Stories Archives - Befriend https://befriend.org.au/page-category/stories/ Fri, 22 May 2026 03:19:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://befriend.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/favicon-150x150.png Stories Archives - Befriend https://befriend.org.au/page-category/stories/ 32 32 John’s WingSpan Group https://befriend.org.au/stories/johns-wingspan-group/ Fri, 22 May 2026 02:16:41 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=9713 Each Friday morning at Armadale Library, the meeting room is transformed into a bird sanctuary. Tabletops become havens for birds from around the world as players lay out the elements of Wingspan, the beautifully crafted board game created by Elizabeth Hargrave. Forests, fields, and wetlands come alive with exquisitely illustrated birds, and each player is tasked with nurturing their own bird sanctuary.
What makes Wingspan so special? It transports you out of everyday worries, away from screens and news, and into a world that is fantasy and reality all at once. It's relaxing, connecting, and quietly wonderful for your well-being. We always have space at the table and you are very welcome to join us.

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John's Wingspan Group

Where birds, connection and community meet

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Those of us at the table have come from different parts of the world, and we bring stories of the birds we've encountered wherever we've lived.

John Wingspan Photo

Each Friday morning at Armadale Library, the meeting room is transformed into a bird sanctuary. We open the curtains to let in the vast blue sky, the green tops of the trees, and whatever birds are in flight outside.


Inside the meeting room, the tabletops become havens for birds from around the world. As we carefully lay out the elements of the Wingspan game, created by Elizabeth Hargrave, the table takes on a world of its own. Forests, fields, and wetlands come alive with exquisitely illustrated birds. There’s a bird feeder, soft-coloured eggs, and food such as grains, fruit, worms, fish, and mice. Each player is tasked with nurturing their own bird sanctuary. The play includes a variety of actions: playing a bird into one of your bird habitats, laying eggs in nests, gathering food to feed your birds, and acquiring new birds for your sanctuary.


Getting to know birds from around the world through the intricately crafted images, learning about their habits, what they eat, how many eggs they lay, and where in the world each bird is found, while carefully curating each action with the intention of filling your sanctuary and keeping your birds and their habitats healthy, requires deep, mindful focus.


Before being introduced to Wingspan, the mere thought of playing a board game made me recoil. I’d openly say, “I don’t play board games.” Wingspan has changed that narrative for me. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m an avid bird lover and amateur bird photographer, or something else. It’s probably a combination.

Playing Wingspan transports you out of your everyday worries, away from screens, social media, and news, and into a fantasy world that is also very much part of real life.

When John came to me with the idea of starting a Wingspan group, he described it as a relaxing game, and it is. I suspect it’s relaxing because it feels like being transported into nature, and spending time in nature has been shown to significantly reduce stress hormones. I suspect it’s also because we’re tapping into our innate human capacity to care for something. During a Wingspan game, players care for and expand their bird sanctuary. They connect with new friends who share a passion, and quite often we pause to be in awe of the incredible birds that exist in all manner of places.


It feels like a unifying game. Those of us at the table have come from different parts of the world, and we bring stories of the birds we’ve encountered wherever we’ve lived. This creates a sense of shared interest and connection, vital for our well-being. Playing Wingspan transports you out of your everyday worries, away from screens, social media, and news, and into a fantasy world that is also very much part of real life.


One of our fellow players today mentioned that since she started playing Wingspan, she has noticed bird behaviour in her neighbourhood that she hadn’t noticed before. She’s become curious about how they forage for food, what they eat, and how they interact with their surroundings.


Throughout the game, everyone is jolly. The positive effects on players’ well-being are palpable. I imagine we are getting good doses of oxytocin, the hormone of connection and care, as we connect not only with each other but also with caring for our birds. When we get curious or excited about a play, we may experience a release of dopamine, the reward chemical. That sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from playing a good game, even if you didn’t win, could raise levels of serotonin. We’re definitely working the grey matter of our brains as we consider each action and realise, week after week, that there is still more to learn, so many possible actions, and so many ways to use them to our advantage.


There is an element of competition to the game. I’m grateful to John for hosting this Wingspan group; I’m in awe of Elizabeth Hargrave for creating a game that emphasises nurturance over conflict; and I’m thankful to the City of Armadale Libraries team for their support in making this group possible. We always have space at the Wingspan table, and you are very welcome to join us.

You can register here:

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]]> Nat’s Art Circle https://befriend.org.au/stories/nats-art-circle/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:49:53 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=8538 Through Nat’s Art Circle, Nat offers a quiet, creative space for connection, where people can show up exactly as they are and feel a sense of belonging.

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Nat’s Art Circle

A creative space for connection and being exactly as you are

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A space that doesn’t ask people to be productive, talented, or ‘good’ at anything, only to be present.

Nat's Art Circle Drawing

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your connection to your local community?

My name is Natalie, and I’m the founder of Nat’s Art Circle. I’ve always been deeply drawn to creativity and to quiet, shared spaces—places where people don’t need to perform, explain themselves, or be anything other than what they are.

My connection to the local community has grown through consistency and presence: sitting together on the grass by the river, returning again and again, and creating something gentle alongside one another. Over time, familiar faces become friends, and what begins as a simple gathering naturally weaves itself into a meaningful thread of connection.

What first motivated you to get involved in community-led work?

Art has always been how I slow down, regulate my nervous system, and return to myself. It’s where I feel grounded and whole. At some point, I realised that what supports me might also support others—especially in a world that feels increasingly fast, loud, and overwhelming. Nat’s Art Circle grew from a desire to share that pause: to create a space that doesn’t ask people to be productive, talented, or “good” at anything—only present. More than a conscious decision, it began as a gut feeling—something deeply aligned, something that felt instinctive and unmistakably mine. What followed was the discipline to listen to that intuition, to keep showing up, and to take the risk of turning it into something real. In doing so, it became both a reward for myself and a way to give back—sharing a space that has meaning not just for me, but for others as well.

What does community mean to you personally?

To me, community is rooted in safety, stability and softness. It’s the ability to arrive exactly as you are—quiet, tired, inspired, uncertain—and still belong. True community is built through small, consistent moments of mutual respect, listening, and simply being alongside one another without expectation. It’s also about simplicity. Too much choice can overwhelm and disconnect; gentle structure creates ease. My vision for Nat’s Art Circle is to become a single, nourishing place where creative people can gather and feel held—an ecosystem of creativity, and eventually, a creative universe. This vision is already unfolding, with deeper expansion planned for 2026. We are only just beginning.

Why do you think local connection matters, especially right now?

