a handful of people

Mind you some of us have family who celebrate Xmas and we respect their needs.For example on Xmas eve I have my family over and we have Xmas Eve with the carols the Xmas tree and as in Europe (as we are originally Greeks from Romania)Â open our presents. In that way I don’t compete with my offspring’s family personal time and the time they spend with their father and in-laws.

CAHS Convention June 2013 SYDNEY

Humanist Society of NSW bravely accepted its the responsibility to take on the helm of the national body of all the Humanist States – the Executive of the Council of Australian Humanist Societies (CAHS) 2013-16 and that meant convening the CAHS Convention in Sydney which included the AGM with the election of the new Executive.Â The Sydney Committee takes great pride in putting on a ‘good’ show and as I have the experience and enjoy the effort usually end up being the Convenor. The Committee is a great supportive group of people and this can make the planning quite enjoyable. The outcome was quite a success as we had:-

Friday 3rd May: 6pm Registration – Humanist House then Dinner Broadway Food Court

Saturday 4th May: 9.30-3pm CAHS AGM – Humanist House morning tea and lunch resulting in Paul Zagoridis as the new President, Mary Bergin -Â Secretary and Ken Wright – Treasurer

Saturday Dinner Dance: 7.30 Ridges Hotel $65 (free under cover parking)

Entertainers: Â Â Â Â George Eynon

TaliaÂ Nicolitsis, sang the Eva Cassidy version ofÂ Â somewhere over the rainbowÂ so see for her recent version see link:

http//youtu.be/JobfY3FzStg

for other Talia performances see You Tube : Talia Georgia Nicolitsis

Speakers: AHOY 2013 (Australian Humanist of the Year) Jane Caro and AHOY 1993 Robyn Williams AM (HumSocNSW Patron), Fred Flatow OHA 2013 (Outstanding Humanist Achiever), Dorothy Buckland Fuller (HumSocNSW Patron), Roslyn Ives (Past President CAHS), Paul Zagoridis (President CAHS 2013),Â Affie Adagio MC. Others present were Lee Rhianon The Hon member for NSW MLCÂ

(a HumSocNSWÂ member since her youth whom I believe, if I have the correct title, willÂ not be pleased with me using it), delegates from interstate, our Viewpoints editor (Frank Gomez and his partner Marco),Â our Treasurer – Victor Bien and his wife Silvana, and our President – John August, of course Angela Drury, Brian Edwards and our pioneer Vicky Potempa and our generous an lucky Sturt Duncan who not only bought one of our Affie artworks but also won the second one that was raffled. We also had guests who were friends of our members and hence had a full house at the dinner. Our entertainer George Eynon who is originally a New Zealander ended his performance with some Maori amazing songs. Fantastic evening it certainly was.

Sunday: The Manly Ferry trip was the chosen tourist attraction and John August led the group of interstate and Sydney hosts to Manly on the beautiful half hour ride on our fascinating harbour which can get a bit choppy at the crossing of the heads but I thought everyone would benefit from a little adventure. One they reach Manly they had a walk to the Promenade and lunch at a lovely place near the beachÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What memories?

Monday: Â At State Parliament House Theatrette we had a Conference

9.30 Paul Zagoridis – CAHS President – Welcome

9.45 The African GLAPD Panel (Great Lakes Agency for Peace & Development)Â led by Dr. Nadine Shema who introduced us to their work of raising awareness and funds for the countries surrounding the Great Lakes and not only the situation improvement but how much needs to still be achieved. As a result HumSocNSW became an organisational member for $100 p.a. to support them in there work and a resolution had eventuated from that session encouraging assististance.

11.30 Ethics Education Initiatives in Australia – After morning tea Ian BryceÂ convened a panel of outstanding leaders in the field of ethics classes: St. James Ethics School – Simon Longstaff AOM (Executive Director) and Teresa Russel (General Manager) Ethics Classes; John Kaye – Greens MP; John Russell (Social Worker) Humanist Society Vic, Dr Victor Bien originally member of Federation of P&C Association commissioning (2005) St. James Ethics Centre instigating ethics classes.

Dorothy Buckland Fuller (Humanist Society NSW Patron) expressed our appreciation and gratitude to the speakers of both Panels.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Â Â 1.oo Lunch and close of CAHS Convention

Feedback from attendees from Sydney and interstate was extremely favourable as to the standard of the CAHS Convention and that it had been an enjoyable experience. We were all grateful for participants being so thoughtful as to give us feedback as this makes all the effort worthwhile. For example, 2 weeks prior to the weekend of the Convention we had 9 firm bookings when the function room was booked for 50 people! Cancelling the dinner dance was not at all in question and on the night we had a full house. So it was worth the stress because it was indeed wonderful to connect with everyone from interstateÂ and celebrate.

