DON'T TRY TO TELL ME THE SYSTEM'S WORKING

I received the following during the week:

'My 13 year old son was assaulted at school last Thursday.  He was pushed to the ground, punched twice in the chest and strangled to the point he was fighting to breathe.
He told no-one as he was petrified of the outcome.
When he got home from school, he told me what happened.  I just lost it - I was so emotional it couldn't contain myself.
After checking him, I found a few scratches on his neck and some redness, I took photos of those. I rang the police who told me there was nothing that they could do because it happened on school grounds.  I explained to them again louder, that my son was assaulted, again 'mam there is nothing we can do'.
I rang the school principal, who the next day, spoke to the boy who assaulted my son, the boy said he didn't know his own strength, two witnesses said that they thought my son was playing.  
Then the principal said to me that he does not believe that the matter is assault or bullying and that the matter is closed.
My son is too scared to go back to school so he spoke to the principal over the phone.  My son told  him everything that happened an also told him that this same boy had been bullying him for a few weeks.  Jacob told him that was not playing and that he was choking - he said he didn't speak to a teacher because he didn't want to be known as a wimp.  The principal then informed my son that he does not believe that it is a bullying matter nor an assault.
That as far as he is concerned the matter is closed.  My son has not been back to school since last Thursday, he doesn't know if he will be called a wimp etc.  Since my son has been home from school his sister and twin brother have had this boy go up to them saying my son is not at school because he is a wimp and a baby.
I contacted Today Tonight.  They have been doing stories on bullying for a few weeks - they are coming out to my house next week to do a story on this.  
Children have the right to feel safe at school, if your principal won't believe you, then what hope do kids have  The police - I am so incredibly disappointed in them - no wonder there are so many teenage suicides, people don't take bullying seriously.

NOW tell me that the wonderful system currently in place is working!!!!  It's NOT.  

This story is being sent to all Ministers of Education around the nation, including the Federal one, along with the major magazines.  This is completely out of control and given that the governments (Federal and state) have been gloating about new legislation having been introduced for many different things, bullying included - there is absolutely no reason WHY it cannot be done for bullying in schools.  

We are also in the process of contacting the magazines which cater for the young and vulnerable minds in Australia, with the hope of writing appropriate articles on bullying (for free, we are only trying to help the victims) for these magazines.  I will not be sparing feelings except for those of the victims.

A RECIPE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Just a little interlude here - something for a bit of a laugh  (IE not to be taken seriously)

A RECIPE WITH A DIFFERENCE

CHRISTMAS CAKE

You will need:  1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 cups dried fruit, teaspoon baking soda, 1 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts, bottle whiskey.

Sample whiskey - check for quality.  Take a large bowl.  Check whiskey again to be sure it is of the highest quality.  Pour one large cup and drink.  Turn on electric mixer.  Beat one cup sugar in a large, fluffy bowl.  Add 1 teaspoon sugar and beat again.  Make sure whiskey is still OK - cry another cup.  Turn off mixerer - er.  Break 2 leggs and add to bwol and chuck in cup of dried fruit.  Mix on turner.  If fried druit gets stuck in beaterer - er - ers, pry it loose with a screwdriver.  Sample whiskey for tonsik...tonsiticitic...tonse....taste.  Next sift 2 cups salt, or something, who cares.  Check the whiskey.  Now sift the lemon and strain your nuts.  Add tablespoon sugar or something.  Whatever you can find.  Grease the oven.  Turn the cake tin to 350.  Don't forget to beat off the turner.  Throw the bwol out the window - saves washing it.  Check the whiskey again and go to bed.

Just a bit of fun for you.

LIFE'S GETTING BETTER AND BETTER

Life just gets better and better.  I was on TV today.  Interviewed yesterday.  About migraines.  I am a past sufferer of chronic migraines and those that I suffer from now would be considered debilitating to non-sufferers.  However, given the suffering I endured for around twenty five odd years, these pains are pure heaven.  Well as close to pure heaven as pain CAN be.  As part of a migraine and pain item for the news on one particular channel, I was asked if I would be prepared to be interviewed, having already done so through a local community newspaper.  Absolutely, says me.  And after a week of breaking news interrupting the efforts of the journalist involved and me meeting, we finally did it.  Well that's not strictly true.  A different journalist altogether visited me at home, with a cameraman and conducted the interview in our dining room on Monday.   Interview went well.  I managed to wix my mords only once, right at the start, and along with most of the interview, that was all edited out anyway.  I was texted by a friend this morning with the news that she had just seen me on TV so we knew it was going to be aired tonight.  Only problem was - we all thought it was going to be the current affairs programme, not the news.  Surprise, surprise - it was on the news, shortened/edited heavily and I am the only one in my family to see it - and that was by accident.  Ah well.  But I do have to admit to being disappointed - they did a good job overall and I am told that my role was extremely good and certainly got the point across.  My disappointment lies in the fact that part of the reason I no longer suffer such intense, severe and regular migraines is because of my epiphany.  The epiphany I had one birthday about four years ago.  The epiphany that turned my life around - made me face those things that I have always wanted to do but never known how - write and publish books and all that I mentioned in my last blog posting.  The day my life began.  It was also when my stress levels lowered drastically (I mean, hey, they'll never go away completely - no-one is absolutely stress-free and I am one of those who, if I don't have something to worry about I'll find something!!) and keeping myself very busy, almost too busy, doing things that I love with a passion - well, my migraines all-but disappeared.  Granted, I am being told I am 'one in a million' and that this is something that rarely happens and I know all that and I do consider myself to be very, VERY lucky because this has happened to me.  Now I just want to enjoy my family, my job, my books and helping people, trying to make a difference with my anti-bullying advocacy and my elderly stories project.  I am increasingly being told how passionate I sound about all that I do - and that's because I am exactly that - enormously passionate.  But because I am so happy, so full of life, at the ripe young age of 56 - why shouldn't I want to share this with others?  Try to inspire others, particularly people who are suffering in some way, migraines or anything else.  So I'm having another go at the TV channels and will continue to until someone sits up and takes notice.
  