So much of modern life happens online or in isolation. Local, in-person connection reminds us that we’re not alone—that there are real people nearby sharing the same streets, seasons, and sky. These face-to-face moments ground us in our humanity in a way nothing digital can replace. There is a quality of presence, warmth, and shared reality that only exists when we sit together in the same physical space.

They shared that they had rediscovered their love for painting and creativity again. Moments like these remind me how powerful a safe, unpressured creative space can be.

What does your role or involvement look like?

My role is less about day-to-day management and more about tending to a rhythm. Nat’s Art Circle began as a weekly gathering, and as life and work evolve, it is naturally shifting toward a more sustainable monthly pace. When we meet, my role is to hold the space: choosing the setting, welcoming people as they arrive, and gently setting a tone that feels calm, inclusive, and pressure-free. During the gathering itself, I participate alongside everyone else—creating, resting, and being part of the circle rather than leading from above it.

Can you share a small moment or experience that’s stayed with you?

There are a few moments that have stayed with me deeply. One is watching someone arrive feeling nervous and unsure, then slowly soften—shoulders dropping, breath easing—as they settled into their sketchbook. By the end of the session, they were smiling and quietly chatting with others.
Another was meeting someone who drove all the way from Rockingham to a small café in Wilson just to attend the circle. Hearing how much they loved the experience, and how glad they were that they made the journey, was incredibly moving. I’ve also had someone tell me they were experiencing a “painter’s block” and had lost their connection to art altogether. After coming to Nat’s Art Circle, they shared that they had rediscovered their love for painting and creativity again. Moments like these remind me how powerful a safe, unpressured creative space can be.

What changes have you noticed in yourself or others through this work?

I’ve noticed people becoming more confident in their own creative voice, even if they never share their work out loud. I’ve seen friendships form naturally, without effort or force—connections that grow quietly and authentically. For myself, this work has been deeply transformative. It has helped me reconnect with my inner child and the imaginative world I once retreated to when life felt heavy or overwhelming. Through art and through this circle, I’ve been able to invite nostalgia, wonder, and a sense of magic back into my life. Listening to that intuitive pull and taking the risk to create Nat’s Art Circle has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. As it approaches its first anniversary in April 2026, I feel immense pride and gratitude—and a deep excitement for the beautiful events and experiences still to come.

Nat Art Flower

What’s one thing you’ve learned about building connection that surprised you?

What surprised me most was how much structure and intention is actually required to build connection. It doesn’t simply happen on its own anymore—especially in a fast-paced, highly technological world where disconnection has become normalised. There is a great deal of organising, planning, and perseverance involved in bringing something like this to life. What makes that process possible is support. Having a mentor, an organisation, or even one person who believes in you can make an enormous difference. It reminds you that you’re not alone, that what you’re creating matters, and that meaningful change is possible. Connection, I’ve learned, is something we actively build. At the same time, once the container is created, connection often unfolds naturally. When people are given permission to be quiet, gentle, and unproductive—and when everyday pressures like time constraints, work stress, and external expectations are softened—minds begin to ease. In that spaciousness, creativity flows, and genuine human connection has room to emerge.

In a culture that often glorifies independence and isolation, many people convince themselves they’re fine on their own—yet, from lived experience, I know that prolonged loneliness is something no one truly wants.

What gives you hope when you think about the future of your community?

What gives me hope is how deeply people crave connection and presence, even when they tell themselves they don’t need it. In a culture that often glorifies independence and isolation, many people convince themselves they’re fine on their own—yet, from lived experience, I know that prolonged loneliness is something no one truly wants. Through Nat’s Art Circle, I’ve witnessed people hesitate at first, unsure of what to expect. But once we move beyond surface-level small talk and into real conversation, there is relief—relief in being seen, heard, and reminded that they’re not alone in their journey. I feel that same recognition, too. What gives me hope is knowing how much this space has to offer, and how transformative it can be when people choose to show up for themselves. The fact that people continue to arrive—bringing their art supplies, their books, or simply themselves—tells me there is a genuine and growing need for spaces like this to exist, deepen, and evolve.

What’s one small action others could take to feel more connected where they live?

Start small and start gently. Sit in the same local place regularly. Attend a community gathering that feels calm and welcoming—or create one yourself, even if it’s just inviting a few people to sit and/or share space together. Connection grows through consistency, openness, and care. When we allow ourselves to show up—without expectation, performance, or pressure—we create the conditions for something meaningful to take root.

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]]> The Swan Repair Cafe https://befriend.org.au/stories/swan-repair-cafe-story/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:02:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2457 The Swan Repair Café is not just about mending broken items – it’s about people, community, and giving things a new lease of life. Every month, the four hosts of the Repair Cafe gather in different suburbs around Swan to share skills, repair treasured belongings, and enjoy each other’s company.

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The Swan Repair Cafe

Weaving Connections, Repairing Items
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It’s all about paying it forward, at the heart of it. I’m using my skills to lift up the community. I think this is what makes a community. Noticing each other.

The Swan Repair Cafe team

The Swan Repair Café is not just about mending broken items – it’s about people, community, and giving things a new lease of life. Every month, the four hosts of the Repair Cafe gather in different suburbs around Swan to share skills, repair treasured belongings, and enjoy each other’s company.

For Alanah, joining the Café was a way of settling into a new home and new community. “I wanted to meet new people and find out about new places. I’d just moved into a new house at the time. I’d heard of Repair Cafes before. I feel like I get the best of both worlds – I meet new people, and I keep my hands busy.” An engineer by trade, Alanah loves “anything that moves” and finds joy in puzzles, mechanisms, and tinkering. “Each mechanism is unique and I learn something new each time. It’s like… my hobby is learning new hobbies.”

Repairing also connects her to family values. “My parents and grandparents, they had things to last them. Everything had a use. If I don’t need something anymore, I can pass it on. But things today, they just aren’t built to last like before.”

For Alanah, Repair Café is a space to resist throwaway culture while making friends: “We have the best chats at the Repair Café… sometimes, we’re meant to close at 2pm and we’ll still be chatting at 2:30. It’s a good excuse to see my friends. We’re a part of each other’s lives now. It’s been 3 years now, and that’s how we’ve lasted.”

Alannah with a sewing machine

Evie also joined when she was new to Brabham and looking for something meaningful. “I love sewing and wanted to be a part of something. I’d just come out of working retail so I wanted something for me… to contribute to this new little community that feels like a small country town.” At first, she wanted something light: “I wanted low energy and low commitment, and just to turn up… it hasn’t worked out that way but I actually love that I have a stake in it now!”

Like Alanah, Evie has seen the Café through ups and downs: “There was a time where I was ready to let it die as it just wasn’t working. But this year, we’ve changed things up – different people, different places, different needs… I feel excited!”

