Suzanne's Blog

Disabled Travel

2012-02-04T16:57:00.005+10:00

In October 2011 I travelled without my husband, for the first time, to attend a conference in Melbourne. I had a friend accompany me as my “carer” and fellow conference attendee. This would be my first “adventure” as a disabled person. We flew with QANTAS who assured me they would “look after me” and they did. They have a “sky chair” that they leave on board should I have needed to use the toilet (fortunately, I didn’t). We arrived in Melbourne and got a maxi-taxi with two other friends who were travelling to the same hotel. Unfortunately, the driver had never taken a disabled passenger before in his brand-new taxi. He managed to get me on board then broke open new plastic bags containing the parts used to secure me in the taxi. With some help from me and my friend, we somehow managed to get me strapped down, though I did not feel really confident – should have left and asked for another maxi taxi. Anyway, we arrived at our hotel without incident. I had booked a room at this hotel for two reasons – it was close to the conference venue and they had a “disabled” room available. A porter accompanied us to our rooms with our luggage on a trolley. Before he left the room, I asked to look around. I wheeled in to the bedroom where I would sleep. (They had a sofa bed made up in the lounge room for my friend). The bathroom was off the bedroom and I asked the porter to open the door. It would only open part way before it hit the bed – impossible for a wheelchair to enter. In fact only a thin person could enter. I protested that this was “ridiculous” for a disabled room. His solution was to move the bed further over so I was able to enter. You couldn’t swing a cat in that bedroom, it was so small. My friend had to put my clothes in the wardrobe for me as I couldn’t get to it. I had ordered a shower chair, which wasn’t there, but when I asked, they brought it up later. The bathroom towels were on a high shelf. The kitchen crockery was in a high cupboard. The refrigerator could only be opened part-way. I couldn’t reach the tap or the kettle switch. Overall, this “disabled” room did not pass the test. I was fortunate to have a friend/carer with me. I know disabled people do travel on their own but I can’t see how they would manage in a room like this. We asked the manager to come to our room and politely pointed out the shortcomings and he seemed sincere and appreciative of our feedback. I will follow up with the hotel to see if they made changes. This situation is partly my fault as I should have checked the Spinal Cord Injuries Australia web site http://scia.org.au for what they say is “disabled” accommodation. A disabled traveller needs to do a lot more research, ask more questions to ensure they will have a successful holiday. However, there are varying levels of disability and most able-bodied people have no understanding of the issues we face, so travelling for us will always be a challenge. Anyway, we managed and enjoyed the conference, looking around Melbourne, and eating at some great restaurants.

National Oral History Conference, Melbourne

2011-10-18T13:56:00.009+10:00

Last weekend I attended the National Oral History Conference in Melbourne. The theme was “Communities of Memory”. I went there with my friend, Lena, who was also attending the Conference and we both enjoyed it very much. It was good to catch up with interstate colleagues/friends and meet new ones.

On the first morning we attended a Recording Techniques workshop at the ABC which was run by Michelle Rayner. There was a large group and we all talked about our projects and the audio recorders we used. We then went in to a recording studio to see how the radio people edit their work. In the afternoon we went to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square where we had some practical advice on video recording from Catherine Gough-Brady inside a lecture theatre then we were went outside to practise. Later in the afternoon Al Thomson, Kevin Bradley and Michelle Rayner presented an update on the Australian Generations Project and the expected outcomes.

Day One of the Conference itself began with Keynote Speaker Steven High from Canada whose paper was entitled “Communities of Memory in Practice: A Reflection on the Montreal Life Stories Project”. He spoke about communities experiencing the aftermath of catastrophic change citing the example of a mill which was the lifeblood of a town being closed down. He also spoke about the Montreal Tutsi refugees and the way they are remembering the 1994 genocide. It was a very powerful presentation. The rest of the day we had a number of excellent presentations on a variety of topics including digital storytelling, culture and lifestyle, and artistic approaches to documenting oral history. At the end of the day we had a Welcome Reception to enjoy catching up with old friends and meeting new ones over a glass of wine.

