Never, Ever Giving Up. Ever.

I have been so touched by the degree of support, affection and welcome ideas following my frustrated venting of spleen involved in maintaining the viability of our beloved East End Gallery. We are launching an Artisans Working Party on Thursday 3 July, our objective is an action plan going forward and, of needed, an invitation to the Council to assist us, using a written submission as our instrument. 

We have already had a brainstorming session with Bec, Marion and Sue. We have succeeded in taking measures to free our public liability from the building insurance and. we will shortly be sending a waiver to all our artists, requesting they take out their own insurance as we can no longer do so.  

I am actually quite pleased with my social media abilities. I write this blog, post on Facebook (my own and the Gallery pages) and Instagram, write a monthly Mailchimp newsletter and have launched Michael's web page - michaelsofoulisawardwinningwheatbeltartist.com

I don't believe that I need to embark on more and more social media. What I do believe in is tangible solutions -

• signage for all artistic endeavours in Vincent Street and surroundings
• support by the Visitors Centre, the Shire appointed Tourism Officer and the Shire Tourism Liaison in regular reporting by the Visitors Centre and the Shire about all our artisans' activities
• financial incentives for our artisans to advertise ourselves in the Shire produced Beverley Blarney
• promotion of Beverley artisans by the Shire when they hold events  throughout the year, in addition to the events offered by Beverley Station Arts
• the Shire councillors and staff to visit all the artisans in Beverley to appreciate our efforts adding to the cultural and financial status of our town.

That should do as a positive beginning... in that aspect of my life!

I probably would have coped with just this minute aberration if I didn't have other complications crowding in on me, all at once. They revolve around my glorious Autistic Superstar son, Alex. 

To be perfectly clear, Alex is not the issue, in any way, share or form.

A succinct summary of Alex's life -

• born with Tricuspid Atresia, an extremely complex congenital cardiac defect.
• closed heart surgery at 8 weeks of age.
• asthma diagnosis at 13 months of age.
• open heart surgery at 17 months of age. On bypass and probable timing of his stroke. I expressed my concern to the staff at Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne when he was an inpatient. My concerns were ignored.
• diagnosis of developmental delay at 22 months.
• diagnosis of developmental delay and hyperactivity after open heart surgery aged 3 years and 3 months. On bypass and only other possible timing of his stroke.
• Autism suspected at 4 years of age.
• Intensive behavioural programme began at 4 years and 3 months at home.
• Diagnosis of Autism at 4 years and 7 months.
• Speech pathology, OT, physio, structured play, daycare and pre-primary added to his regime.
•  Speech pathology, including the explicit teaching of social skills, continued until Alex finished Year 12.
• Assumed to have normal intelligence through school and completed his WA Certificate of Education.
• Completed Cert II Kitchen Operations, Cert III Baking and Pastry, Responsible Serving of Alcohol and Barista training.
• No mainstream employment ever offered in his chosen field of hospitality.
• Assumption gradually changed to Alex having an intellectual disability.
• NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) enters the scene in 2019.
• Alex's NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)  "plan" commences in October 2019. 
• Ongoing battles to correct misinformation and to address Alex's goals - for him to live safely and independently and achieve his dream of opening his own (microenterprise) drop-in cafe for the disadvantaged. 
• Investigation launched for his "absence spells", initiated by his employer Paraquad. These spells first noticed by me when Alex was 6 years of age. EEG at that age was inconclusive. 
• Extensive testing by Neurosciences and through the application of MRI. Results concluded Alex had experienced a stroke early in his life with significant damage (scarring) to his frontal lobes and cerebellum. The scarring is believed to be the cause of his "absence spells". Deficits caused by the stroke include right sided weakness, extremely slow processing and may have contributed to his scoliosis and feet issues. The combination of his Autism and ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) means that Alex has significant difficulty with daily living skills, decision making, prediction, sequencing, social interactions and functionality.
• The testing also revealed that Alex has normal intelligence, a diagnosis that has changed his life. He no longer regards himself as stupid.
• Alex's neurologist has confirmed that most children undergoing open heart surgery may have an "event" such as a stroke, due to being on bypass. Investigation only begins if deficits are clearly seen.
• Hence, Alex has extremely complex needs that the NDIA is supposed to address through his profile and funding.
• Alex's Acquired Brain Injury should be added to his NDIA profile as an additional diagnosis, given the effects the ABI has had on his life. The NDIA has not done so.
• We had no assistance from Alex's most recent Support Coordinator (the conduit between him and the NDIA). She resigned, referring us to a new Support Coordinator agency who declined, declaring that "we were not a good fit". That agency then referred us onto another agency that could not accept us as Alex's level of Support Coordination was not sufficient...
• My quest has also included finding a Local Area Coordinator who is proactive, nimble and intelligent. A LAC's role is to collect all relevant information for each of their clients, collate that data, prepare their clients' plans to submit to the NDIA, explain the plan's contents to their clients and advise them how they may use their funding, and assist in any changes to a client's current plan. The previous six or seven (who keeps count?!) LACs have not even been adequate in providing us with the guidance we need.
• Today, after yet another pointed diatribe over the mobile to a senior LAC, I think I may have discovered a LAC with a brain. I meet him on 15 July. I am hoping to have a meeting with the rest of Alex's team on 16 July. The LAC has also recommended a Support Coordinator he has complete confidence would be "a good fit". 
• I may have just hit the jackpot...Watch this space.