She recalls highlights like EcoFest at Brabham Primary: “The best part of that was all the kids bringing their teddies up for repair. We get the job of fixing up their favourite soft toy and giving it back to them. It’s lovely.” For her, repair is not just practical but deeply human: “I hope that people feel a sense of connection at the Repair Café. It’s lovely. It’s about giving back and receiving at the same time, and you don’t always see that today.”

Evie with an overlocker

Evie’s mum, Deb, remembers being gently pulled into the Café alongside her daughter. “I remember Evie saying, ‘it’s this repairing, sewing thing… want to come?’ and I thought, well, that sounds good, but I don’t really like mending my own things. But when you’re mending for someone else, it’s different!” To her surprise, it became something she values deeply: “I tend to get too involved with things and I didn’t want to do that… but now, we’re a committee and this is what we do!”

For Deb, the Café is about being of service to others in the community: “I don’t really know what motivates me to do this. I’m not very motivated at home. It’s the commitment to others, I think. It’s the commitment to the community. And the people here that I do it with.”

She especially enjoys the mobile nature of the Café, travelling around Swan. “The travelling has been fun! The libraries are great… not always loads of fixing going on, but lots of chatter, connection and people to see.” She hopes the Café can one day have its own home-base and identity. “I’m thinking of making us aprons. Maybe out of jeans or something. It’d be nice to have some kind of identity.”

Deb with a sewing machine

Paul’s journey into repair began decades earlier, when his uncle introduced him to computers. “My Uncle Sandy had the 1st generation of PC. I remember, I was 7 or 8 years old. I played Sim City. It really got me interested in computers. Since then I’ve had a Commodore and an i486… I’m always tinkering with something.” Today, he brings that lifelong passion for tech to both Swan and Bassendean Repair Cafés.

“I enjoy solving a person’s tech problem. We go through the problem together. My role is to teach them and to give advice. I always give people a path forward… it might not be the one they wanted but it’s the one that has been determined!” For Paul, the Repair Café is about more than just the technology. It’s about the people he meets and the way he gets to contribute the thing he’s most passionate about.

“Everyone has made me feel very welcome. The social atmosphere, the meeting of different people… even researching challenges, I enjoy it all. There have been times in the past where I’ve been up until sunrise researching a particular tech challenge! And that’s how I see them… as challenges to solve – not problems.”

Paul with a computer

At the heart of his volunteering is a deep sense of purpose: “It’s all about paying it forward, at the heart of it. I’m using my skills to lift up the community. I think this is what makes a community. Noticing each other. It’s us all doing our jobs… and hopefully we make people’s weeks.”

Across all their stories, a common theme emerges: repair is really about relationships. Whether it’s a beloved teddy bear stitched up with care, a laptop saved from landfill, or a neighbour welcomed with a smile, the Swan Repair Café is weaving connections as much as it is repairing objects.

Swan repair group portrait
Working on a sewing machine
Working on repairs

The goals of Swan Repair Café

The Hosts share a hopeful vision for the future:

Grow a strong team of volunteers – “In the future, I’d love for us to have so many volunteers that we don’t need to come each week… a full community that’s more sustainable.”

Spread a culture of repair – “I hope that people learn that their things can be repaired and they don’t need to throw it away. Australia chucks things away a lot.”

Create belonging – “It really brings people together. You get to have a chat with different people and it’s really nice, yeah.”

Encourage awareness – “I hope Repair Café is making people aware of the objects they’re buying, because some of the things from the shops today, they’re not repairable, they’re not built for it.”

The Hosts warmly invite new people to join them – whether you love sewing, tinkering with tech, working with tools, or simply making people feel welcome at the door. You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference.

Come along. Bring your skills, your curiosity, or just your smile! Together, we’ll give our things – and each other – a new lease of life!

With thanks to the Hosts of the Swan Repair Cafe for sharing their story with us.

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]]> Garry’s Story https://befriend.org.au/stories/garrys-story-contributions-that-make-a-difference/ Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:59:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2458 Garry is the one of the Hosts of the Burns Beach Sunset Walk and the Neil Hawkins BBQ, alongside his co-host, Tim. A Perth local for 30 years, he’s always been active in his church community, although it’s through retirement that he’s become more involved in various social groups and with Befriend.

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Garry's Story

Quiet contributions that make a difference

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The main reason I did that was because Lee needed the support… not so much to get on the “Befriend Wagon”, per se. But then the more I did it, the more I got used to it, and then there were other [Befriend] events I went to, and more social things.

Garry and Tim in a park

Garry is the one of the Hosts of the Burns Beach Sunset Walk and the Neil Hawkins BBQ, alongside his co-host, Tim. A Perth local for 30 years, he’s always been active in his church community, although it’s through retirement that he’s become more involved in various social groups and with Befriend.

“I probably wouldn’t have had the time until retirement, really. I wasn’t actively out doing things in the community before… more related to church involvements. I have more time to do things now.”

After hearing about the Burns Beach Sunset Walk six years ago from Lee, the group Host at the time (who has since gone on to become Befriend’s Community Builder in the Far Northern Suburbs), Garry decided to head along with a group of friends.

“It was a nice thing to do, for exercise, to be healthy, to see some sunsets, and to be social in the community with a few friends. It was something to look forward to at the end of the week.”

After some time as a regular walker, Garry offered to take on some of the hosting responsibilities when Lee experienced some ongoing health challenges. This in turn, led to more community connecting opportunities.

“I started to be a co-host to help Lee as sometimes she couldn’t always be there. The main reason I did that was because Lee needed the support, that was why… not so much to get on the “Befriend Wagon”, per se. But then the more I did it, the more I got used to it, and then there were other [Befriend] events I went to, and more social things”.

Friends at the beach

The Burns Beach Sunset Walk has since grown to have multiple people willing to take on the hosting role, sharing the support and responsibilities to ensure the group continues to thrive.

Through Lee’s community building work, she’d connected with a local called Tim. Tim shared that he enjoys the outdoors and was keen on hosting a fortnightly Befriend BBQ alongside another experienced Host who could support some of the logistics. Lee put on her match-making community building bonnet and thought of Garry, with his calm presence and who makes others feel so at ease.

“It was Tim’s idea. Lee approached me with it to tell me about it, and see if I wanted to get involved. We met with Tim and had a chat about it… and now it’s the end of our third year, so it’s been going pretty well. We have a few regulars that come and go. There’s not been many we’ve ever had to cancel fortunately. We chance the rain sometimes, even if it’s a bit iffy, and see how it goes”.

Tim has a disability that affects his communication and he uses a power wheelchair, so co-hosting together has been a process of learning how to communicate and share the responsibilities for the group.

