Love

My mum is in love.

My mum is in love and I am thrilled!

She didn't think it could happen (as I am realising people who haven't fallen in love tend to) but she fell very in love, very quickly. Over a weekend in fact.

She is so happy that so questions if it is real. She is so grateful that she doesn't know how to express it. She is so excited that the world is such a wonderful place. And the best part is she doesn't think it can get better than this.

The best part about mum being in love is that it will get better. Much, much better.

Hurrah!

k

We are Australian.

On the weekends I tutor a refugee family in their home as part of a community engagement program. One of the boys in the family I work with is 11 years old. He is a smart kid but his English reading and writing level is similar to a grade 2 or 3 child, not grade 6. Because this, the boy gets teased a lot at school. I was under the impression that he wasn't being teased for his skin colour, which I think is wonderful, yet he made a reference to his ability to fit-in based on his skin being black which really upset me.

He said something about how he could never be an Australian because he wasn't white. I asked him if he knew what colour skin the Aboriginal people of Australia have. He said white and I told him he was wrong. I told him that the Aboriginal people, who are the native title holders of this country, and have been here for 40,000 to 50,000 years have dark skin. He wasn't sure if I was telling him the truth and asked why he had never seen them. I told him that he had seen them, he just didn't recognise them because their skin and other features looked a little different to his own.

It astounds me that this child, who has nearly been in this country for a year, is apparently unaware of Indigenous Australians. Next week I will bring him photos of some of the kids that I have worked with in the Hear and Say Centre and also Yalari (educational scholarship program).

I don't know what it will achieve but I hope to teach this boy a little more about Australia as a multicultural country where he is as entitled to be here as I am.

k

'An Absolutely Fabulous Evening'

The Hear and Say Centre hosted 'An Absolutely Fabulous Evening' tonight and it was so much fun to be a part of! The night was managed by Eddie and Patsy impersonators who were cracking jokes all over the place.

In all the evening raised approximately $65,000 for the Hear and Say Centre so that they can continue to work with children born with hearing loss, and their families.

It was such a beautiful evening and a great way to be reminded of just how much work this organisation does to make such a massive impact upon the lives of clients. This was really brought home to me by a 10 year old boy who was one of the guests of honour. He gave a speech about how he was born profoundly deaf but with a hearing implant and many sessions at the Hear and Say Centre, not many people know that he naturally has no hearing. His speech, learning and listening abilities are all within an age appropriate range and thanks to the Hear and Say Centre, his parents are able to have regular conversations with their son, tell him they love him, have him hear it and listen to him tell them he loves them as well.

The children at the Hear and Say Centre and their families experience such life-changing experiences by being able to listen and communicate clearly. I feel very lucky to be able to volunteer with them regularly and feel like I am contributing just a little to the impact the Centre has.

k