I am going to take a couple of weeks off to concentrate on me, Michael, home and the Gallery. As long as Alex doesn't end up in hospital in the meantime as he is not very well...

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I never, ever give up. Ever. 

 

 

This is Alex...

 

 

 

This is me in a good mood... 

 

 

This is me in the past week or so... 

 

 

All our lives should be bold...

 

 

 

This is how the NDIS is meant to work... 

This is how the NDIS usually works...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knowing the correct questions to ask and the correct answers to receive also helps! 

 

 

 

What we want...

 

 

 

What has been of assistance to sleep at night!

 

 

And here is a last word from our sponsor -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Dual Date With The Delicious Doctor Daram - The Dark Knight Of Dermatology!

Let's begin with some completely unbiased details. Daram Singh would have to be one of the most glorious human beings that I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. Croation mum and Sikh dad. Think golden skin, the deepest of chocolate eyes with a head of glossy black curls surrounding his face. Throw in some exceedingly sexy glasses and his trademark fitted scrubs and that is the package.

But wait, there's more. Daram is thoughtful, compassionate and an amazing practitioner. He is also witty and chatty. When we first met Daram, Michael had a weird skin stalk next to his lip. Daram saw us three days before Christmas, whipped it off and gave us the desired results before his practice closed on the 24th. So we wouldn't have to worry over the silly season. What a man!

A few months later, I presented to Daram with a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) about the size of a five cent piece on my nose that MoleScan had missed... Amongst all his other talents, he is also a MOHS surgeon. Here is a short synopsis of this procedure (which was all done with a local nose block so only one needle) 

 MOHS surgery is a specialised surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. It involves removing thin layers of tissue, examining them under a microscope, and repeating the process until all cancerous cells are removed. This method is particularly effective for cancers in sensitive areas or those with a high risk of recurrence. 

Because Daram had to repeat the process three times during that day, I was looked after by his staff whilst he was examining the tissue, Michael and I were fed and watered and sat in very comfortable recliners in his waiting area. When he declared that all the cancer had been removed with clear margins, he then beautifully re-attached the flap of skin back across my nose with thirty eight stitches. His needlework was absolutely exquisite and the scarring has been minimal.  No general anaesthetic and no skin grafts.

We return to Daram every six months due to my high risk status. I have bellowed like a bull during multiple removals of BCCs and SCCs (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) and sworn like a sailor, causing great amusement for him and his staff. I once told him I didn't like him anymore due to an application of a local anaesthetic for a skin scrape that he likened to "a little prick". I retorted that it was a "big prick"!

For the last two visits, he has only had to burn off my various multitude of pre-cancerous cells. This is a hugely positive step for me. Wednesday saw him check me from the tip of my head to the underside of my feet. In bra and knickers. *sigh* I get to stand, sit and lie down in the presence of the handsomest god on earth and he gets to view every wobbly bit on my body...