“I help Tim where he needs the help but I don’t fuss… I enjoy co-hosting with Tim, and we’ve socialised privately a couple of times, we have a drink now and again when he’s free.”

Through his hosting role, Garry has developed meaningful friendships with people in his community, offering heartfelt and genuine offers of support in times of need. Like Ken, who came along to the BBQ almost every fortnight until he became sick. Garry spent a lot of time at Ken’s hospital bedside, keeping him company, until he passed away a few months ago.

I was 5 minutes walk on from where Ken was, and I spent some time with him. I held his hand. It’s something I would like… I would like people to care about me if I was in a similar situation.

A friend of Ken’s who, over the months, had become another regular at the BBQ, felt this loss deeply. Garry gently extended an offer of support to him through a difficult time and the two have since developed a friendship that’s taken on a life of its own outside of the weekly group.

“They both had an interest in model trains and after Ken, it left a hole for him, I think. But then I started talking about our model boat club, and he’s picked that up as an interest now. We were at the lake yesterday, and we’ve gone out a couple of times to do different things.”

Community Builder Lee describes Garry as someone who ‘just notices little needs that people have and quietly steps in to help’, and this sings through in almost every interaction Garry shared with us.

“Me and my next door neighbour drive each other to the Burns Beach Sunset Walk on alternate weeks. We’ve developed a good friendship living side by side. When her husband wasn’t too well, we’d go on a few walks and I’d bike ride with him to help him along as he needed a bit of encouragement to get out and get a bit more active”.

Garry also helps run the senior’s group at his church where over 100 people come together socially every week. Garry shares that through volunteering, he’s also continuing to discover more about himself along the way.

“Yeah I do like to help people. Interrelating with people is good and it’s enjoyable. Plus I’ve started doing some artwork there which I never knew I could do! Just a few paintings… landscapes”.

Whilst Garry has the spirit of a natural community builder, he struggles to see himself in that light. “You don’t really think about it do you..? You just do it.”

He also acknowledges that bringing strangers together is something that has taken time, practice and perseverance.

“I can be a bit shy with new people. I have improved to what I was… this [Befriend activities] have probably helped that. Once I know people, I’m okay, but I can be a bit reserved at first.”

Garry and friends at a park

When it comes to welcoming new locals to the BBQ, the group organically shares the responsibilities.

“I acknowledge new people when they come along. I talk to them and make them feel welcome. But I’m often busy at the BBQ so a lot of the others in the group support new people in that way”.

In an effort to help members of the local community to feel more at ease with the idea of coming along for the first time, Garry often puts up a photo or leaves a comment on Meetup so people can get a sense of what it’s like. “A picture speaks a thousand words. I think it might make it a bit more inviting”, he says.

When he looks back on his journey to becoming closer to community in his retirement, Garry shared that he’s softened into the experience.

I’ve learnt to relax a little bit more with people and interact. I used to, maybe be a bit uptight about things, I’m not sure why… some of that might be just a lack of confidence or self esteem. But I’m able to relax and enjoy it more, and it’s been good meeting some new people.

Garry’s big hope for the future is to see the BBQ group grow once again.

“I’d like to get back to a bigger crew, as we’ve lost some members… a few have drifted off. Hopefully the weather will help with that, we have had a dismal few months this winter”.

You can find Garry and other locals at the Burns Beach Sunset Walk every Friday evening and at Neil Hawkins Park BBQ’ing every other Monday lunchtime… rain or shine!

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]]> Cav Cafe – “setting the world right in our little way” https://befriend.org.au/stories/cav-cafe-story/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:49:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2459 “I was sitting in the cafe in January with my husband and grandchildren, when I noticed a little Befriend postcard on the table. I’d been looking for a long time for something. I’d done some volunteering at Midland Hospital previously, then Covid hit and we couldn’t volunteer for a while. My health wasn’t the greatest, and they stopped seniors volunteering for a while, and when it resumed, I had to think about whether that was the best place for me.”

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Cav Cafe

Story by Anne-Maree, Co-Host of ‘Catch You At Cav Café

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Setting the world right, in our own little way

“I was sitting in the cafe in January with my husband and grandchildren, when I noticed a little Befriend postcard on the table. I’d been looking for a long time for something. I’d done some volunteering at Midland Hospital previously, then Covid hit and we couldn’t volunteer for a while. My health wasn’t the greatest, and they stopped seniors volunteering for a while, and when it resumed, I had to think about whether that was the best place for me.”
Befriend flag at the beach

Following through with the invitation on the postcard, Anne-Maree headed along to the ‘Give it a Go’ social hobby series at Caversham Café hosted by Community Builder Ally.

“I can’t say I was anxious about going along for the first time, because I was ready to do something…If anything I felt excited at the prospect of meeting new people… You can sit alone at home in your house and not even really know your neighbours, and not want to encroach on their space and time, and be wanting to meet people but trying to find an avenue to do that. Just the opportunity to attend the initial series gave the opportunity to step out of the house and meet people. I’d been trying to do that for a long time, but trying to find the right avenue…”

The ‘Give it a Go’ short series created the opportunity to meet new people, enjoy various social activities together, and consider the prospect of becoming a Host of a new social group that could self-sustain into the future. The series culminated in a reflection session ‘Contributing in your Community,’ to consider your next steps. “That’s when Ruth and I decided to keep the group going because we’d made some nice connections.”

Caversham Café (thanks to the support of local business owner Chris) had been a wonderful setting for the initial ‘Give it a Go’ series, so it made sense to Anne-Maree that they continue to meet there as a regular coffee group. There is now a core group of about 8 people from the original series that have sustained the connection together. For Anne-Maree, it’s not the size of the group that matters, but the quality of the connections.

“The beauty with the group being the size it is is that people are building some nice relationships. We’re happy if other people come along, but we’re also happy if it doesn’t get any bigger.”

Anne-Maree and Co-Hosts Ruth and Deb regularly extend the invitation to others they meet, with warmth, but with no expectation.

Ann-Maree with a friend

You can’t force people to come. You can make the offer, make it known that it’s there, but you can’t drag people along if they’re not ready. It depends on where people are at in their lives.

Co-Hosting has been a great way of working as a team and sharing the load. Co-Host Ruth remarked “Deb is the ideas girl, Anne-Maree the camera queen and I have some organisational skills. What a team we are, and I’m so proud of what we’re building together for our community.”

For Anne-Maree, the group’s weekly routine has become a simple, easy yet important part of her life.

“It’s good for me because it’s close to home. It’s really just getting together with a group of nice ladies, enjoying each other’s companies, setting the world right in our own little way… Most of the ladies are on their own. They’ve lost partners, or marriages have broken up. I’ve been there, I know what that’s like. It’s important when you’re in those situations to have connection, because it can get very lonely.”

