[Applause] the purpose of life is not to be happy
the purpose of life is not to be happy
the purpose of life is not to be happy is to be useful to be honorable to be
is to be useful to be honorable to be
is to be useful to be honorable to be compassionate to have it make some
compassionate to have it make some
compassionate to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived
difference that you have lived and lived
difference that you have lived and lived well I lived on Murray Street Cannes
well I lived on Murray Street Cannes
well I lived on Murray Street Cannes North Queensland Australia a street and
North Queensland Australia a street and
North Queensland Australia a street and area marred by strongly held negative
area marred by strongly held negative
area marred by strongly held negative perception a street when I give my
perception a street when I give my
perception a street when I give my address to the taxi driver he would
address to the taxi driver he would
address to the taxi driver he would screw up his face and say Murray Street
screw up his face and say Murray Street
screw up his face and say Murray Street a street that bus drivers used to avoid
a street that bus drivers used to avoid
a street that bus drivers used to avoid a street that people say don’t live in
a street that people say don’t live in
a street that people say don’t live in don’t walk down at night just don’t well
don’t walk down at night just don’t well
don’t walk down at night just don’t well we were told more than once not to buy
we were told more than once not to buy
we were told more than once not to buy in the ghetto to stay away from the west
in the ghetto to stay away from the west
in the ghetto to stay away from the west side but the thing is I just really
side but the thing is I just really
side but the thing is I just really loved where we lived I mean it’s close
loved where we lived I mean it’s close
loved where we lived I mean it’s close to the city great parks and my sister
to the city great parks and my sister
to the city great parks and my sister was a hop and skip away it was never as
was a hop and skip away it was never as
was a hop and skip away it was never as bad as people made out and how would
bad as people made out and how would
bad as people made out and how would they know anyway they didn’t live there
they know anyway they didn’t live there
they know anyway they didn’t live there my life was normal
my life was normal
my life was normal uneventful as in Groundhog Day a series
uneventful as in Groundhog Day a series
uneventful as in Groundhog Day a series of events on repeat every morning I’d
of events on repeat every morning I’d
of events on repeat every morning I’d pull out of the drive at 8:20 I’d close
pull out of the drive at 8:20 I’d close
pull out of the drive at 8:20 I’d close my date and I’d wave to my sister who
my date and I’d wave to my sister who
my date and I’d wave to my sister who was closing her gate and then again in
was closing her gate and then again in
was closing her gate and then again in the afternoon I’d pull into the drive at
the afternoon I’d pull into the drive at
the afternoon I’d pull into the drive at 5:20 open my day
5:20 open my day
5:20 open my day and again wave to my sister who was
and again wave to my sister who was
and again wave to my sister who was opening her gate when I reflect on what
opening her gate when I reflect on what
opening her gate when I reflect on what my life he used to be like the song
my life he used to be like the song
my life he used to be like the song little boxes by Peter Seeger comes to
little boxes by Peter Seeger comes to
little boxes by Peter Seeger comes to mind identical houses identical routines
mind identical houses identical routines
mind identical houses identical routines no connection mindless instead of
no connection mindless instead of
no connection mindless instead of mindful living
mindful living
mindful living security in my little box they say one
security in my little box they say one
security in my little box they say one door closes another will open a social
door closes another will open a social
door closes another will open a social worker by trade and at the mercy of the
worker by trade and at the mercy of the
worker by trade and at the mercy of the newly elected government I was one of
newly elected government I was one of
newly elected government I was one of the stats I was made redundant my door
the stats I was made redundant my door
the stats I was made redundant my door had shut my identity my self value gone
December 19 2014
December 19 2014 I received a panicked call from my
I received a panicked call from my
I received a panicked call from my friend in Sydney where are your children
friend in Sydney where are your children
friend in Sydney where are your children where are your children where are your
where are your children where are your
where are your children where are your children oh my god can you see them can
children oh my god can you see them can
children oh my god can you see them can you see them are they okay
you see them are they okay
you see them are they okay a horrific tragedy involving the loss of
a horrific tragedy involving the loss of
a horrific tragedy involving the loss of local children it’s a date and an event
local children it’s a date and an event
local children it’s a date and an event itched in all of our hearts all with
itched in all of our hearts all with
itched in all of our hearts all with different memories of what we were doing
different memories of what we were doing
different memories of what we were doing of how we found out yet all united in
of how we found out yet all united in
of how we found out yet all united in grief and disbelief
grief and disbelief
grief and disbelief according to Tim Moore an expert in
according to Tim Moore an expert in
according to Tim Moore an expert in placemaking
placemaking
placemaking a child’s well-being is affected by
a child’s well-being is affected by
a child’s well-being is affected by their perception of their neighbourhood
their perception of their neighbourhood
their perception of their neighbourhood so what Tim Moore is saying is the
so what Tim Moore is saying is the
so what Tim Moore is saying is the neighbourhood that is generally