LIFE IS GREAT

THE YEAR MY LIFE BEGAN

It wasn't at birth.  Nope.  I had the most wonderful and unique childhood and the rest of it leading up to the present - well, like everyone, I have had my share of ups and downs.  But as I will tell anyone who'll listen (and yes, this does mean I talk to myself a lot) I feel my life really did begin only a few years ago.  I turn 57 this year.  I awoke one morning - it was a birthday - with an epiphany - I suddenly realised that I had to get my late Dad's book published - somehow.  Dad had finished writing his book shortly before his death in 1993.  For the following sixteen or so years the manuscript and accompanying documentation was passed between my three older brothers and me, hoping that one of us might actually have it published.  When it landed in my hands for the umpteenth time I typed it up but - er, what comes next?

It was on the morning of that particular birthday that I knew I had to get it out - I still do not know exactly why (or how) but I am presuming that my mother's advancing age (late 80s) might have had something to do with it.  Fit as a fiddle (or at least we thought she was but then she was the world's leader at hiding minor issues like health problems...), but.....  .  It was also then that I hit that stumbling block seriously - the same one that halts many new writers in their tracks, sometimes putting them off altogether.  How do you get published?  And that just might have been enough to put me off altogether as well had the memory of Dad's passion for his writing, ancestry and the outback of Australia, not kept nagging at me.  Added to that the thought of Mum and her pride in Dad's efforts - not seeing his writing coming to fruition - and she wasn't getting any younger - right, that did it.  Turning to good old Google I eventually found a self-publishing business that offered precisely what I was looking for.  From there it was full steam ahead.  No stopping this writer.  Dad's book was published exactly a week after Mum died in 2010.

Damn.  But I am assured that Mum knew it was about to be published and that did make her a happy woman at time of death.

Thus was the catalyst for my writing.  It is in my blood and I am now following a lifelong dream of writing and publishing books.

Next off the rank was 'Bullseye', my book about bullying.  Once that was safely published and released, I decided it was time to combine my writing and one of my other passions, the outback of Australia.  My book on stations is a work in progress.  I am absolutely thriving on it.

I do work full time and long hours.  I am also a wife of some thirty years with two adult daughters.  I have now discovered this passion for writing about subjects I am equally passionate about.  I am fighting bullying and making some headway with this.  I have just begun work on the book which will follow my stations one.  Most of this is mentioned in previous blogs and in my websites.  My latest cause is the one covered in my last blog - encouraging the wonderful elderly folk in Australia to talk to their hearts' content about their lives.  Let it all out.  And have one or two people taping and capturing it all.  Before it's too late.  I also edit and proof work for other authors and have several manuscripts in hand now.

As far as I am concerned, life is great.  The sky really is the limit.

Stations book is going superbly.  The odd hitch here and then but nothing that can't be solved.  Still interviewing these wonderful retired pastoralists and continue to love their honesty, openness and unique humour - something it seems that is unique to the station people of Australia.  Fight against bullying also going very well - have done another couple of radio interviews and starting to get feedback from listeners.  All very encouraging.  Have written to the new Minister for Education in WA and just awaiting a response.  Other project (another book) is beginning to pick up speed too - all good.  

Another new project is also underway and this is one where I am requesting the help of the public.   This one has been triggered by my late father's book, 'The Sawers From Pitcairn' - and it is something I read about being started by someone in the USA (I think) - and I couldn't help but feel how tragic it would be if nothing is done here in Australia.  Dad completed the manuscript for 'The Sawers From Pitcairn' literally just prior to his death in 1993.  It traces part of our family and station history and we are so very grateful to Dad for doing this.  Unfortunately, my mother didn't pen her story at all.  She had planned to and it had been organised for someone to record it - but it never eventuated.  Mum passed away in 2010, exactly a week before Dad's book was released.  So Mum never actually saw it - but she knew that something had finally been done about it and that, I believe, made her a happy woman at point of death.