After blasting all my could-be-suspicious bits with his liquid nitrogen blow torch (about fifteen of them), he then checked Michael all over. Same state of undress though Michael has yet to succumb to a man-bra! His bloody Greek skin was in prefect order so no insult by the liquid nitrogen was required for him.

I would love to show an image of this truly wonderful Doctor Daram Singh. He joked with us that he doesn't have to put up a profile and photo to attract more work as he is completely packed with patients as it is! That was when he quipped that he was the Dark Knight of Dermatology...I'll have to organise him a tee shirt.

We meet again in early December. I will once have the pleasure of removing the majority of my clothes in front of the Delicious Doctor Daram. 

Have any skin lesions that worry you? Do yourself a favour and get a referral to see him. And if you are that way inclined, bask in his presence! 

 

 

Daram Singh's official profile photograph online! 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dark Knight of Dermatology is here to rescue us!  

 

 

 

 As a leading dermatologist in Murdoch, Dr Singh brings an exceptional blend of expertise and compassionate care to his patients. His commitment to both medical and cosmetic dermatology ensures a holistic approach, prioritising patient wellbeing at every step. Known for his proficiency in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstructive techniques, Dr Singh stands out for his meticulous attention to detail and dedication to achieving optimal outcomes. H has an unwavering passion for dermatology and advocacy for patient education, making him a trusted partner in skin health for the Perth community.

 

PS This is not my review!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Days, Warm Fires and Starry, Starry Lights @ The East End Gallery

Winter has arrived in Heavenly Beverley. So far, the weather has been neither too bleak nor too cold. I am heartily sick of the short days, however, that will begin to resolve after 21 June when the daylight hours slowly begin to lengthen again. Thanks to our exceedingly efficient reverse cycle airconditioning at home, we rarely have to worry about feeling chilly. 

The fire in the East End Gallery is also operating very nicely indeed. As we now have one of us present there six days a week, we have begun the habit of placing a fairly decent sized log in the fireplace before we leave in the late afternoon. Hence, we no longer worry about a frigid Gallery when we open the next morning. We have used some additional heating on very cold days but fortunately, those have been few and far between.

We have also moved our club chairs a tad closer to the fireplace, which is facilitating very cosy fireside chats between us. We have taken to enjoying each other's company in our very special space before heading for home, the dogs, dishes, dinner, the fickle fairweather feline and the pugnacious parrot.

The shift to wetter conditions has meant our garden is needing much less attention. Just as well as the Gallery has been exploding with a myriad of works all needing to find positions to be seen, to be loved and to find their way to new homes. 

I have swung between being elated by what we have created and the gnawing fear of being unable to continue due to financial constraints. We are sustained by word-of-mouth and social media. We feel unsupported by the Shire in every possible way. Little assistance or recognition and an insulting business card sized inclusion above Beverley Earthmoving in the tourism booklet. For which we paid $250. I really don't think the Shire has any idea why no artists/artisans/philanthropic enterprises in Beverley are not choosing to "advertise" in the latest edition of their booklet.  The Beverley Station Arts, being non-for-profit receives advertising for no cost. Michael and I would give our back teeth to make any sort of profit...And if we are forced to close due to a lack of funds, many of our artists would have nowhere else to go.

Which is why I am appealing to all our supporters and friends. Please spread the word about the East End Gallery. We are the perfect day trip destination from Perth. Our artspace is filled to the brim with the beautiful, the edgy, the unusual and the thought provoking. We have three artisans permanently with us. All three - Bec, Marion and Michael - are available for our guests to view, to chat, to participate and learn a new craft. Our extended Beverley precinct includes Jodie Edom Nolf's Vincent Street emporium next door to us, Mandy Evans' Art Garden and Kylie Alexis' Lucky Find (fashions, accessories, jewellery and giftware). We work closely with Beverley Station Arts and support their events and the Artist-in-Residence program. We are so proud of our achievements, but we need your help to remain viable.

The great news is that we have recently sold Michael's glorious "Unhinged" and installed the sculpture into its new place of residence. We now have monies tucked away for our rates and about a quarter of our building insurance. Michael is also planning to enter the York Art Exhibition in September and hopefully secure some space at the Collie Gallery. We are by no means giving up without a fight!

