Educate, Inspire & Entertain

@Aboriginaloz Blog: Part-white or part-Aboriginal?

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000+11:00

@Aboriginaloz Blog: Part-white or part-Aboriginal?:"Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago." Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThere are some calling for a national debate on Aboriginal identity... or in more accurate terms they are calling for a general free for all to slam Aboriginal people. To slam Aboriginal youth, Aboriginal parents, Aboriginal communities, and

Let the yarning begin, whats your deadly story?

2011-06-23T14:47:00.000+10:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.textexposedshow { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } The first week of July celebrates National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander week, when all Australian’s can celebrate our countries first people and their positive

Judged on your moment of weakness

2011-06-08T18:21:00.002+10:00

Each day's mistakes explode into the continuing nightmares that then entwine into the next day's distractions causing more defeats. The constant nagging and pulling away of my focus and awareness. I want to cry, to run away, I want to yell and scream. I want to stop, to press pause and give myself time to recover, to find my rhythm, to be at peace, to wash away the crap. I can't recall the

Pecan Summer tickets now ON SALE!

2011-05-30T16:44:00.000+10:00

I am so excited to inform you that tickets are now ON SALE for the Melbourne season of Australia’s first Indigenous Opera, PECAN SUMMER presented by Short Black Opera Company. Again the story of young Alice created by the incomparable Deborah Cheetham will have audiences spellbound mesmerised and yearning for more. Since the World Premier of this Yorta Yorta story on Country last October, as

Sorry Day 2011 - Archie Roach Took The Children Away

2011-05-26T22:55:00.000+10:00

Anita Heiss' Black Book Challenge (BBC)

2011-05-20T23:48:00.000+10:00

I was living with my Nana, Brisbane Elder, Aunty Ruth Hegarty as she wrote and was awarded for her first autobiographical manuscript that become her first published book Is that you, Ruthie?It was Nana's love of reading that really blossomed my own passion as Nana past on many books that she had recently read to me. I still consider myself an avid reader, regularly reading on the Tram, or

The power of the words that follow I am

2011-03-23T13:46:00.001+11:00

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Indigenous Australia needs more followers not leaders

2011-03-20T18:38:00.004+11:00

Madeleine Madden has been named 2011 National Youth Week Ambassador following her 24th October 2010 inspirational ‘Address to the Nation’. Maddy called on all Australians to help end the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous key indicators of Health, Education and Employment and join in a national conversation. Maddy with Generation One CEO Tim Gartrell Ambassador is a title of much

Final rehearsals for 2010

2010-12-14T23:34:00.000+11:00

Thank you, Toni Lalich - Vocal Coach, Accompanist Friday 17th will be a very significant day in defining my career. So today was my final run through of 2 Aria’s and a song for Friday. I have enjoyed so much working with my amazing vocal coach Toni Lalich. Toni under rates her skills and talent the most significant for me being her ability to articulate my difficulties in simple terms for me

Competitive Edge

2010-12-14T23:31:00.000+11:00

For a group of misfits we are doing very well. This is our 2nd season of mixed Netball and whilst we got the semi’s in our first season, this season is definitely looking great for us to make it to the finals. Our results this season are that we have had 1 forfeit and 4 wins with only 17 goals conceded whilst we have scored 87 goals which means we are scoring 510% better than our competition.

Ah-choo

2010-12-14T23:29:00.000+11:00

I went to sleep last night feeling a bit sneezy. The curse of the singer is forever keeping oneself healthy. This year I have done very well with no serious bouts of anything (touch wood) but I have had lots of days where things haven’t been 100%. Probably my biggest struggle this year has been a strong reaction to cigarette smoke and the pollen as it exploded this spring. Deborah has had us

What are you often nostalgic for?

2010-12-10T15:22:00.000+11:00

Last night our family had dinner; sharing news, events, funny stories and many laughs. My brothers youngest daughter (14months) kept us entertain with her infectious smile and sheer cuteness. (yes i am biased - lol) As I sat by the pool this morning with the sun warming my back, I got to thinking about being home and all of the great memories I had here and whether I would move back. Then as

Blowin' in the Wind

2010-12-09T12:41:00.001+11:00

As I return home, to the place I grew up, to spend time with family and friends, it is with a great deal of satisfaction for all that has been achieved but also with concerns, apprehension and anticipation for what's next. What's next for me? for Pecan Summer? for 2011? for my career? A common utterance being spoken to me upon my return is 'Congratulations, and what's next?' I would love to be

TEDxHouston - Brené Brown

2010-12-08T00:56:00.001+11:00

eudc Dr. Brené Brown is a researcher professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, where she has spent the past ten years studying a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness, posing the questions: How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to

Check out music from Don Bemrose

2010-12-07T04:12:00.001+11:00

A father...one day?

2010-12-07T01:21:00.008+11:00

A recent post on Facebook (hoax or not) asked people to change their profile picture to their favourite cartoon character. I changed mine to my favourite Disney movie, Dumbo (1941). From it there is an amazing lullaby, 'Baby Mine' when Dumbo is momentarily reunited with his impounded Mother.Better Midler sings my personal favourite version of this song and also featured the song in the movie

Embracing the inner Drag Queen - What the??

2010-03-18T22:03:00.006+11:00

Today was one of those days that you could question the process of teaching used at the Victorian College of Arts. But what you couldn't question is its effectiveness, the result.Each week we have a vocal workshop in front of our peers and today I was asked by my teacher to "embrace my inner Drag Queen" and spew forth a voice full of breath. Of course, many great one-liners eschewed from many

Never EVER Give Up

2010-03-16T23:16:00.007+11:00

I don't know about you, but for me, life has sometimes been a struggle. And as much as you know me as a very happy person with a great positive attitude it wasn't always that way. At my darkest, I was binge drinking excessively and attempted suicide twice. I wanted to give up!The turning point for me was through attendance at a state and a national surf life saving camp (thanks Claire Parry) and

Practice Practice Practice

2010-03-15T18:16:00.006+11:00

Today was one of those days when I got to see that all of the practice is actually getting me more of the education I want. Today I saw that HOW I am doing practice has changed so drastically that I even inspired myself when I realised WHAT I was doing.For the past 12months I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing teachers and artists involved with Pecan Summer and the Victorian

The Barber of Seville, Melbourne Opera

2010-03-15T00:53:00.003+11:00

Gosh, I do love the operatic voice and live theatre!Today I got to be educated, inspired and entertain by the Melbourne Opera production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville. If you know your Bugs Bunny then you will know the score to this masterpiece.All the leads are great and my stand out performer was David Gould (playing, Don Basilio), who was so strong in his lower register and was a