Community/Local Matters

I've been to Grill'd a few times since I've been on Australia and they run a scheme called Local Matters in the same why that Waitrose runs Community Matters in the UK. For those not familiar with the schemes, you are given a token when you have completed your shopping (or in the case of Grill'd, a bottle top when you've placed your order) to vote for one of three local charities to recieve the current month's donation from the company. Now don't get me wrong, I think this is a fantastic initiative to help boost much needed funding for small charities but there are a few things that bug me or that could be improved. 

Firstly it seems unfair that there's always one container that almost full while the other two are really struggling. At Waitrose it is usually the first box shoppers come to on their way out so it's seems less down to a consious decision and more of a hurried 'need to get the shopping home.'  What goes in Grill'd's favour is that there were people genuinely reading about the charities before making their choice. Even so, one jar was two thirds full while the base of the other two was barely covered. Psychologically, who will choose the emptier jars when they don't seem to have a chance of 'winning'? So there's a couple of suggestions here. Why not have solid containers so people are less likely to be influenced by the current rankings? And what about positioning the stand where there isn't an obvious jar that is passed first?

On my last visit to Grill'd I carefully read the description of all three charities before making my choice and was weighing up between two - Sydney Youth Orchestras (self-explanatory!) and Gondwana Choirs which provide bursaries for disadvantaged children to join Sydney Children's Choir. As I said previously there was one jar two thirds full while the other two had barely covered the bottom. My choices filled the role of the later two so what was the charity that was streets ahead?  A charity called Look Good... Feel Better which is run by the Cancer Patients Foundation. They run workshops help improve the wellbeing/confidence of people undergoing treatment for cancer by addressing the appearance-related side-effects caused by their cancer treatment. Of course this is a more than worthy charity but I couldn't help but feel that the other two 'recreational' charities didn't stand a chance against the 'health' charity. There are indeed hidden benefits to being part of of choir or orchestra with social and creative skills and benefits being developed but I would argue that the general public wouldn't be aware of these. So here's my suggestion for a further improvement: why not put similar charities together for each vote? Group 'health' charities, 'arts' organisations, 'children's' charities, 'animal' charities. Perhaps then each charity starts on a more equal footing. 

I don't feel completely dismayed though. My sense of unfairness stems from my thought that the charity with the highest total gained the whole donation while the other two gained nothing but I've since learnt that all the charities get something. Waitrose's website states that, 'The more tokens a cause gets, the bigger the donation they receive. Each month every Waitrose branch donates £1,000 (£500 in Convenience shops) between 3 local good causes that you choose.' Grill'd splits their $500, $300 to the highest and $100 to each to the remainders which brings me back to my initial statement that at least local charities are gaining much needed funds from these national corporations. 

Everybody should have the chance to be part of something special

I consider myself to be lucky. I've been part of something special... and on more than one occasion. 

In the UK I'm part of the Sambassadors of Groove, an amazing bunch of sambistas who come from all walks of life, every Thursday night to bang drums. But they are more than that. They are a community and my second family. I've made some of my best friends through the band and we've stood side by side through thick and thin. I joined the band as a naive 18 year old and while I've come and gone on many adventures during the past 13 years, I've always known that they've been there to pick me up or console me in the low times but equally they're there in a flash to celebrate the good times. I'm lucky to be part of something special and to be able to call myself a Sambassador. 

When I arrived back in Sydney, I needed to find me a local something special. My ever present Sambassadors were sending me thoughtful messages online but I pined for a weekly dose of feel good community spirit. I know from my experience with Sing Live/Sing and Discover that singing takes you to special places both physically, mentally and emotionally so enter the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Aptly they also rehearse weekly every Thursday night.  The first night I arrived I felt the same nerves as I did all those years ago as a teenager. The hardest part is always stepping through the door for the first time but I needn't have worried. The friendly welcome at once put me at ease and as soon as we began to sing, an incredible feeling washed over me. I felt at home. 

Amongst the anguish of applying tirelessly for jobs, of the continuous turnover of roommates in my 8-bed dorm, of the homesickness that comes with being part of my nephew, Jamie's, 6th birthday through FaceTime, SGLC has been my constant. The uplifting feeling of singing each week amongst such a friendly and welcoming group, as well as the drinks in the pub after (notice a pattern here Sambassadors?) has been the something special I craved. I also get the impression that the members of this choir are there for each other through the ups and downs of life as well. 

