For 40 years the Westpac helicopters have been rescuing people from the bikie gang war in Milperra, Sydney to Hobart yacht race to the fires now!
I was proud to celebrate them tonight at the Hordern Pavilion.
Gail Kelly CEO Westpac Group spoke compellingly and so did the head of the service.
Moved by the family of fisherman with 2 young boys whose boat went down and who were saved by the Westpac helicopter. YEAH!
We rocked to Daryl Braithwaite and had a brilliant night of giving and thanking them.
The post LUV Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service – saving lives in the fires appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
Thankyou to the kids and teachers of Central Coast Adventist School for loving I Am Jack and my JACKS!
‘I Am Jack’ is a core study at the Adventist School for a term. As I entered the library, it felt like I was welcomed by friends. The warmth of the kids and teachers was a special way to end nearly 2 months on this Book writing tour.
It was so much fun driving with my daughter Tory from Sydney to the Central Coast especially since my GPS went crazy.
We ended up at this Buddhist Cafe and gallery set amongst rolling hills and the green countryside. Beautiful. Then I got to speak to this fantastic kids on their last day before school holidays.
As an ambassador for the National Year of Reading 2012, love speaking to kids and promoting books – next year is going to be a major one – log onto and have fun:- www.love2read.org.au
My daughter Tory and I peer into Don Bosco House in inner city Marrickville.
The youth officer opens the locked front door, hands me a large knife and Tory a lighter for the gas stove and we head down the corridor.
We pass bedrooms, graffitti, a billiard table, mix-match gym machines, a well worn mega lounge with a girl watching the TV, EminEm belting through the house, the dining room -
‘Here’s the pantry. Up to you, what to cook.’
Tory & I look at each other. ‘For how many people?”
Around 10 and then the youth officer is gone and we’re in the kitchen.
It’s a search and discover expedition – our menu:-
Wholemeal pasta, tomatoes, onions, capiscum, bacon pieces, carrots, pesto sauce……and more. We start.
The knife is the bluntest knife possible. I cut the onions with big strokes. Tory’s into the chopping the tomatoes.
Really liked meeting the kids.
They chatted, talked about sharing Don Bosco House with 10 other kids. Don Bosco House was giving them a chance to work out their lives.
One girl was starting at TAFE. One young guy with plenty of studs in his face was starting work at a tattoo parlour doing piercings.
Some of the kids spoke to us, others didn’t. The staff were cool and everyone liked our mega pasta.
What wasn’t eaten will be taken on the on the Youth off The Streets bus to feed homeless.
ildren pictures taken by staff and volunteers from Rebeccas Commu
This was on of my great experiences of Florida – visting Ernest Hemingway’s gracious Key West house, still filled with old world furnishings, chandeliers, Hemingway’s private writing studio where he wrote his masterpieces including ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’, and cats – well, descendents of them. There are around 60 moggies all with 6 toes - wandering between the palms and verandahs.
Ernest Hemingway wrote about the people in his life and caused a few upsets.
I understand that!!!!!
Ernest Hemingway married 4 times – all to writers!
No, I never married a writer!!!!
Ernest Hemingway LOVED cats.
I love our Tinkerbell – a Russian Blue!!!!
Ernest Hemingway suffered emotional illness and committed suicide at 61 years of age.
So sad, but many creative people experience depression.
It’s been a special journey opening The Hughenden Cafe Restaurant - 
with 1850’s gold framed original paintings, Laurent’s 1930s paintings of beautiful cafe society women, Ralph Laurent lamps, the baby grand, heritage with deep Chesterfields and antique armchairs, vintage silver spoons and crystal cake stands. 
- a modern design cafe with eclectic artwork
- with quirky teapots, old books, new authors, wonderful food baked in The Hughenden kitchen
- my mother’s photo in an old gold frame. Veronika used to play the violin in the Victorian Rooms.
- Bruce Glen parlour magic magician
Gilbert Whyte singer songwriter, acoustic, fingerpicking guitar style
Escaping into the Royal Hotel on a wet and windy night, we lucked in with the acoustic sounds of Gilbert Whyte’s guitar and lyrical ballards. It’s worth listening to Gilbert’s myspace to hear songs that touch you, leaving you thinking about family, relationships and your place in the world.
www.myspace.com/gilbertwhyte
Gilbert Whyte and George Katralis new song writers
George Katralis was next, a song writer who’s different to Gilbert - more rocky. His songs about his dreams of being a Rock Star at 16; the mother stuck in a world without dreams; making it - were emtoional journeys. Watch out for his band VICTIMS OF SOUND.
You’ve got to be driven to be a creative artist. These are young guys on a hard but amazing trip. I know because I’m a writer. My last book, I wrote with my daughter Tory. Here are her songs:-
I Wanna Be Found - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw0JRQVht3E
Psycho Dad - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ess-R0dHtX8
Tory songwriter and singer for 'That's Why I Wrote This Song'
Book Cover- That's Why I Wrote This Song
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw0JRQVht3E
Hope you love this video clip. Photos were taken by a young photographer Rick Munitz.
Tory loves her music and shoes
Tory performing with Not Perfect the band