neighbourhood that is generally
neighbourhood that is generally characterized by community neglect like
characterized by community neglect like
characterized by community neglect like my community minora negatively affects a
my community minora negatively affects a
my community minora negatively affects a child’s outcome over and above that of
child’s outcome over and above that of
child’s outcome over and above that of their family socioeconomic status so
their family socioeconomic status so
their family socioeconomic status so here we were as a community dealing with
here we were as a community dealing with
here we were as a community dealing with these negative perceptions for decades
these negative perceptions for decades
these negative perceptions for decades and for decades these negative
and for decades these negative
and for decades these negative perceptions have been holding back our
perceptions have been holding back our
perceptions have been holding back our children our leaders of tomorrow from
children our leaders of tomorrow from
children our leaders of tomorrow from reaching their potential and now and now
reaching their potential and now and now
reaching their potential and now and now we had to deal with the tragedy I wasn’t
we had to deal with the tragedy I wasn’t
we had to deal with the tragedy I wasn’t sure how we would get past it how would
sure how we would get past it how would
sure how we would get past it how would we cope so nearly unemployed
we cope so nearly unemployed
we cope so nearly unemployed feeling dejected despondent and
feeling dejected despondent and
feeling dejected despondent and disconnected from my community I decided
disconnected from my community I decided
disconnected from my community I decided to use my social work skills knowledge
to use my social work skills knowledge
to use my social work skills knowledge connection and passion to help rebuild
connection and passion to help rebuild
connection and passion to help rebuild my community I decided to step out of my
my community I decided to step out of my
my community I decided to step out of my little box to look beyond my Groundhog
little box to look beyond my Groundhog
little box to look beyond my Groundhog Day existence I decided to open a new
Day existence I decided to open a new
Day existence I decided to open a new door because I believe you reap what you
door because I believe you reap what you
door because I believe you reap what you sow so our lives our community are like
sow so our lives our community are like
sow so our lives our community are like a garden and like a garden
a garden and like a garden
a garden and like a garden they don’t come readily made you have to
they don’t come readily made you have to
they don’t come readily made you have to grow them they require hard work elbow
grow them they require hard work elbow
grow them they require hard work elbow grease roll up the sleeves approach they
grease roll up the sleeves approach they
grease roll up the sleeves approach they require planning patience nutrients
require planning patience nutrients
require planning patience nutrients water they require love committed and
water they require love committed and
water they require love committed and invested to harvest positive change in
invested to harvest positive change in
invested to harvest positive change in our community
our community
our community a handful of residents banded together
a handful of residents banded together
a handful of residents banded together and the manure community garden seed was
and the manure community garden seed was
and the manure community garden seed was planted once an unused parcel of land in
planted once an unused parcel of land in
planted once an unused parcel of land in the locally known back streets of Cannes
the locally known back streets of Cannes
the locally known back streets of Cannes unutilized an untapped potential just
unutilized an untapped potential just
unutilized an untapped potential just sitting there gorgeous mature trees that
sitting there gorgeous mature trees that
sitting there gorgeous mature trees that provide cooling shades from the warm
provide cooling shades from the warm
provide cooling shades from the warm tropical Sun it was ripe with
tropical Sun it was ripe with
tropical Sun it was ripe with possibility my community is a community
possibility my community is a community
possibility my community is a community that ranks in the 4th percentile
that ranks in the 4th percentile
that ranks in the 4th percentile nationally for social disadvantage a
nationally for social disadvantage a
nationally for social disadvantage a community suspicious of any government
community suspicious of any government
community suspicious of any government intervention a community spurred out of
intervention a community spurred out of
intervention a community spurred out of its boxes by tragedy and two years on
its boxes by tragedy and two years on
its boxes by tragedy and two years on we’re a community that has begin to
we’re a community that has begin to
we’re a community that has begin to sprout flourish growing in numbers
sprout flourish growing in numbers
sprout flourish growing in numbers strength and firm friendships
through positive action we have created
through positive action we have created 40 garden beds we have planted seven
40 garden beds we have planted seven
40 garden beds we have planted seven varieties of chili I mean come on how
varieties of chili I mean come on how
varieties of chili I mean come on how hot is that tropical delights mango
hot is that tropical delights mango
hot is that tropical delights mango avocado passion fruit and dragon fruit
avocado passion fruit and dragon fruit
avocado passion fruit and dragon fruit Island staples cassava taro Abeka
Island staples cassava taro Abeka
Island staples cassava taro Abeka eggplant pumpkin and the classics of
eggplant pumpkin and the classics of
eggplant pumpkin and the classics of citrus tomato mulberry pawpaw and so
citrus tomato mulberry pawpaw and so
citrus tomato mulberry pawpaw and so much more more did the garden build
much more more did the garden build
much more more did the garden build itself no one neighbor at a time we
itself no one neighbor at a time we