“We can talk anything from our past, through to politics, through to Centrelink! Just about anything we’ll discuss. Some of us have been dealing with serious health issues over the period. Sometimes having an outlet to express that is so valuable. Just knowing there are people who are there and who genuinely care, and actively listen, not just listening to reply.”

These relationships are a vital source of local support, especially when people might be living on their own, experiencing health challenges, and have family living further away.

Happy cafe meetup

I’m very grateful to be forming the friendships I’m forming.

For Anne-Maree, the connections are real, and continue to take on a life of their own beyond the group’s weekly meetup time.

“We catch up outside the Wednesday catch up. Val is connected with the Swan Athletics Club, she extended an invitation, so two of us went to a cancer fundraising lunch last week. My husband and I are going along to a pasta night there next week. So the connections grow and extend out beyond the group. It’s just what I consider normal friendship…”

Catch Up at Cav Café happens on Wednesday mornings 10am-12 at Caversham Café.

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]]> Sarah-Lee’s story https://befriend.org.au/stories/sarah-lee-story-community-and-business/ Sun, 30 Jun 2024 17:47:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2460 Sarah Lee Parker is no stranger to bringing people together. “To tell you the truth, I’ve always been a community builder.” But this sense of connection wasn’t necessarily easy for Sarah Lee to find in her local neighbourhood.

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Sarah-Lee's Story

Combining business and community
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Resources

I know a lot of people are scared of failure, of looking like they’re failing. But you have to try things to figure out what you like and what you don’t like. You also need to try for a period of time. You need to put effort in, it takes time. ​– Sarah-Lee, 2024

Cafe meetup with Befriend sign

Sarah Lee Parker is no stranger to bringing people together. “To tell you the truth, I’ve always been a community builder.” But this sense of connection wasn’t necessarily easy for Sarah Lee to find in her local neighbourhood.

“Community is an interesting thing. Previous communities were location-based, knowing your neighbours. I’m kind of neurospicy, so location was never a big driver for me… I’m living in the community I grew up in, but I never really found a sense of community there that was location-based. I knew people, but it never felt like ‘community.’”

Sarah Lee shared her view that “Community is having a common goal, a common aim.”

As a teenager, Sarah Lee found this sense of community through Swancon, an annual convention-style event in the City of Swan that brings together sci-fi & fantasy enthusiasts. “I used to help run Swancon every year. It’s now in its 50th year. I’ve been volunteering there for 25 years.” With programming running across 5 streams, the event attracts 250-300 people and includes a diverse range of speakers and panel sessions. For Sarah Lee, the magic of the event was never about the celebrities – It was the connections with peers. “I tend to focus on the people. A lot of people there are neurodiverse, neurospicy… We just talk, hang out and have conversations.”
Alice and Community Builder Ally

This event, and the community that surrounded it, grew to become a central part of Sarah Lee’s life. “Some of my best friends are from conventions. We’d get together and organise the conventions over dinner. ‘It was always making friends first, organising conventions second.’ There are all sorts of things I’ve tried that I never had before being part of that community.” Sarah Lee described how important the strong relationships were as a foundation for the community. “When things went wrong, people already knew each other, we had strong connections, so we just worked through it.”

As Sarah Lee’s working career unfolded parallel to her Swancon volunteering, she found herself in work contexts that dampened her spirit. “I was working for Services Australia… I was working for Robodebt. As an empathic person, that was very hard. I later ended up in a very toxic department…”

Sarah Lee knew that things needed to shift. She had always had a strong entrepreneurial spirit, having run several side-hustle/hobby businesses over the years, selling Tupperware, nail products and her own business idea Kitwardrobes. She believed that pursuing an entrepreneurial pathway would be a way of taking her work experiences into her own hands.

“I’ve always wanted to run my own business. I’m super organised. And I don’t want to work for anyone else!” she laughed. “Old models of business didn’t work for me.”

With a background in communications and technology, Sarah Lee decided to pursue a path as a ‘Social Media Maven,’ establishing her own business as a content creator and social media coach. This was a pursuit Sarah Lee could really sink her teeth into, and she decided to “get serious” and work hard developing herself, building a portfolio of clients and growing her business.

A lot of things in Sarah Lee’s life felt like they were coming together. But the shadow side of working for herself in a social media business was that all of her connections with people were in the digital realm. Sarah Lee sensed that something was missing.

“I wanted to get back into the real world a bit more… I wanted to talk to people in-person, not through a zoom window.”

At a community meeting at Brockman House, Sarah Lee met local dance teacher Miriam, and through Miriam, Sarah Lee met Community Builder Ally. With a shared passion for community connection, the two began to explore possibilities together. “Thanks to Ally, I am getting offline more, back into the ‘real world.’”

In this new season of her life, Sarah Lee knew that she wanted to connect with “heart-centred, soul-driven entrepreneurs.” With a little encouragement and assistance from Ally, Sarah Lee decided to start up a ‘Small Biz & Side Hustle’ group, to bring together people who shared her entrepreneurial spirit.

“I ran 6 months of coffee meets. I wanted to provide more space for women entrepreneurs to talk about how hard it is.”

After this trial period, Sarah Lee knew it was time to take stock and reflect. “It didn’t take off, but that’s ok – I met some new people, and it taught me some things.” She described her healthy mindset of “failing forward.”

“I know a lot of people are scared of failure, of looking like they’re failing. But you have to try things to figure out what you like and what you don’t like. You also need to try for a period of time. You need to put effort in, it takes time. The start is always hard, it’s nerve-wracking! But you learn what you like and what you don’t. And you just keep trying again… We’re only here once, so may as well enjoy the process!”

Ideas continue to bubble away in Sarah Lee’s mind for where she might take her community pursuits into the future. “I’m thinking about transitioning from the coffee meets to running small biz social workshops… I started to go to trainings locally to see what was available. But I think they are missing the mark.” Sarah Lee described the potential she sees in how small business owners can develop supportive relationships in which they help each other with the practicalities and personal challenges of their working lives. To Sarah Lee, ‘business’ and ‘community’ don’t have to be separate – they can be interwoven in ways that enable people to follow their passions, make a living free from unhealthy work environments, within networks of supportive relationships.

“We’re all trying to find new spaces where it’s comfortable for us to be ourselves. We’re all still finding our way….I want to build a life that I’m happy to be in.”

