To the woman in the milk and cheese aisle last night, I want to say – THANK YOU. Your random act of parental support saved my sanity. It turned my horrendous day around, and all because you took twenty seconds out of your day to support me – a total stranger.
I was having one of those moments every parent has been through, and everyone else has witnessed – the very public meltdown. Not by me – well, my meltdown was internal – but by my two children, in the middle of a busy Sydney supermarket, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Both contained within the trolley (thank god), I’m sure their screaming could be heard all the way to the toilet paper aisle.
Overtired, hungry, and pushed too far by a busy Mum, they’d had enough. And so had I.
But just as I felt my own tears of exhaustion and embarrassment begin to well up, one understanding and empathic women pushed her way through the judgemental shoppers and whispered to me “You’re doing a great job.”
Wow. What powerful words. And what a rare thing to witness nowadays.
Is it just me, or is support from strangers becoming more and more uncommon? I certainly think so.
[…]The thing is, we never really know what’s going on in someone’s life. Perhaps that woman who cut you off at the traffic lights is in a rush to pick up her sick kid from school. Or perhaps that man pushing past you at the train station has been up all night worried about losing his job. Or perhaps […] that woman in the carpark has just packed up her life and moved to a new city where she feels totally alone.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we gave everyone the benefit of the doubt? Rather than react with anger or judgement, wouldn’t it be fantastic if everyone was like that amazing woman in the supermarket and assumed they just need a little understanding Try it. One day, it might just be you rushing the wrong way down a one-way street, after losing your job, and with a screaming child needing a toilet.
Story written by Amy Taylor-Kabbaz
Source: www.mamamia.com.au
Wednesday 27 March 2013
Tuesday 26 March 2013
98-Year-Old Woman Earns Judo's Highest Honor
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| Sense KeikoFukuda |
Source - http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=5221
Monday 25 March 2013
Kellyville violinist Phoebe Gardner off to NYC
PHOEBE Gardner's musical career is set to reach even higher notes when she follows an intense seven-week scholarship under one of the world's top violinists, Itzhak Perlman, in New York.
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| Phoebe Gardner, 15, is one of the top violinists in Sydney and has won a scholarship to attend a 7-week program in New York for 40 gifted students from around the world. Picture: Jeff HerbertSource: NewsLocal |
Phoebe, who has dazzled NSW musical judges and audiences with her violin virtuoso, received a scholarship to follow the Perlman Music Program's summer school from June 30-August 18.
The program is a dream come true for the gifted violinist and composer who is just one of 40 musicians chosen from around the world.
"It will be a great experience to perform with some of the best musicians in the world," Phoebe, 15, of Kellyville, said.
"I am really excited to be attending as I eventually hope to study music overseas.
"I am also working on my latest composition, which I hope to take to the New York workshop."
Phoebe said one of her highlights last year was being a recitalist at the National Youth Concerto in Brisbane last year.
Phoebe and her younger sister Mitzi, have scooped up several gold medals at previous Sydney Eisteddfods. However, Phoebe will be forced skip this year's eisteddfod due to the trip.
Phoebe is also a semi-finalist in the FM102.5 Fine Music Young Performer of the Year event, having been runner-up last year.
She has been playing the violin since she was four and received a scholarship from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Sunday 24 March 2013
Devils Delight In Heist Meat
DEVILISH behaviour has brought about a devil of a good time, with a brazen meat thief's ill-gotten haul sparking simultaneous feeding frenzies at wildlife parks across Hobart.
It was a rare feast in store for Tasmanian devils around the south yesterday as the proceeds of crime were widely distributed to the ravenous bone-shredding carnivores.
Ham, steaks and roasts were on the menu at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and other centres affiliated with the Devil Program and the flesh-loving residents showed no hesitation in devouring the evidence left over after police ticked off on the investigation.
"The meat, valued at $2600, was stolen from various supermarkets around Hobart," Detective Senior Constable Katrina Lane said watching on at Bonorong yesterday.
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| Bonorong owner Greg Irons feeds Pewee the devil with meat confiscated as the proceeds of crime. Picture: KIM EISZELE |
"It was later seized as evidence and kept in cold storage."
The offender was charged, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months' jail, wholly suspended.
"I didn't want to see all that meat destroyed and I asked that the magistrate direct it be released to a good cause," the animal-loving police officer said.
The disposal request was granted, allowing the proceeds of this particular crime to be "wholly enjoyed and wolfed down" as Sen-Constable Lane put it.
Devil Program senior keeper Jocelyn Hockey said it was great to have agencies working together to turn a set of adverse circumstances into a positive and help in the protection of a unique species.