itself no one neighbor at a time we started to check in with one another we
started to check in with one another we
started to check in with one another we started to weave the fabric of our
started to weave the fabric of our
started to weave the fabric of our community into something stronger we
community into something stronger we
community into something stronger we started to believe the soil of our
started to believe the soil of our
started to believe the soil of our foundation had been turned and so we
foundation had been turned and so we
foundation had been turned and so we began changing the perception of our
began changing the perception of our
began changing the perception of our reality get involved it’s easy we have a
reality get involved it’s easy we have a
reality get involved it’s easy we have a range of roles
range of roles
range of roles no matter your skill set your time or
no matter your skill set your time or
no matter your skill set your time or your interest there’s always something
your interest there’s always something
your interest there’s always something you can contribute take me for example
you can contribute take me for example
you can contribute take me for example I’m extremely poor in daylight hours
I’m extremely poor in daylight hours
I’m extremely poor in daylight hours I’ve recently gained a day job I have
I’ve recently gained a day job I have
I’ve recently gained a day job I have two small children and a husband who
two small children and a husband who
two small children and a husband who works away for half the year but I have
works away for half the year but I have
works away for half the year but I have evenings that allow me to contribute so
evenings that allow me to contribute so
evenings that allow me to contribute so I’m not out there swinging a shovel and
I’m not out there swinging a shovel and
I’m not out there swinging a shovel and planting produce but I’m planting money
planting produce but I’m planting money
planting produce but I’m planting money trees writing funding applications
trees writing funding applications
trees writing funding applications vision ideas when I stop and reflect on
vision ideas when I stop and reflect on
vision ideas when I stop and reflect on the fruits of our labor
the fruits of our labor
the fruits of our labor I can see beyond the fresh and tasty
I can see beyond the fresh and tasty
I can see beyond the fresh and tasty produce connected outside the typical
produce connected outside the typical
produce connected outside the typical circle the identification and
circle the identification and
circle the identification and development of community leaders an
development of community leaders an
development of community leaders an increased sense of pride ownership
increased sense of pride ownership
increased sense of pride ownership stewardship accomplishment
stewardship accomplishment
stewardship accomplishment yes these fruits have been bountiful so
yes these fruits have been bountiful so
yes these fruits have been bountiful so the courage to step outside my little
the courage to step outside my little
the courage to step outside my little box
box
box well this courage has the auditor
well this courage has the auditor
well this courage has the auditor harvest of unintended outcomes I could
harvest of unintended outcomes I could
harvest of unintended outcomes I could never have imagined I feel connected to
never have imagined I feel connected to
never have imagined I feel connected to my community like no other
my community like no other
my community like no other I can’t articulate to you what that
I can’t articulate to you what that
I can’t articulate to you what that connection feels like and what it means
connection feels like and what it means
connection feels like and what it means out of the work force for over three
out of the work force for over three
out of the work force for over three years the garden fruited the job of my
years the garden fruited the job of my
years the garden fruited the job of my dreams and touchingly my neighbors my
dreams and touchingly my neighbors my
dreams and touchingly my neighbors my community they cheered me on
community they cheered me on
community they cheered me on my success was our success we had become
my success was our success we had become
my success was our success we had become a village invested in one another I’d
a village invested in one another I’d
a village invested in one another I’d like to introduce you to John Galt son
like to introduce you to John Galt son
like to introduce you to John Galt son John has been a fixture of Murray Street
John has been a fixture of Murray Street
John has been a fixture of Murray Street for the past 20 years
for the past 20 years
for the past 20 years his affectionately referred to as the
his affectionately referred to as the
his affectionately referred to as the mayor of Murray Street and for very good
mayor of Murray Street and for very good
mayor of Murray Street and for very good reason he knows everybody and everybody
reason he knows everybody and everybody
reason he knows everybody and everybody knows John g’day John how’s it going
knows John g’day John how’s it going
knows John g’day John how’s it going mate now the pride that John feels about
mate now the pride that John feels about
mate now the pride that John feels about our garden is palpable he walks taller
our garden is palpable he walks taller
our garden is palpable he walks taller he wakes each day with purpose and he
he wakes each day with purpose and he
he wakes each day with purpose and he has carefully collected every news
has carefully collected every news
has carefully collected every news clipping and sent them to relatives near
clipping and sent them to relatives near
clipping and sent them to relatives near and far and offer a pat on the back in a
and far and offer a pat on the back in a
and far and offer a pat on the back in a good job mate John is the very essence
good job mate John is the very essence
good job mate John is the very essence and backbone of our garden he is growing
and backbone of our garden he is growing
and backbone of our garden he is growing hope and optimism that things are
hope and optimism that things are
hope and optimism that things are changing and then there’s Andre John’s