With deep and heartfelt thanks to Sarah-Lee for sharing her story with us

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]]> Robyn’s story https://befriend.org.au/stories/robyns-story-walking-together/ Thu, 30 May 2024 17:44:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2445 With so much land development happening across greater Perth, we continue to see the development of new suburbs and new local communities. With the establishment of these new communities, there is the opportunity for us all to discover how we can sow the seeds of thriving community life right from the early days of a new community’s life.

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Robyn's Story

Walking together (the story of Ellenbrook Mile)
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Resources

We’ve all got that capacity/talent, sometimes we just don’t honour it enough… I truly believe we all have this core brilliance, but so often it gets pushed down… If we can truly see ourselves and others as precious, that’s what gives me hope. ​– Robyn, 2024

People walking together

With so much land development happening across greater Perth, we continue to see the development of new suburbs and new local communities. With the establishment of these new communities, there is the opportunity for us all to discover how we can sow the seeds of thriving community life right from the early days of a new community’s life.

Ellenbrook, in the City of Swan, has been growing as a significant population centre in Perth’s northeast. One community group that has been nurturing the development of a more inclusive, connected local community in this area is Ellenbrook Mile. The group was born out of a series of community conversations in early 2018, and initiated by a group of residents who sought to take matters into their own hands to influence stronger levels of neighbourly connection and mutual support, to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the community.

Robyn Pickrell has been an integral member of the group since its inception. Robyn has been connecting with Swan Community Builder Ally, and is also participating in the current season of Befriend’s Possibility Fellowship. We caught up with Robyn to learn more about her journey.

Robyn recounted that so much of her role in the early days of Ellenbrook Mile was simply trying to understand how a NFP worked and to find ways to engage with others.

“For some reason there has always been a lot of discussion in the community about antisocial behaviour and mental health… A friend called me and said they wanted to start a mental health support group. There had already been some conversations about the idea of The Ellenbrook Mile, so I suggested we use the name! Activities began evolving out of peoples interest.”
Alice and Community Builder Ally

Robyn explains that “our whole concept is walking together.” This began with a weekly walk, and has grown organically over the past 5 years to encompass a number of regular social walks and other social activities. All the activities are initiated and hosted by local residents, drawing upon the gifts, interests and goodwill of local community members.

Robyn explained that the group haven’t created any particular distinction between ‘members’ and ‘volunteers’ – “We’re all just in it together… We believe everyone is so valuable, everyone’s got something to bring to the table.” Contributions have naturally emerged from the group through time, positive experience and encouragement. “If you enjoy spending time with us, and you’ve been with us for a year or so, it’s going to come from that heart space.” There is a strength in the group’s culture in how it recognises and invites contributions of all shapes and sizes. “If somebody’s got an idea, have a go! I believe when we work in community every day is a new adventure.”

People from a range of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences now host Ellenbrook Mile’s activities, including older people, younger people, and people with disabilities. Robyn explained that much of the strengths in their approach are in the group’s inherently inclusive mindset.

“It’s just letting people do it – saying ‘ok, go for it!’ and ‘how can we help?’ Sometimes we don’t do anything, just respecting their capacity and talents and that they can do it. I truly believe everyone has gifts to share.”

“We have connected with some amazing young adults who have added a great depth to our organisation. They’re all so interesting. We have the deepest respect for our young people who have taught us to play Dungeons & Dragons and helped us mature folk to see the wonderful benefits of the game which engages creativity and imagination skills! We have watched as their ‘Games Knights’ group has grown to develop friendships and supportive relationships with one another and the wider group, and seen them taken on new volunteering roles, gain paid work and go back to study.” The group now has the opportunity to become a regular fixture at the Ellenbrook Youth Centre, which they have achieved all while supporting each other to navigate some considerable personal challenges.

Robyn reflected on her own personal growth over the past 5 years, and the changes that have emerged through her seemingly simple yet powerful relational approach. “I love people and know I’ve grown exponentially, sharing people’s journey through all of the stories I’ve heard…it has changed the way I view the world… People are their own best asset, they have so many hidden skills and it is just walking and talking together.”

Robyn believes “We sometimes devalue some of the simplest things that are the greatest forms of support in community. My life is so enriched by the people (who now feel like family) who take care of my dog. I’m gifted by that time out, it’s a major gift. Sometimes we get too caught in the perceived ‘importance-level’ of the ‘saving-the-world’ stuff, but it’s those little things, cooking someone a meal, sharing a coffee – they’re the little things that make a big difference. We’ve all got that capacity/talent, sometimes we just don’t honour it enough… I truly believe we all have this core brilliance, but so often it gets pushed down… If we can truly see ourselves and others as precious, that’s what gives me hope.”

We’ve loved connecting and working with Robyn and the folks from Ellenbrook Mile, and it seems the feeling is mutual. “Ally speaks my language… She is just such a great sounding board. I find her so refreshing, she’s real… We meet up and brainstorm things together, talk things through. She helps me have a better look at things.”

Ellenbrook Mile currently hosts 5 weekly walks (‘Walking sMILEs’), two craft groups (‘Crafting sMILEs’) and three gaming groups (‘sMILEs and Games’, and ‘Games Knights’). Connect in at https://www.ellenbrookmile.org/

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]]> Alice’s story https://befriend.org.au/stories/alice-walking-story/ Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:44:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2446 It’s been 9 years since Alice had to finish work, due to a combination of workplace changes and a personal injury. “I was forced into retirement, and it was really, really hard.” This transition prompted Alice to move from Sydney to Perth, to be closer to family. After arriving, Alice lived with her daughter for a period, before moving into her own place in Brabham.

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Alice's Story

Walking her way into an active, connected life
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If there’s like-minded people like me that want to venture and explore more of the outdoors, I thought we could try that… I love a challenge, and I like to share the experience with others. ​– Alice, 2024

Happy portrait of Alice and Ally

It’s been 9 years since Alice had to finish work, due to a combination of workplace changes and a personal injury. “I was forced into retirement, and it was really, really hard.” This transition prompted Alice to move from Sydney to Perth, to be closer to family. After arriving, Alice lived with her daughter for a period, before moving into her own place in Brabham.

“When I first came here, I thought, I have to venture, find out what’s around me… It’s no good being alone in your house…I need life.”

Discovering a local outdoor fitness group was a positive early step towards local community connection. “I joined an outdoor fitness group for the first time when I was 69, and I really got into it! I’d go 2-3 times a week, I absolutely loved it, being outdoors, the social side, meeting people from all walks of life and all abilities… Plus I love a challenge!”

Unfortunately, things shifted. “The group moved to Yokine and that broke my heart. It was just too far to go several times a week…too much travelling. I looked for other options locally and there was nothing.” Alice attended some council-run active ageing events, but these were a bit repetitive for her liking. Then, all activities were further disrupted by the pandemic.