On Day Two we had our second Keynote Speaker Nathalie Nguyen with her paper “Memory and Diaspora: The Vietnamese Refugee Experience”. She said South Vietnamese soldiers were not acknowledged in the now united Vietnam – their cemeteries have been razed. She interviewed three former female South Vietnamese soldiers now living in Australia. Their role has not been acknowledged though they made a large contribution to the Vietnam War but they could only reveal their army life once they had arrived in Australia. Each had a different reason for joining the Army, mainly for adventure and to break free from the “normal” female role in their society. Once again this was the first of a number of great papers presented during the day including one from our own OHAA Qld branch members, Helen Klaebe and Ariella Van Luyn about the workshops we held earlier in the year.

On Day Three more terrific papers culminated in the final paper and third Keynote Speaker Peter Read with his “The Limits of Oral History”. He spoke about the horrors of the Pinochet coup in Chile in 1973 and the following years. He told us about the “disappeared”, the fate of many of whom is still uncertain today. One particular “house of horror” was in the centre of Santiago and is now a memorial place where relatives of the “disappeared” gather in silence, pasting photos of their lost loved ones on the walls. The government seems uncertain about what to do about this building as it tries to hide the past. Oral histories of the survivors are vital in ensuring those terrible times are not forgotten, but then how far do we go with our remembering. Read also talked about Aboriginal Reconciliation and drew similarities with the Chilean experience – horrific past and how we should remember it. Read said he was “turned on by place” and we must hear the voice of the subject – value the voice! Every generation will tell the story in a different way. He finished with a quote (translated) written by a young woman on a cigarette paper to her friend (also imprisoned), that was secreted out of her Santiago prison, knowing she would soon be killed. “I remember when I met you in the house of terror. In those moments in which a light was a dream. Or a miracle, however, you were light in the mist. We were one in one reverse. Today thousands of reverses. Later I see you as you were before, as I know you are today, in some other place, always looking to windward. We will meet across the fog that we will dissolve. Do not forget me.” When Read stopped speaking the audience sat silently stunned. It was the most powerful oral history presentation I had yet experienced.

That night Lena and I had dinner in Greek restaurant, Tsindos, which we very much enjoyed. The food and atmosphere was delightful. There were two Greek guitar players entertaining us during our meal. It was a wonderful way to finish off our days at the Conference.

Brisbane in winter

2011-08-04T09:50:00.005+10:00

Had a very pleasant lunch at Reef Point Cafe at Scarborough on Sunday with Terry, Mum, Sharney and Myles. Tama joined us later after running from his place. Beautiful views across the bay to the Glasshouse Mountains. Very nice.

Walk On Program

2011-03-21T10:01:00.002+10:00

I've been on the waiting list for the Walk On Program for about six months and this month I've started the program. My initial assessment which was videoed, established a base line and will be done again in three months to see if there is an improvement. It is a new way of exercising where my trainers try to activate nerves that have been "asleep" for two years. Many exercises are very repetitive so that helps these inactive nerves to find new pathways. I am pleasantly surprised at how well I can do some exercises, but of course there is a lot of hard work ahead to reach my first goal - to lift my knees. I am enjoying the program and feel very positive about it.

Returning to Brisbane

2011-03-06T12:03:00.002+10:00

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Quiet day as we are sailing away from New Zealand. The weather was overcast and raining so an indoors day. We had lunch in dining room and I sat next to a very loud young woman. I was glad to end that meal! We read, had a nap then went to Dome for a drink then we went to dinner. A couple at our table, Max and Roslyn who told us all about getting Max's mother into a nursing home. They used a broker to find something suitable. Enjoyed the meal.

Thursday was another quiet day as we sail across the Tasman getting closer to home. The weather started out sunny then went cloudy. We spent most of time between cabin and dining room. I was reading and Terry went to gym later in afternoon. The breakfast and lunch was quite disappointing today. We had dinner again with Spike and Eunice. Pleasant evening. We got some information on the disembarking process. Friday was much the same as Thursday. We put our bags out in the evening, keeping a back pack to carry off ship. Our departure on Saturday morning went quite smoothly. A Taxi Marshall got us a maxi taxi and we were home late morning.