Remembering Eugenia Polimeris – My Mum

Dusty Springfield singing – You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Eugenia Polimeris
20.12.1920-22.02.2013
92

here with Pepi who visited

Eugenia’s story by Celebrant: Affie
Eugenia dedicated her life to her intellectually
developmentally disabled son Apollon and
she was also dedicated to any children in need of attention
her other love was rescuing/caring for animals

a beauty resembling Rita Hayworth in her
youth and a talented singer in a family
restaurant where my father, a
businessman, found her and fell instantly
in love with her, the love of his life until the
day he died even though she later married
Lazaro Markaris who loved her too,
her talent included art and crafts so that she could
sew designer clothes out of Vogue magazines, no
pattern, so whatever the shape of a woman when
Eugenia finished it was as though her body
matched the model in Vogue absolutely magically,
all agreed and paid well, at one stage my wedding
and bridesmaids’ dresses were divinely put together
in the last few days before the special day
as well as her own dress, the mother of the bride,
that’s the way it happened, everyone stressed out!
another time her talent extended to the then
trend of rendering the internal walls with a shining
plaster of a duck egg colour in a swirling pattern –
amazing, or glass flowers in different colours â€“
another trend millinery â€“ beautiful fancy hats of
wondrous fantasy yet Eugenia did nothing to follow
through with her talent because of her disabled
son, Apollon, who was the centre/love of her life!

her love of cooking showed another talent which
she may have had from her ancestors â€“ her father
was Hungarian and her mother Russian and she
was born in Vatra Dornei a Romanian city which
had a large Jewish population and as Mum spoke
Hebrew and Yiddish as well as participating in
the Shabbat lighting the candles in the ceremony as a
young person, we came to the conclusion that
perhaps she was in fact Jewish before she married
Dad then became Greek Orthodox which was the
custom and as Germans occupied Romania at the
time it would have been safer for her family to be
quiet about being Jewish and for her to do the same
nevertheless she was full of fun and as eccentric as
Auntie Mame and to know and experience her was
at times heaven and at times madness but truly
not to be forgotten and always rememberedÂ fondly,
once Apollon passed away on 1st November 2011
she spiralled down into full dementia and lost her
language and recognition of me and anyone else,
spontaneously out of the blue on one visit – I
remembered the doctor said she had an untreated
mental illness and realising why we had conflicted
so much during our times togetherÂ I said to her
â€œyou’ve been a good mother to Apollon Mum and
you’ve been a good mother to me too, I was difficult
sorry sorry sorry â€“ forgive me,
sihorese me (Greek), yiarta ma (Romanian)â€
it was an attempt, on my part, at closure,
I didn’t know if it would register or not but to my
amazement her eyes opened wide and tears poured
out and with that I softly burst out crying too and
held her hand, Pepi my Chihuahua moved in and
licked both our hands trying to console us both,
and on the last day when I visited, the doctor had
said Mum was not eating and she was on the way
out, I kissed her on the forehead saying again
â€œsorry sorry sorry Mum, much I love you, byeâ€ as I
left to go to the chemist to pick up my medicine, and
as I arrivedÂ 20 minutes later the sister told me she
had just died and that she must have been just
waiting for me to arrive in the first instance for her
to go.

now at last she has passed away and found peace
she will be missed and always remembered

Talia Nicolitsis
Mum’s singing talent has been inherited by one
person in our family and that is her great
granddaughter Talia Nicolitsis
(my daughter Tina’s daughter) who has won an
award for 2013 potential young singer. So for that
reason we have asked Talia to sing 4 songs for us
here today the first one will be Hallelujah for the
spiritual members here:

Talia sings Halleluja…

Affie read: Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
23Â The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2Â He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth
me beside the still waters.
3Â He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name’s sake.
4Â Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
5Â Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth
over.
6Â Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Paul to share his experience with his grandmother
(Paul related the experience when his grandmother (Nona)
babysat him at age 4 and Tina at age 3 and she had black
plastic spiders and snakes on her wall and would take them to
the local park at 2 a.m. in the morning to play because they
wanted to, and it was such fun)

Talia to sing The Prayer (moving on to more
modern/ethnic) Mum loved Italian songs
Tina to share her experience with her grandmother
(Tina related her experience with Nona when having found
out that Tina at age 3 wished, on a hot day, that her
grandmother had an indoor swimming pool, Nona sealed the
bottom of her kitchen doors, turned the sink tap on and
running over eventually created an indoor swimming pool in
her kitchen, for the children causing them to have great fun â€“
(swearing them to secrecy!)