From now until November is the ideal time to visit Heavenly Beverley. The green carpet is expanding and by August, the canola will be blasting into a sea of bellow yellow. There is our gentle mountain, Quajibin to climb, the white beach at Yenyening Lakes to explore, the start of the wildflower season in September. We are the home to the Beverley Soaring Society. Our main street is alive with history and amazing murals by James Giddy. We have the Freemasons Tavern, the Red Vault, the Beverley Bakery and the One Tree Cafe to provide food and beverages. We have the Visitors' Centre and the East End Gallery providing tourism information for guests to Beverley. We have Avondale Farm, Ferguson's Machinery Collection and the Dead Finish Museum to provide memorable insights into Beverley's rich historical past.

Michael and I are passionate about our town, our home, our Gallery and our lives here. Michael is a truly gifted and innovative sculptor who doesn't fit the mainstream. He has been sculpting for forty-five years and is continuously pushing the boundaries of his skills and artistic visions. 

We see Beverley as reaching (and even surpassing) our hopes to be an wondrous and eclectic arts hub. There are so many opportunities for creative people to live here and hone their craft. We believe, with some relatively simple steps, that Beverley will be able to achieve this goal and thrive into the future.

And now, without any further ado, here are some up-to-date snippets of our beloved East End Gallery (with some starry, starry lights).... 

 Michael in his Studio, beginning his latest piece, provisionally titled "In The Mix"...

 

 

Installing "Unhinged"...

 

 With a very happy Helen, the purchaser of "Unhinged"...

 

 "I Primus", newly hung along with "Odd One Out" - the sheer brilliance of Michael's story-telling...

 

 

 

Robot Invasion - Jo-Anne Maire... 

 

 

Bags and macrame hangers... 

 

 

Silk kaftans by Kira's Designs... 

 

 

 

 

Pauline Lakstins...

 

 

Halina Halse... 

 

 

Gone Potty and Di Mainwaring... 

 

 

Craig McKeough 

 

 

 

He'd rather be wood-turning...Daryl Storer...

 

 

 

Sweet Treats candles by Colleen Coote... 

 

 

 

Paul Kendall's "El Toro"... 

 

 

Betty McKeough...

 

 

 

Jen Hill and Gone Potty... 

 

 

Earrings, glass, Granny's squares, hats and a cowl! 

 Maria Sofoulis and Mia Schilling...

 

 Brian Aylward, Sharon Williams and a cube bursting with treasures!

 

 

 

David Lillico...

 

 James Rodereda...

 

 Carollyn Rhodes-Thompson...

 

 Deborah Allen...

 

 Peter Allen and Ian Kay...

 

 As promised - here are some starry, starry lights -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what are you waiting for? Hop into your vehicle of choice and head beyond the Hills to Heavenly Beverley! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Voyage Around My Brother...

During May, my brother Simon and his partner Geraldine, travelled to the Wild West for a quick sojourn to see Michael and I, plus visit a fraction of the state that their six days over here allowed...

I have lived in Western Australia for forty-three years. This was the first time Simon has deigned to come to these distant shores. Quite frankly, I think Geraldine was a mover and shaker in this momentous occasion. We welcomed her very warmly and I adored her on sight. I also believe that having her own life is the reason hers and Simon's relationship is so successful. 

Let me explain. Simon is an exceedingly active chap. He skis, hikes, water-skis, enjoying most challenging endeavours. If my child health nurse had ever met him as a boy, she would have declared him to be "very busy". Callum has fallen into that category to a lesser extent, but being with Simon was like dancing with a Whirling Dervish!

I was constantly anxious about providing Simon with sufficient energetic activities.  In the end, after copious research, I decided to book a night in Katanning at the Premier Mill Hotel and three nights at the Sleeping Lady Chalet in the Porongurups. We had never actually stayed in the Porongurups and I was fascinated by the history of their formation. I figured that they would see a bit of the Wheatbelt and Great Southern and experience the scenery that is utterly different from Queensland.

We met Simon and Geraldine in Mundaring for lunch on the Saturday they arrived. From lunch at the pub, we then went out to the Weir and spent a wonderful hour or so absorbing the legend that was C.Y. O'Connor, architect of Fremantle Harbour, Mundaring Weir, Niagara Dam and his amazing vision to supply the Goldfields with reliable water via a 566 kilometre pipeline that was pumped uphill... Unfortunately, O'Connor was so relentlessly attacked that he committed suicide before the pipeline was completed. His legacy has been operational for 122 years and continues to supply water from Mundaring Weir throughout the Wheatbelt and Goldfields.