changing and then there’s Andre John’s
changing and then there’s Andre John’s honorary garden son now Andres always
honorary garden son now Andres always
honorary garden son now Andres always had an interest in sustainable living
had an interest in sustainable living
had an interest in sustainable living however renting he’s never had an
however renting he’s never had an
however renting he’s never had an opportunity to get in and get his hands
opportunity to get in and get his hands
opportunity to get in and get his hands dirty when Andre said he first
dirty when Andre said he first
dirty when Andre said he first discovered the garden he became obsessed
discovered the garden he became obsessed
discovered the garden he became obsessed he said I feel like I found my purpose I
he said I feel like I found my purpose I
he said I feel like I found my purpose I cannot describe the pride and
cannot describe the pride and
cannot describe the pride and satisfaction I feel from building
satisfaction I feel from building
satisfaction I feel from building planting out and harvesting a bed of
planting out and harvesting a bed of
planting out and harvesting a bed of great food let alone eat it we’ve come
great food let alone eat it we’ve come
great food let alone eat it we’ve come along
along
along since the first turning of the soil
since the first turning of the soil
since the first turning of the soil we’ve got relationships with our
we’ve got relationships with our
we’ve got relationships with our neighboring schools and organizations
neighboring schools and organizations
neighboring schools and organizations we’ve celebrated with community
we’ve celebrated with community
we’ve celebrated with community gatherings in the garden and we’ve
gatherings in the garden and we’ve
gatherings in the garden and we’ve raised funds but most importantly and
raised funds but most importantly and
raised funds but most importantly and most fortunately we have found ourselves
most fortunately we have found ourselves
most fortunately we have found ourselves an absolute legend we have found
an absolute legend we have found
an absolute legend we have found ourselves a garden champion a gardening
ourselves a garden champion a gardening
ourselves a garden champion a gardening icon the hairy host the king of compost
icon the hairy host the king of compost
icon the hairy host the king of compost kosta now Casta ignited hope and
kosta now Casta ignited hope and
kosta now Casta ignited hope and excitement into the hearts of the ninety
excitement into the hearts of the ninety
excitement into the hearts of the ninety smiling faces that attended our garden
smiling faces that attended our garden
smiling faces that attended our garden opening and he passionately preached
opening and he passionately preached
opening and he passionately preached inclusion is community and he spoke
inclusion is community and he spoke
inclusion is community and he spoke about the garden as a structure to grow
about the garden as a structure to grow
about the garden as a structure to grow a lot more than produce he said if we
a lot more than produce he said if we
a lot more than produce he said if we share the recipes then we share the
share the recipes then we share the
share the recipes then we share the health and fusion and we need to infuse
health and fusion and we need to infuse
health and fusion and we need to infuse health on all levels mentally physically
health on all levels mentally physically
health on all levels mentally physically and emotionally from one harvest to one
and emotionally from one harvest to one
and emotionally from one harvest to one casual afternoon ngata
casual afternoon ngata
casual afternoon ngata to one fruiting tree the hum of
to one fruiting tree the hum of
to one fruiting tree the hum of positivity is undeniable through shared
positivity is undeniable through shared
positivity is undeniable through shared experiences we are weaving an emotional
experiences we are weaving an emotional
experiences we are weaving an emotional yarn in much stronger than any
yarn in much stronger than any
yarn in much stronger than any individual box we previously felt safe
individual box we previously felt safe
individual box we previously felt safe in so get involved expand your network
in so get involved expand your network
in so get involved expand your network meet people you would ordinarily never
meet people you would ordinarily never
meet people you would ordinarily never have an opportunity to me grow your
have an opportunity to me grow your
have an opportunity to me grow your sense of belonging connect through
sense of belonging connect through
sense of belonging connect through people and place through shared
people and place through shared
people and place through shared experiences remember your perception is
experiences remember your perception is
experiences remember your perception is your reality
well they say gardening is good for the
well they say gardening is good for the soul and we have certainly found at the
soul and we have certainly found at the
soul and we have certainly found at the manure community garden it to be good
manure community garden it to be good
manure community garden it to be good for the whole one seed one plant at a
for the whole one seed one plant at a
for the whole one seed one plant at a time we have living proof that
time we have living proof that
time we have living proof that communities are resilient
communities are resilient
communities are resilient there is growth after tragedy there is
there is growth after tragedy there is
there is growth after tragedy there is hope now all my Emerson said the purpose
hope now all my Emerson said the purpose
hope now all my Emerson said the purpose of life is not to be happy well I have
of life is not to be happy well I have
of life is not to be happy well I have found that by living honorably by living
found that by living honorably by living
found that by living honorably by living with compassion that happiness blooms we
with compassion that happiness blooms we
with compassion that happiness blooms we used to garden what will you use to
used to garden what will you use to
used to garden what will you use to reinvigorate your community
”
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