Talia to sing Somewhere over the Rainbow after Affie
explains that Eugenia used to sing this song often because it
representedÂ achieving a person’s dreams.

Affie Asking people to share about their experiences with
Eugenia.

(Eugenia’ great great grandchildren Gaby and Sabrina
(Paul’s daughters) related their experiences with Nona’s
huge personalisedÂ chocolate Easter egg gifts for them)

After this part.

Talia to lead us with Eugenia and Apollon’s favourite song

You are my Sunshine
(all to join in)

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.

[Chorus]
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away

Affie: Thank you for being here with us
to remember Eugenia Polimeris
and also Apollon Polimeris

and please join us at Humanist House
10 Shepherd St. Cnr Grafton St
Chippendale (Broadway)
lunch will be served there`

AlsoÂ the donation envelopes are available for
UNAANSW
HumSocNSW
RSPCA

UN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2013

Rwandan reprepresentative one GLAPD — Dr Nadine Shema Rwandan representative on GLAPD

United Nations International Women’s Day 2013 was featured as as Seminar by the United Nations Association of Australia (NSW) and co sponsored by the Humanist Society of NSW, held on Friday 8th March at 2.30 in the Jubilee Room Parliament House, with the Keynote Speaker being Dr. Nadine Shema from Rwanda. This event was attended by 50 people and was claimed to be a success. Nadine presented her factual evidence on the empowerment of women in Rwanda – with statistical slides. Such an inspirational guide was this to all women showing what amazing situation improvement can be accomplished by women. Nadine was dressed exquisitely in traditional silk material. Some of her colleagues brought dresses to sell in order to raise funds for their cause. Following the Seminar we had a delicious afternoon tea.

Other speakers were the 2013 UNAA(NSW) President Valerie Weekes and Committee Member Diane Sackelarious, UNWA (United Nations Women’s Association) past President Sue Conde. As I was the Humanist Society of NSW delegate on the UNAA (NSW) Executive Committee and Convenor of the IWD Seminar, I was the MC. The Seminar was hosted by The Hon. Mike Baird MP.

Members of both UNAA(NSW), HumSocNSW and those involved in the Seminar were all invaluable with their assistance and contributions.So it was such a fulfilling experience for me as the Convenor as I am sure it was for everyone else.

Such a treat for me too because March 8 is also my birthday.

UNAANSW International Women’s Day Seminar: Diabesity NSW State Parliament House Theatrette Thursday 8th March 2:30-4:30pm

2.30 Registration $10

3.00
Dr. Affie Adagio UNAANSW IWD CONVENOR/MC

INTRODUCTION
Valerie Weekes: President UNAANSW

GUEST SPEAKER
Sue Conde: Past President, UNWA

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Theme: Diabesity – Must the discrimination continue?

Professor Lesley Campbell protagonist in the field of research, medicine and service provision for diabetes, who is Professor of Medicine, Director of Diabetes Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2010 will speak for 20mins on DIABESITY and how it affects women, especially indigenous women, causing them to be blamed when they need not be. This valuable research evidence was pioneered together with a colleague and close friend of Professor Lesley Campbell who is visiting from Denmark at present. Professor Berit Heitman who will be present at the Seminar may be convinced perhaps to contribute as a Guest Speaker.

QUESTION TIME

The meeting will have the
opportunity to ask questions for 20 mins

4pm Afternoon Tea

RSVP for catering purposes 28th Feb between 10-4, Â 02 9212 0998 or 92122122

4.30 Close

Youtube Videos of the event link http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFB0115585E1D21E8

Where’s my passion gone?

Apart from sharing my delight for the Hungry Jacks advertisement in me previousÂ post, it has been many months since I have written a post. Was it the shock of losing my close friend Waratah Rose Gillespie to a major stroke on 21.06.2010, or the battle to prevent the Humanist Society of NSWÂ beingÂ taken over, or just life being too busy. Nevertheless, I remember asking myself over and over – where’s my passion gone? No posts, no sketches, no poetry! I had planned to write about Waratah’s passing away last year, and this June a memorial article and I did neither.

Waratah was an amazing activist and her Bougainville Seminar and book was well highlighted at Parliament House on IWWDay on March 8 2010 and I was proud that we managed to arrange that event for her.Â At least we honoured her life’s work in her presence there.

Motivation is an important aspect of life and without it we become immobilised.

Hungry Jack’s Makes Me Laugh

The Hungry Jack’s advertisement with the rabbits gets me laughing every time because of the wonderful actor. She has the most amazing eyes as she looks at the rabbits increasing in numbers. Ad agencies need to make commercials more enjoyable so we watch them instead of running out of the room to do other things when they’re on.

See below for yourself, and if you agree, which I’m sure you will, comment below.