Auckland

2011-03-06T11:44:00.003+10:00

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Woke as we were docking in Auckland Harbour. Overcast early then turned into lovely sunny day. We went for a ride on the Explorer bus which stopped at nine significant locations around Auckland including Parnell Rose Gardens, Auckland Museum and Sky Tower. The tour took about an hour and cost $20.00 each. We opted to stay on board till the bus returned to the Ferry Building where we had lunch at Cin Cin on Quay. As we walked along the footpath beside the Quay there was a toddler being pushed in his pram by what looked to be his grandfather. He gave me a sweet smile, which I returned, as if to say “Isn't this fun being pushed along.” Quite hot by then and we returned to the ship for an afternoon nap. Left the ship again at 6.15 pm to meet Tony and Sandra Hurt for dinner. We had dinner at another restaurant on the Quay and enjoyed catching up with Tony and Sandra. They’ve had some health issues recently as well – a mark of our age. Tony turns 65 next month and he's still working. He's a plumber and Sandra does the books. It was a nice balmy evening with a cool breeze. They walked us back to the ship and we boarded about 10.30 pm and were surprised to see passengers leaving the ship at that time, considering the “all aboard” time was 11.30 pm.

Mount Maunganui

2011-03-06T11:31:00.006+10:00

Monday 7 February 2011

Arrived early at Tauranga Harbour. It's the "gateway" to Rotorua, which we'd seen before. Mid-morning we walked around the beach and township of Mount Maunganui which was very pleasant. The weather was overcast and warm. The footpaths were quite good. We had lunch at a cafe in town then walked back to the ship. Later in the afternoon we went up to deck 14 to see more of the harbour and Tauranga which was quite extensive. We had a drink in the Dome. The ship started leaving about 6.30 pm and we went down to dinner. We shared a table with eight widows from Warwick aged in their 70s and 80s. The theme tonight was “island”. I wore a lae as a concession to this, but these ladies went the whole hog and they looked great and you could see they were having a wonderful time and would be partying on. Kicking myself I didn’t have my camera with me.

Napier

2011-03-06T10:51:00.006+10:00

Sunday 6 February 2011

Warm sunny day. We got a shuttle bus to downtown Napier. We walked around the town, stopped in a beautiful park. We visited the Art Deco shop but they didn't have any of the Art Deco T-shirts that we saw last time. We bought a couple of T-shirts at a NZ souvenir shop. We stopped for a cold drink at a cafe. Tried to use Wifi but gave up. Walked along foreshore which was built on the debris of the 1931 earthquake. Got shuttle bus back to ship. Had a long nap, Terry went to the gym. Had dinner with Margaret and Deidre who have been friends since high school, interesting conversation. After dinner we went up on deck 14 to watch the sun set.

Wellington

2011-03-05T17:26:00.003+10:00

Saturday 5 February 2011

Little sleep-in, tired. We're in Wellington and the weather looks miserable. Late morning we got shuttle bus in to city. Walked around a bit. Did a tour of Parliament House, which was very impressive – stunning building. Then looked for food and had nice burgers at a cafe. We found there were heaps of people, old and young who were dressed in the whackiest costumes walking around. We got cable car to top of mountain and a volunteer lady there, Frances, told us about the costumes phenomenon. She said about 10 years ago when the Rugby 7s began in Wellington, a few people wore the same shirts so they'd be able to see each other and from there it just grew till everyone gets into a party spirit and wears these outrageous costumes. They all looked like they were having so much fun. This event is held annually in Wellington and Frances said this is the first time in 10 years that 7s weekend has not been warm and sunny. Just our luck. Got back on bus to return to ship. There was an internet cafe set up at the dock, so I spent 20 mins checking emails and Facebook.

Akaroa

2011-03-05T17:00:00.006+10:00

Friday 4 February 2011

We arrived at the port of Akaroa this morning (about two hour's drive from Christchurch). It's a beautiful sunny day. This was a volcano in ancient times and when part of it broke, it allowed the sea in, so it's a lovely sheltered harbour. We had breakfast with two former nurses, Pauline and Margaret. Terry went off to do a catamaran cruise. I went to the Dome to read and returned to cabin for a while, then went to lunch. Sat at a table with a number of people, only name I can remember is Maureen. Terry returned from his cruise saying he enjoyed it very much. He saw small dolphins (smallest in the world – only 1 metre) and also small penguins. The seals were a no show today. We had a nap and went to the Dome and listened to the trivia competition. I had another Toblerone cocktail – probably not good for me, but I enjoyed it. We had dinner on our own again and I wondered whether we'd been deliberately isolated. Terry enquired, but there was a misunderstanding about the booking, so they weren't trying to isolate us. We then went to a show, a cabaret singer, who wasn't impressive, so we left early and went to bed.