"It feels appropriate that we are able to recycle this meat to participants in our own rehabilitation program," Bonorong Sanctuary manager Petra Harris said.
"Some of the devil residents at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary have come into our centre orphaned or injured and donations assist us to ensure they are happy and healthy in our care," she said.
By zara.dawtrey@news.com.au
Thursday 21 March 2013
Wildlife rescuers stick their necks out to save hundreds of turtles stuck in mud
HUNDREDS of turtles have been saved from death at Lisarow thanks to the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers.
The alarm was raised late Monday afternoon after two large ponds were drained at a former factory site, leaving hundreds of the small creatures stuck in the mud and fighting for their lives.
Wildlife ARC volunteers worked through the night and all day Tuesday trying to save as many of the eastern long-necked and short-necked Macquarie turtles as possible.
Often wading in mud up to their waists, volunteers managed to rescue about 700 turtles.
Gosford Council and the new owners of the site worked together with Wildlife ARC to allow volunteers to rescue as many of the turtles as possible.
Wildlife ARC vice chairwoman Jessi Grace said the turtles were lucky volunteers arrived when they did otherwise hundreds would have died.
"When we arrived the water had been drained and the majority of the turtles were exhausted as they had been struggling in the mud for some time," shesaid.
"But luckily we only lost a few."
Hundreds have been released at Narara Creek but volunteers will care for about 150 baby turtles through the winter.
"Because they are so small they wouldn't survive the winter in a new environment," Ms Grace said.
"So we will house them with volunteers throughout the colder months before releasing them into the wild in spring."
HOW TO HELP
- The Wildlife ARC organisation is always on the lookout for new members, with volunteers filling a variety of roles from cutting up fruit and answering phones to helping care for animals.
- To find out more about the organisation, join or make a contribution phone 4325th0666 or email arc@wildlife-arc.org.au
Wednesday 20 March 2013
Why adopting in Australia is easier than you think
RAEWYN Scott and her husband can still remember the day adopted daughter Sasha came home to live with them.
“She was two and a half. It was a lovely experience. A big learning curve, and a major change because it had just been the two of us for so long. But it was so wonderful,” she said.
After six years of unsuccessful IVF treatment the Scotts had spent several more years on a long waiting list for international adoptions.
“We had just assumed that we couldn’t adopt a child from Australia. But then I answered an ad to be a carer for special needs children at Barnardos and found out about their permanent care program,” Mrs Scott said.
Unlike the waiting list for international adoption agencies, the application for adoption in Australia took the Scotts just several weeks. In addition, they were expected to attend a series of workshops, training days and interviews.
Mrs Scott said the application process took them approximately six weeks. Sasha was placed with the couple within eight weeks and the adoption was finalised three years later. This is an unusually quick turnaround for adoptions, according to Barnardos the entire process takes an average of 5.9 years.
With 40,000 children between the ages of 0 and 17 requiring out of home care in Australia last year, for the first time since 1998-99 more Australian children were adopted than children from overseas. The 70 adoptions by carers represented a 10 year high for this type of adoption – more than double the 29 adoptions in 2002-03. Barnardos finalised 25 adoptions in 2012.
The Scotts said they met with a case worker and discussed everything from their financial arrangements to their contact with other families and the type of care and support networks available.
They were also expected to adhere to the Barnardos adoption policy that stipulates that one parent remain at home for the first year of the child’s transition into their lives.
“I stayed at home and was lucky enough in recent years to start working here for my husband’s business and I just fit it in when I can,” Mrs Scott said.
Mrs Scott admits to being apprehensive at first about the open adoption policy that stipulates the adoptive family must continue to facilitate a regular communication link with their adopted child’s natural birth parents.
“I went into that part with a bit of a closed mind. We didn’t know anything about Sasha’s natural parents at the time and I was worried. But once I opened my mind up and met them I now have a lot of empathy for them as people. And I cannot comprehend how it must feel to be them and not be able to raise your child, “she said.
Elizabeth Cox, senior manager for the adoption and permanent care program at Barnardos said while the open adoption policy has been in place since 1985, it’s a common point of contention for people considering the adoption process.
“It can be confronting for people, but we absolutely insist on it. We’ve learn't from mistakes of past public practises,” she said.
The type of contact with families of origin can range from sharing photographs to weekly visits and according to Ms Cox mostly depends on the wishes of all the families involved.
“Our training sessions for adoptive parents really focus on practical ways to engage these parties together and help the adoptive family to plan the frequency of contact and where and how it will take place,” she said.