One day, walking around her neighbourhood, Alice happened upon Befriend’s ‘Give-it-a-Go’ hobby series being run from the Brabham Pavilion. “There were lots of nice people, everyone was very friendly, saying come and join us.” Alice saw lots of others enjoying various social games and activities, but being such an active person, she longed for something that was more physically active.

Through conversation with Ally, her local Community Builder, Alice learned of a walking group that met at Whiteman Park. Alice started going along to these walks.

“I have a girlfriend who I walk with every Wednesday and Thursday. We’ve been walking together for 8 or 9 years. We’ve walked all over Perth, all the lakes, hill trails, national parks… I get bored with repetition, I like to keep mixing things up.”

The Whiteman Park walking group became a context where Alice began to share some of her enthusiasm for nature walking with others. “First I suggested we change the direction of the walk from the regular clockwise route. Then I said there are two other trails here we could explore too.”

“I love nature. That’s my passion. You can just stop for a moment, take in the beauty.” Alice attributes her passion to her early years growing up on a farm in New Zealand. “I’m a country girl, I was brought up on a dairy farm, we had 120 cows… We used to milk cows before school!”

As Alice became increasingly more comfortable with the Whiteman Park walking group, and wanted to take things further, she decided she’d take up the challenge of becoming a Host of the ‘Swan Mindful Walkers’ group. “If there’s like-minded people like me that want to venture and explore more of the outdoors, I thought we could try that… I love a challenge, and I like to share the experience with others.”

For Alice, it’s not just about her passion for nature walks, it’s also about her love of connecting with people. “I don’t think about myself much – I think about others. I think my gifts are that I’m compassionate, I’m very giving. I love sharing, and I love listening, listening intently – that’s a skill that I really embrace.” These are skills that Alice has honed through years of personal and career experiences supporting people from different ages, backgrounds and abilities, and it is a joy to find new ways of sharing these with others.

These social walking groups are an important context for Alice to live in ways that are healthy and connected. “It took a while to accept this is a later phase of my life. But I feel very blessed.” It’s important to Alice that these contexts are available for seniors as we age. “A lot of things are set up for younger people, but as you get into your 70s, there’s not a lot… and it has to be accessible, with a friendly atmosphere.”

“Older people can offer so much from their past life, their skills, their knowledge… it can really help the community… My skills, my knowledge, I like to share it, if it can be helpful.”

With deep and heartfelt thanks to Alice for sharing her story with us

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]]> Sandie’s Story https://befriend.org.au/stories/sandies-story-a-celebration-of-hosting-and-connecting/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:41:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2447 Sandie Thorne has been a Host and a friend of Befriend for 6 years. After many months of juggling multiple volunteer and community commitments, managing her health, and navigating all that comes with being a community leader, she has bravely decided to take a break from her role in hosting so she can focus on other things she’s passionate about.

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Sandie's Story

Celebrating a community connector, friend, volunteer, and host

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Everyone is contributing to the moment, to the group dynamics. You can write people off because it looks like they don’t interact in a way that is expected in society – but you get them out and you see what sparks their joy…. that’s what it’s about! – Sandie, 2024

Befriend flag at the beach

Sandie Thorne has been a Host and a friend of Befriend for 6 years. After many months of juggling multiple volunteer and community commitments, managing her health, and navigating all that comes with being a community leader, she has bravely decided to take a break from her role in hosting so she can focus on other things she’s passionate about.

To celebrate this decision and learn from Sandie’s rich experiences bringing the Befriend community together for all kinds of social activities – from games and walks around the lake, to dinners and online travel chats – Zena and myself, Hayley, sat down with her at Dome, Belmont, to hear her story.

We began our conversation together by asking Sandie how she’d describe herself to someone who doesn’t know her. In true Curious-Sandie-Style, she smiled, admitting that she found this question quite difficult to answer, and said “actually, I’d love to flip this question around and ask how you would describe me”.

I took a moment, thinking about all the stories and interactions I’d had with Sandie over the years; I thought about how she navigated the pandemic with resilience and openness, hosting all kinds of online activities and conversations during periods of lockdown and isolation. I reflected on how she’d navigated diverse personalities in her social groups with strength and care, always with such strong values of inclusion at the heart of it. I recalled how she participated so willingly and passionately in a co-design session with us, despite the fact that she didn’t feel well that evening.

Zena had written her own little list of Sandie’s gifts and qualities on her notepad, and together we shared our thoughts to Sandie… “Resilient. Passionate. A Community Connector who cares deeply about holding space for others. Always seeing opportunities. Holds high standards. An advocate. Empathetic. And someone on a journey of self-growth over the years”.

Sandie’s smile confirmed that she recognised elements of herself in our words and appreciated that we knew her well. “I am resilient and I bounce back from most things… but I have my limits”, she admitted. “Sometimes the strength isn’t there. I have a lot of grit and determination, though. I’ve always been a champion for the underdog because I know what it’s like to not belong and to not feel connected. I’ve felt that so acutely in my life. So I’m gonna live and breathe that ethos of inclusion”.

Happy people holding thank you sign

Sandie has held a number of volunteer positions in her life; she currently works at a local Red Cross Op Shop and has done for the last 5 years, she’s volunteered for Girl Guides, St Johns Ambulance Service, The Cadets, the Olympics, Royal Perth and Bentley Hospital… the list goes on! “I’m just trying to make my way through life, making meaning of it, especially when my life hasn’t always been very kind to me. And if I can change one person’s life, then, yeah, it’s worth it.”

When we asked Sandie what drew her to volunteering as a Host with Befriend, she recalled how, at the time, she was suffering from a period of deep depression. “I was in a very severe depressive episode and I was isolating for some months at home. My life only consisted of existing and maintaining my mental health appointments. I wanted to consider volunteering for something to connect me back to the community. I’m an introvert but I’m actually someone who likes to get out there and connect…I like socialising. So I knew something had to change and I had to get out of my comfort zone”.

Sandie was looking for a volunteer position that was different to others she’d had. “I wanted something with fewer demands – not ‘do this thing in this way, on these days’. I needed autonomy and flexibility… and it had to mean something to me. I think Befriend was already on my radar but I wasn’t ready to step right into it yet”. Sandie said that she was drawn to us due to our “friendliness, philosophies and driving factors” and our “embrace of inclusiveness”. So, Curious Sandie went along to an existing group run by Befriend Host, Mihn. Mihn ran a walking event around Tomato Lake and after going along two or three times, and having a chat with a local Community Builder from Befriend, Sandie thought to herself “this sounds cool… yeah, I think I could do this”.