Home to Beverley. I had chucked together a casserole before we left that morning and we all retired fairly early. Sunday was a blur that I really don't remember apart from Simon and Geraldine enjoying the Gallery and seeing some other sights. By this stage of the visit, I was discovering that Simon dislikes sitting still for any length of time and does not practise small talk as a rule.

On Monday we set out (at 9.30 am!) for our Great Southern Adventure. We meandered through Pingelly and the Dryandra Woodland before arriving in Katanning. Michael and I were captivated by staying in a restored flour mill and thoroughly enjoyed the Cordial (people and atmosphere) Bar in the basement. I was unsure whether Simon and Geraldine were as enamoured as we were by the surroundings...

Another early start on a brisk Tuesday morning saw us heading south east. We passed through Wagin and Gnowangerup watching the Stirlings and then the Porongurups rising ahead of us. Our chalet was warm and comfortable with all the trimmings. I had arranged for a couple of cheese platters for dinner, which we enjoyed with some very local wine (from Castle Rock estate next door to the chalet!)

The following morning Simon scaled the Grade 5 Castle Rock approach and then ladder to the Granite Sky Walk. Geraldine completed the Stage 4 walk and remarked there were a great many steps. We joined them for lunch at the Porongurups shop and cafe, proposing another walk that afternoon. This was only a kilometre through the National Park which Simon completed at speed, noting he wasn't aware of much birdsong...Later, when Michael and I dawdled our way through an absolutely breathtaking forest walk of 600 metres, we heard plenty of birds. Methinks Simon never stands still long enough to hear them!

An outstanding highlight of our Great Southern jaunt was experiencing the Anzac Centre in Albany. By the time we arrived there, Simon and Geraldine had already conquered the Whaling Station Museum as well as a coastal walk...We enjoyed a delicious lunch and then immersed ourselves into the Anzac Centre.

I found the Anzac Centre harrowing, emotionally exhausting and totally unforgettable. This was a brutally stark commemoration to the futility of warfare, a commentary of a horrific waste of human life and unspeakable misery inflicted on millions during hostile actions. The Anzac Centre should be a "must" on everybody's bucket list. 

On our last evening together, we embraced the opportunity to just "be" with Geraldine and Simon outside of the Chalet. That was probably the closest we felt to them and were delighted to finally have some time without any frenetic exercise thrown in.

We were still in bed as they prepared to depart for Perth in the morning. They disappeared in their hire car, returned to the Big Smoke and took in both Fremantle and Cottesloe Beach in the afternoon. They flew out very early the next day, having been in the West for seven days. 

After being mesmerised by the Porongurups morning vista, we packed up and drove to Collie for 2 nights. We considered ourselves to be a tad shell-shocked to just return home and straight back into the Gallery. Although the accommodation was a bit ordinary - that is another story - we needed to recover from the intensity of Simon's presence...

While we were together, I remarked about the dynamics of being siblings. Our mother had been such a chaotic presence that I believe we were all damaged by her. He didn't seem either interested in or comfortable talking about our childhood, nor could he understand the depth of isolation and abandonment I felt when none of my three brothers were with me during my early and mid teenage years.

Maybe that is how Simon copes. I still adore him and I know he is a fantastic GP, a generous and loving father and grandfather, a tolerant and loyal friend and an easy partner to Geraldine. I just think we shouldn't necessarily be in each other's pockets on holidays!

This post is lovingly dedicated to my quirky, hilarious and wonderful brother who always makes me laugh and keeps me guessing. Thank you, Simon, for being a truly unique individual.  

PS since he blasted out of Western Australia, he then proceeded on a Central Australia trek with his son Tim... I told you he was pretty sprightly!

 

 

Introducing Doctor Simon Hosking... 

 

 

 

With Geraldine at Mundaring Weir...

 

 

 

As close to being still and doing nothing...

 

 The two of them after tackling the Whaling Station and a walk!

 

 The four of us at the Albany Anzac Centre...

 

One of those mysterious birds that eluded Simon!