Simon Duffy told news.com.au that open and honest communication has made all the difference to their experience. He and partner Wally, adopted their son, Cory when he was two years old. Now nine, Mr Duffy said his son is proud of their large and dynamic family life.
“He loves telling people that he has three dads, one mum and six grandparents. For him it is normal part of life,” said Mr Duffy.
This policy of open communication has also extended to the way Mr Duffy and his partner have explained the adoption process to Cory.
“We’ve always talked about that, right from the start. He knows that his parents were not able to look after him. When he gets older and starts to ask more questions, then we’ll have answers for him about that too. There have never been any secrets and he doesn’t have to make up stories because he knows what has happened,” he said.
Mr Duffy credits the couple’s extended family and the network of case workers and staff from Barnardos for the incredible support network that has buoyed their experience as parents.
“Having Cory in our lives has cemented our relationship and our commitment to each other. One of the best days of our life was the day we went to court and he was given my surname, Duffy. We also talk about it now as his ‘naming day’,” he said.
Mrs Scott agrees.
“We are a real family now. Before Sasha, our lives were different but now life revolves around our family. It’s not something you can ever prepare for but it’s fantastic. I will tell any couple considering it just to go for it,” she said.
To find out more about adoption visit the Barnardos website www.barnardos.org.au or call 1800 663 441
Tuesday 19 March 2013
'Awesome' students hailed for woman's lake rescue
A group of young students has been hailed for their bravery after they saved a woman who crashed her car into a lake in Sydney yesterday.
The TAFE students swam into the lake at Olympic Park, in the city's west, to pull the woman from her sinking vehicle.
Cooper Judd, one of the students, says they were on a bus returning from an excursion to the Royal Easter Show when they noticed the woman hunched over the steering wheel of her car as it ploughed towards the lake.
"We looked back and we saw her coming down these stairs. We were telling the bus driver to stop," he said.
"All of us just ran down. Tom and Luke ran into the water and got her window down.
"Then me and Blake came in after and me and Blake pulled her out of the car and got her back up here."
Tom Walmslui was one of the students who reached the woman first.
"A few of the boys saw the lady hunched over the steering wheel. We got the bus driver to turn around and me and Luke jumped out the emergency exit and just jumped straight in and swam out to her," he said.
"All her windows were up, so I had to push her windows down. She wasn't ready to come out, she kept saying that her daughter and husband were still in the car, but there was no-one else."
The woman was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Her husband, David Milkovic, says the young men deserve bravery awards.
"I'd just like to thank the boys from the bottom of my heart. Without them who knows what could have happened, my wife could have died," he said.
"They deserve bravery awards. They're awesome, awesome fellas."
Monday 18 March 2013
Visa to outlaw hefty credit card fees
Could this actually be a small win for the consumer?
Hefty credit card surcharges could be on the way out after Visa became the first company to ban Australian retailers from slapping on the fees.
Cabcharge's founder Reg Kermode said a few weeks ago that he did not believe the Reserve Bank could force it to comply with the new rules.
Qantas said last week that claims it was profiting from its surcharges was wrong.
Source - http://www.smh.com.au/business/visa-to-outlaw-hefty-credit-card-fees-20130318-2g9nl.html
Hefty credit card surcharges could be on the way out after Visa became the first company to ban Australian retailers from slapping on the fees.
The new rules follow a Reserve Bank of Australia review and give credit card companies the power to force retailers to limit what they charge consumers to use credit and charge cards.
New rules come into force on Monday, which Visa says it will use to restrict surcharges to as little as one per cent.
Among the biggest culprits accused of using surcharges as a revenue source are taxi companies, who place a 10 per cent surcharge on customers who pay with their credit card.
Advertisement
Airlines and some retailers have also been accused by consumer group Choice of over-the-top fees.
However independent eftpos provider Tyro Payments says the major banks were also to blame, imposing unnecessary fees on struggling small retailers, who then pass the costs onto customers.
"The truth is many small businesses are being forced to fund the lucrative loyalty programs of the major banks, by absorbing these costs," Tyro spokesman Mr Jost Stollmann said in a statement.
If MasterCard, AMEX and Diners Club follow Visa's suit it would save Australian consumers an estimated $350 million a year based on spending on card transactions last year, Mr Stollmann said.
'Overdue'
Consumer advocacy group Choice welcomed the changes, which it had been campaigning for.
''This is something that we've spent years calling for. ... The proof now will be on whether some of the highest surcharges - particularly the airlines and the taxi industry - actually start to reduce their fees as a result of these changes,'' Choice's head of campaigns, Matt Levey, said.