Unfortunately my time with the SGLC has been interrupted. I was so looking forward to performing at Christmas with them but a job opportunity came up in Brisbane. I genuinely thought 'Great, I can stay in Australia for longer... but I have to leave the choir!' 

Before I left my final rehearsal (for now) tonight we sang Home. It had very poignant lyrics which reperesent what SGLC have been for me during the past month. 

The trouble—it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

I've been part of something special on both sides of the world now and I know there are people that will never feel the sense of belonging that I have in both of these groups. That shouldn't happen. Everybody should have the chance to be part of something special. What's your something special?

Backpacker skills

I wrote this list of skills you may or may not have considered necessary as a backpacker a couple of months ago but have just added a couple more.  Whether you've been a backpacker or not you might find them amusing with a smile of recognition or 'I didn't think of that!'

- Making a top bunk bed

- Making a bed with non-fitting sheets

- Making a top bunk bed with non-fitting sheets

- Deciding within 5 seconds of walking in a room which is the best bed

- Hanging your clothes in the correct order in a shower cubicle

- Getting dressed in different shaped and sized shower cubicles

- Putting trousers on, avoiding the wet patches in the shower

- Picking pants up at speed when you drop them on the shower floor

- Finding a dry/least wet tea towel to dry your dishes

- Assessing with a glance and a wipe of the finger tips whether crockery and cutlery is clean enough to us

- Dealing with/ignoring rude/ inconsiderate roommates

- Pretending you're listening to music/watching a film when you're roommate won't stop talking

- Walking through a communal area from the bathroom to your bedroom with your pyjamas on

- Ignoring bad table manners, including licking knives, using a fork like you're killing your food and slurping noodles

- Recognising when you start these bad table manners 

- Controlling bed time farts

If you've been a backpacker is there anything you'd add? (Keep it clean!)

It's all about making a connection.

I've had my eye on the Museums and Galleries in Education MA at the Institute of Education, London for quite some time.  It took me coming to Australia and being at a loose end after a couple of weeks in Sydney to realise that I could be independently studying without the structure and potential restrictions that studying a prescribed course can bring.

On Friday 10th October 2014 I embarked on the first stage of my self directed study by visiting the State Library of New South Wales. I'll skip the boring part of the books and chapters I devoured but skip straight to what I found interesting and what ideas it led me to. 

I started by reading about the issues that museums face in the 21st century and the reasons behind why people visit museums, galleries and heritage sites. I agree with the theory that while once the sole purpose of museums and galleries was to preserve the collections they house, the purpose of these establiments today is to educate their users. Interestingly education was their purpose when they were first established at the beginning of the 19th century. 

Alongside this I found that there are three reasons that users visit museums/galleries/heritage sites which are: Enjoy, Talk, Do (as cited in Transforming Museums in the 21st Century by Graham Black).  Enjoy links to being entertained, talk 'provides a focal point for socialising and interacting' and as do suggests, this allows people be become involved by contributing, perhaps creatively.

While the prime reason to attend museums/galleries/heritage sites at one time would have been solely to enjoy, with the rise of the internet and digital technology, people are engaging far more in all 3 pursuits and institutions must make the most of digital technology and social networks to keep users engaged.

When I visited the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Sydney, I was impressed by their app which is available on both Apple and Android devices.  The features which caught my attention were the ability to type in the number of selected pieces of art which then showed the details and description on my phone and I could add favourites to My Gallery. I was also able to find the location of the selected piece of art and share an image via social networks. Because the description was share with the use of digital technology (even though they were exactly the same words as printed on the wall), I read more and subsequently learnt more. 

It wasn't until I visited the Australian Museum that I had a big eureka moment though. We started on the top floor of the 3 storey building, purely because this floor housed the dinosaurs. The first couple of galleries entitled 'Surviving Australia' and 'Extinction Gallery' impressed me with their displays, putting the 'stuffed animal in a box' approach to one side and showing a variety of live animals (which I've never seen in a traditional museum before), stuffed animals in context as well as in unexpected places, for example climbing walls. 

The curatorship made the displays engaging as they were either recognisable or unexpected. I guess this was the first step of making a connection with the audience although at this point I didn't recognise that - only that I was engaged. 

Beyond the dinosaurs - which always seem to appeal whatever the context - was a space to explore dinosaurs further and I noticed the only displays which attracted users were thise which required some sort of interaction, whether it was designing your own dinosaur on a touch screen computer, spinning a wheel of fortune type of display, digging in a sand pit or choosing which video to watch. 