Befriend flag in the ground

Sandie started running her own Board Games night in Belmont, eventually taking over the walking group once Mihn went to full time work. A few more people in the local area began hosting and a small-yet-mighty Belmont Hub began to emerge; a team of committed locals who would run social activities for anyone and everyone.

“I loved the essential oils workshop! My family came along to that too and I really appreciated that they supported me with that. Good fun. The Games nights were some of the very best though… sometimes we’d have 18 or 20 people! And the Host Retreats we used to do; I still have the bag of ‘warm and fuzzies’ and when I feel a bit down, I pull it out and read through all the nice things that people said about me”.

In 2023, Sandie won the Community Service Award from Belmont Council as a result of her many volunteer commitments serving the mental health and disability space, including her role hosting through Befriend. She recalls, “winning it was huge for me. I don’t do this for the recognition, but at the same time, it was valuable to me that people saw I had value and worth.”

When we chatted more with Sandie about what was important to her about hosting, she recalled two stories to us. The first was about a young man who would come to all of Sandie’s group events and didn’t say much to anyone for a long time. “It took him a good three years to gently draw out. I found out a common interest we had and we went from there… he’s a really nice guy you can have a chat with now!”

This sentiment was again echoed when Sandie recalled having someone join her on the Tomato Lake Walk. This gentleman uses a wheelchair and communicates non-verbally, and often he was asleep in his chair for the duration of the walk, but, as Sandie reflected, “when he was awake, you could see the joy on his face, he just lit up! And the times he was asleep… well good for him, must’ve been relaxing!”

As I listened, I could see Sandie’s passion for inclusion shining through. She passes no judgements, she’s committed to holding a safe and gentle space for everyone, and she’s inherently curious about people and finds everyone interesting to be around. “Everyone is contributing to the moment, to the group dynamics. You can write people off because it looks like they don’t interact in a way that is expected in society – but you get them out and you see what sparks their joy…. that’s what it’s about! I never wanted to write anyone off… there’s no defects, just differences. I’ll miss things like that”.

Sandie noted that hosting was full of ‘golden moments’ but sometimes those golden moments ‘fractured’ and felt out of balance. “I felt like, towards the end, I was always so busy making sure everyone else was feeling safe, protected, and included that I wasn’t enjoying it myself. I wanted to shield everyone”.

Cafe meetup with Befriend sign

Sandie’s transition out of hosting with Befriend is not one we feel sad about. In fact, we celebrate it whole-heartedly with her! Sandie is a true plate-juggler and after many years of plate-juggling, she’s choosing to focus on her other community passion projects and priorities.

We ended our conversation by asking Sandie about the future.

“As rubbish as my health is, I try to see it as a positive, because I can still stay connected to my community. I will continue to grow IDEAL* and I’m going to use this year to really build it up. We’re getting some big players coming in now to help drive that forward. I hope it becomes like Activate Mental Health or like Befriend, in its own way. It’s hard when you don’t work to stay connected and productive, but I am still involved in so many ways. My community knows me and I feel safe with them, they have my back”.

And to anyone who is worried about how to connect, how to host, how to meet new people, Sandie offers you this: “Be curious about who you will meet… being curious will open up HUGE doors for you!”

A big thank you to Sandie for the last six years hosting with Befriend, for enabling us to be a part of her journey and for all she’s taught us along the way. Here’s to the next six years as a friend of Befriend!

* Sandie now runs a Perth-based peer support group on Facebook with over 2k followers. IDEAL is dedicated to sharing information about inclusive social groups, events and gatherings for people with disabilities and their support teams to browse new experiences and plan their days

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]]> The Possibility Fellowship Alumni – Journeying with Alysha https://befriend.org.au/stories/the-possibility-fellowship-alumni-journeying-with-alysha/ Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:41:00 +0000 https://befriend.org.au/?page_id=2448 When Alysha dashed off stage to grab her guitar from hiding, and told us she had never before performed in public, we knew we were in for something remarkable. The optional half-hour ‘glimpse’ at the end of the Fellowship program is a chance for participants to share something they feel passionately about and to grow their own edge of what’s possible for them. Alysha’s glimpse was a potent mixture of original music and deep reflection.

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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni

Journeying with Alysha

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It’s time to break these patterns and cycles. Not living in fear of when the darkness might call. Learn to be one with it. It’s not your rival. You’ll run round forever. Eternal and endless endeavor. — Alysha Magnum

A story from The Possibility Fellowship, written by Gonzalo

Pink flowers in a field

When Alysha dashed off stage to grab her guitar from hiding, and told us she had never before performed in public, we knew we were in for something remarkable. The optional half-hour ‘glimpse’ at the end of the Fellowship program is a chance for participants to share something they feel passionately about and to grow their own edge of what’s possible for them. Alysha’s glimpse was a potent mixture of original music and deep reflection.

Since a very young age, Alysha has wondered how she would like to and how she should navigate the world. This question is one of her most important allies and helps her question the morals, ethics, and values she carries.

In the past seven years, Alysha tells me, “I stopped talking about my dreams, desires, and projects.” Seeing the Possibility Fellowship pop up on her Facebook feed, “sparked something for me”… a chance to reconnect with what matters to her.

The Fellowship “really helped me pinpoint where I’m at in my life and where I would like to dream a little… It showed me a lot about myself and how I wanted to be in the community.” She discovered she had a gift for asking good questions and helping others unearth their unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

“Being at the Fellowship has been really good for me to get used to talking again… you don’t need to be talking all the time to be a part of something, listening is a very big part of it, too.” She particularly enjoyed learning about the four levels of listening and participating in a Warm Data Lab.

Alysha explains, “I want to help others with their dreaming… to help people make the connections they need to get things going and feel more fulfilled…” She found herself getting excited by others’ ideas and ”wanting to help them to reach their goals, because there are so many barriers for us all. Whether it’s fear or resources or connections.”

“Being at the fellowship… expanded my mind outside of myself… It’s given me the opportunity to see what I’m like out in the world.” Connections, for Alysha, are one of the most important things she’ll carry forward from her journey. She feels inspired to bring people together, to create contexts where individuals can share their gifts, their vulnerabilities and their wholeness—where they can learn and grow together.

“[The Fellowship] has shown me that I want to help others with their dreams rather than me coming up with a dream…. to create a community—an ecosystem—where everyone has all these special skills, and we all build each other up.”

With her gift for asking the questions that truly matter, Alysha would love to accompany others on the challenging yet fulfilling journey of understanding and pursuing their most heartfelt desires.

With her youth, curiosity, and her surprising and beautiful voice, Alysha offers stirring music and thoughtful reflections, even when she doesn’t carry her guitar.

This story was gathered in partnership with Gonzalo as she concluded her experience in The Possibility Fellowship 2023.

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