But - Mum has now gone and taken her own story with her.  It's too late.  How very tragic.  When it would have been so very easy to encourage her to talk about her life (which she loved doing - who doesn't - irrespective of the sort of life led) and have it recorded.  Hey presto - another wonderful story could so easily have been saved.  But - no - she's gone and taken her story with her...lost forever.

Tragic.

As mentioned above research for my stations book involves meeting, interviewing and photographing a group of retired pastoralists.  The second 'mystery' project/book also involves meeting with retirees.  During my first meeting I was stunned by stories of their lives as they recalled them - and watching their eyes light up as they talked - what an overwhelming and humbling experience.  I asked whether their lives had been documented - both said it had't but immediately said their daughter could do it.  I am encouraging this as far as possible - again before it's too late.  Both people are in their eighties.  

I know Australia, like every nation, has many formal historical records and I am also aware that many people are being sensible enough to compile family trees and histories and they are to be applauded for doing this.  Our elderly folk are the last generation to have witnessed so many things which have already been surpassed and replaced repeatedly.  They experienced WWII (sadly most of the diggers from WWI have already gone) - and in this connection I have been in contact with the Department Health and Ageing - they have been wonderful with their encouragement.  Our elderly folk experienced the introduction of the motor car, veteran and vintage and the inventions of so many things.  The list is limitless.

I am not looking to write a book on this (apart from those already underway and other authors I am helping) - I am simply trying to possibly start a group/project/something that can help me act on this idea.  To encourage families and/or volunteers to go into private homes/aged care facilities and in turn encourage the elderly (those that are able to) to reminisce.  To talk to their hearts' content.  Do something that requires no effort on their part, just enjoyment and simply recording and encouragement on behalf of one or more of their audience.

If anyone 'out there' would be interested in helping with this (such a simple idea and what an absolute and pure tragedy if there is no interest) please contact me on abccalligraphy00@hotmail.com.  I would love to hear from you.  There is no money involved.  Just capturing personal memories from our wonderful elderly before they are lost and gone forever.

Thank you.

Seems we have a new Minister for Education in WA.  Having had no success with the previous one I will be sending a letter to the new one ('keeping at them' on recommendation from various people - including some politicians) and pushing our cause further.  Our strategies have changed - I understand one was recently put forward to be included in a review of school anti-bullying policies in Tasmania.  I am waiting to hear the results.  


The Stations Book is going brilliantly.  Am in the middle of contacting heaps of retired pastoralists and all are being absolutely wonderful.  Such lovely, unique people.  I have been requested to kick the stations visits off with one of the participating properties in WA in February - to experience the heat along with witnessing the new school year being started by the School of the Air and other distance learning facilities.  Also trying to gain support from some of the larger national groups that are affiliated with the outback - offering reciprocations.


Was recently approached to write a new book, which will follow the stations one.  This one will be about a maritime disaster which occurred about the same time as the Titanic but was completely overlooked due to the latter.  How very tragic.  We are trying to do something about it.


And one other new project is in the wind.  This idea has come from foreign shores and might already be underway in Australia but I have not heard of anything.  More on that later.....


Stay tuned.  

I'm BAAAACK (think Garfield - I think - one of those cartoon characters anyway).  What a first half of the year it has been.  I am just hoping life will now settle down to a dull roar and the second half might be a little bit quieter.  I live in hope.  We have moved house, taken the most wonderful cruise (badly needed), had two deaths in the family and several others among friends and acquaintances, I have undergone eye surgery and face more later this year (so maybe life won't quieten down) and things are going very well with both my book on stations and the fight against bullying.  Re the latter, one of our list of strategies was recommended recently, by one of the Ministers for Education - a start, nowhere near enough, but at least it is a start.  More ideas are constantly being suggested and some of these are being considered.  As for my book - I am still receiving requests/inquiries from stations wanting to participate which is fantastic.  I have been requested to kick off the station visits themselves in February 2013 - in the hot weather and also the start of the new school year, so I will be able to experience that heat, also see how the School of the Air works these days.  To say I am meeting some of the most wonderful, funny, salt-of-the-earth people through this book, from every aspect, would be an understatement.  I continue interviewing retired pastoralists - what fantastic people.  Remind me so much of my own parents - Mum of course having her own origins in the city, before and moving out to spend so many years in pure isolation, then retirement seeing Dad and her moving back to the city.  Many of the women I am interviewing are from similar background and what interesting people they are.  Some of the men too, which is equally interesting.  I am so enjoying this.  Shortly before the cruise and our move I was approached by someone asking me to write a book about another subject - yes, all a big secret for the moment but I have agreed to do it.  Should be fascinating too and more wonderful people to meet. 

Stay tuned.....