We then passed through a couple more rooms where birds, insects and gems were displayed 'tradtionally', piled behind glass with no context. Here I noticed there was little engagement and felt the learning opportunities were missed. 

It wasn't until the final room where the skeletons were displayed that I exclaimed 'it's all about making a connection!' Yes, there were a few skeletons in cabinets but there was also a human skeleton trying to control the skeleton of a bucking horse, a cycling skeleton which mimicked the movements of the human driven cycle in front and a variety of household skeletons in context. 

It was here that I made an important realisation - these displays made a connection with the audience.  They placed the artefacts in recognisable contexts.  In front of the lounge of skeletons I started lesson planning - what animals to the skeletons belong to? How do you know? What do they have in common? How are they different? All of theses are easy to answer because they have a known (and amusing) starting point. They could be built on to more why questions to extend learning and understanding.  

All of these discoveries confirmed my area of interest for study. Luckily in my degree course we were able to pick our own dissertation title and so I was thinking in the same vein for a new title for a piece of written work. Ultimately I'd like to write an essay entitled 'Why is it important to educate children in museums, art galleries and heritage sites? What is the most effective way of doing this?'

Let her go

I've always been a believer that music is powerful.  It has the ability to take you places you've experienced in the past and create emotions at the most unexpected times.  It reminds you of loved ones, life events, and special memories.  It can make you laugh, cry, smile but most importantly it can help you make sense of your mood and the world around you as well as reminding you of what's important and in turn be thankful.

Sometimes we purposefully play songs which take us to particular places or create particular moods - like watching that really sad film when you need to cry.  Other times songs seem to appear at the most unexpected but poignant moments as if to send a message.  Sometimes it's the lyrics which strike a chord or just the song taking you to a place you heard the song.  All of these have happened since I've been out here in Australia.

Imagine sitting on a bus, in pitch darkness at around 7pm, completely alone.  I'm 2 weeks into a 52 week trip and still have 2 hours before I arrive at my destination where I'll have to find my hostel in the dark and I know the reception will be closed. The realisation of what I've done, venturing on a year-long trip to the other side of the world on my own, suddenly seems very real and 50 long weeks stretch dauntingly ahead of me and I feel very isolated.  I knew I needed something not only to remind myself of home but also to make me smile.  The song choice on my iPod was a no brainer.  I jumped straight to Viva La Vida by Coldplay.  Why?  I was taken straight to Birmingham Town Hall with my mum standing proudly next to me.  As the band played the introduction, our Musical Director, Steve, ever composed, was flicking through the pages of music while Laura, the always over-excited vocal coach, bounced enthusiastically in the stalls.  There are many songs that I've delightfully belted out but something do with the build up of this song makes it extra satisfying - especially the Ohs at the end.  So from feeling rather sorry for myself, I found myself grinning like a Cheshire Cat and miming wildly along.  On top of that, I was now glad I was sitting alone in the pitch black!

The other time I heard Let Her Go by Passenger, I think I was in a coffee shop, shopping centre or similar so it was unexpected.  I was in Sydney the second time round and was fruitlessly applying for jobs and generally feeling a bit fed up.  All I wanted was a hug!  I wanted to be at home but only for half an hour to blitz round several important family members and friends for a squeeze and a whisper in the ear that everything would work out.  I also knew that as soon as I was home I'd want to be back in Aus again.  Does this could as homesick?!  Anyway, the lyrics of this song suddenly made a new connection.  Obviously I'd understood the meaning but now I completely felt that I'd been high earlier on the trip as I now felt low and I was only 'hating the road because I was missing home' (and the hugs that belong there).  I'd felt this way back in Melbourne too when the job didn't work out.

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Only hate the road when you’re missin' home

Only know you love her when you let her go

On a more postive note there have been a couple of songs that will remind me of the fun times I've had here and would definitely form the soundtrack of this mighty adventure.  They're Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Heroes and Best Day of My Life by American Authors.

So what songs remind you of a particular time of event?  Here's a few more of mine:

Avicii - Wake Me Up  and Bastille - Pompeii 30th birthday party
Kings of Leon - Someone Like You and Toto - Africa Driving on dirt tracks in Africa
Keane - Everybody's Changing Driving down Western Avenue, Cardiff as I moved out of Halls