''We are optimistic, but it remains to be seen how soon [others act] and whether some merchants try and get around this by applying surcharges under another name.''
Cards act
American Express spokesman Fritz Quinn said the firm had updated its terms and conditions to take in the new RBA regulations.
"We have updated our merchants’ terms and conditions to say that any merchants who want to surcharge, that the surcharge should be reasonably related to the cost of accepting American Express," Mr Quinn said, adding that the majority of Australian businesses did not use surcharges.
"Surcharging is such an anti-consumer practice that people tend to vote with their feet. So if they feel like they are being taken advantage of, they're going to go some place where they don't have to pay that surcharge."
MasterCard said it was not commenting at this time.
Review
The new rules follow a Reserve Bank of Australia review and give credit card companies the power to force retailers to limit what they charge consumers to use credit and charge cards.
Tyro Payments said more than 36 per cent of Australian businesses, or 100,000 companies, impose some type of surcharge on a customer's bill, leaving 64 per cent or 200,000 - the majority - doing the right thing.
AMEX and Diners Club card transactions attract surcharges of 3-4 per cent and Visa and Mastercard about 2 per cent, according to the RBA, compared to the banks' service fees of only 0.85 per cent.
Businesses who refuse to comply with the lower charges face warnings, fines and possible termination under the legislation.
It is understood Cabcharge's 10 per cent surcharge added $90 million in revenue during the 2012 financial year.
Cabcharge's founder Reg Kermode said a few weeks ago that he did not believe the Reserve Bank could force it to comply with the new rules.
Discount airline Jetstar told Fairfax Media last week it no longer had a credit card surcharge, and only charged a booking and service fee.
Jetstar added that it would be looking into the new policies to see if further changes would be needed.
Qantas said last week that claims it was profiting from its surcharges was wrong.
"The income we get from surcharges does not exceed our costs and never has done," a Qantas spokesman said.
AAP with Glenda Kwek, Rachel Wells
Source - http://www.smh.com.au/business/visa-to-outlaw-hefty-credit-card-fees-20130318-2g9nl.html
Sunday 17 March 2013
Be inspired by Shabana Basij-Rasikh in this TED talk - Dare to educate Afghan girls.
Happy Monday!
Source - http://www.ted.com/talks/shabana_basij_rasikh_dare_to_educate_afghan_girls.html
Imagine a country where girls must sneak out to go to school, with deadly consequences if they get caught learning. This was Afghanistan under the Taliban, and traces of that danger remain today. 22-year-old Shabana Basij-Rasikh runs a school for girls in Afghanistan. She celebrates the power of a family's decision to believe in their daughters -- and tells the story of one brave father who stood up to local threats.
Source - http://www.ted.com/talks/shabana_basij_rasikh_dare_to_educate_afghan_girls.html
200 strangers attend British Marine's funeral after Facebook plea
LONDON -- More than 200 strangers attended a British veteran's funeral after a clergyman put out a plea on Facebook, fearing he would be buried without mourners, according to reports.
James McConnell, who served with the U.K.'s Royal Marines, died last month aged 70.
Staff at his nursing home in Southsea, Hampshire, thought they would be the only people at his funeral as he did not have any close family, ITV News reported.
The Rev. Bob Mason, posted a message on Facebook and contacted the Royal Marines Association.
The message, which was shared and reposted by members of the association and thousands of other Facebook users, said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, In this day and age it is tragic enough that anyone has to leave this world with no one to mourn their passing, but this man was family and I am sure you will agree deserves a better send off. If you can make it to the graveside for that time to pay your respects to a former brother in arms then please try to be there."
The message, which was shared and reposted by members of the association and thousands of other Facebook users, said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, In this day and age it is tragic enough that anyone has to leave this world with no one to mourn their passing, but this man was family and I am sure you will agree deserves a better send off. If you can make it to the graveside for that time to pay your respects to a former brother in arms then please try to be there."
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| A motorcycle procession during the funeral of James McConnell, who died last month at the age of 70. |
Hundreds responded to the message, braving the freezing temperatures to attend Thursday’s ceremony at Milton Cemetery in nearby Portsmouth.
'Dignified burial'
Mason, who conducted Thursday’s funeral, told local newspaper, The News: “I want to say a big thank you to all of those who turned up.
“Many people had concerns about him being buried with no family present but now they have seen him have a dignified burial.”
Among those attending was Arthur Bailey, 88, who was a soldier who served in several conflicts.
"I heard about it and just wanted to come along," he told The News. "This is what the armed forces family is for. It’s a credit to everyone who turned up."
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