Dunedin

2011-03-05T11:59:00.004+10:00

Thursday 3 February 2011

We berthed at Port Chalmers in Otago Bay. We slept in after difficult night. Too late for dining room breakfast, so went to buffet on level 12, which was good. We got a shuttle bus which had a disabled entry, to Dunedin. We walked up and down a few streets, had lunch at a cafe then went to the Art Gallery which had some wonderful paintings. When we left there it was raining lightly. We passed a young bagpipe player busking near the tourist buses. We lined up for a bus back, as the rain increased. We had to wait for three buses before one came with disabled access. Pleasant drive back, quite enjoyed the day. Had dinner, just the two of us, in an area partitioned off from main dining room, had a lovely bottle of red wine, very pleasant evening.

Fiordland

2011-03-05T11:48:00.003+10:00

Wednesday 2 February 2011

We were up very early. The ship's fog horn had been sounding most of the night and started again when we got up. Got dressed but we heard message from Captain that with the 40 knot winds, very thick fog and the rain it would be too dangerous to go into Milford Sound – very disappointing. We moved on to Thompson Sound and the sun was out. We went to top deck, 14, to see the scenery. It was very crowded and difficult for me to get photos at times. It was beautiful. Had lunch then quiet afternoon – very tired.

New Zealand Cruise - Leaving Brisbane

2011-03-01T17:35:00.004+10:00

Saturday 29 January 2011

Up early to get ready. Maxi taxi picked us up just before 10.00 am. Driver a helpful friendly Fijian Indian. I was in my wheel-chair, strapped in for the ride. Arrived at Brisbane Portside about 10.40 am and there was already a large crowd of passengers waiting to board the Pacific Dawn. Terry got rid of our bags and then we were corralled into the “Priority Checking” area where staff were very helpful but appeared run off their feet. We were given a number and waited to be escorted to our cabin, but we waited and we waited. Finally they gave up after most of the non-priority passengers boarded, and allowed those with an able bodied partner to go on board, unescorted. Our cabin D101 on level 8 is quite spacious compared with when we were on Pacific Sky in 2005. We then went to level 12 for buffet lunch, quite hungry by then. Ship due to leave 2.00 pm but eventually left about 5.30 pm. We tried unsuccessfully to book for dinner. We went to the main dining room only to be told we couldn't get in till 8.15 pm AND you have to book ahead every day for the next night's dinner. There were a lot of very unhappy chappies when we were told that. One fellow really lost his cool “I've been on x number of cruises and I've never seen this before” etc etc. It was quite an unusual system. So we didn't eat till late. The disabled bathroom is okay but doesn't have a vertical bar next to toilet, so hard to get up again. Didn't sleep well that night, boat swaying.

Next day went for walk up to top deck, level 14. Lovely sunny day and ocean looked fairly calm, but the pools were closed as water swishing badly back and forth. Sat in the Dome for a while reading. Two more days at sea. Saw shore excursions man, who said we can't go on excursions because we can't get on a bus – disappointing. Ship had a bomb exercise. We didn't have a “bomb” in our cabin. I set off alarm in toilet again. It's in the wrong place. Terry went to gym and I went to Dome, sat reading and talked to 84 year old lady who migrated to Australia 49 years ago. Clocks forward another hour today, last time (so three hours altogether). We went to Dome for a drink and watched older couples ballroom dancing – very nice. Had dinner at 7.00 pm. Lot of controversy about having to book every day for dinner the following night. We'd like to permanently book for 7.00 pm. Apparently people in the past had complained about getting stuck with the same people all the time, but this system has its faults too. Anyway we enjoyed our dinner with David and Ann from the Gold Coast. David has spinal cord damage, cancer had spread there from prostrate cancer. We discussed disabled issues. Went to bed early in anticipation of early morning tomorrow.

Brisbane Flood - 2011

2011-01-14T11:48:00.004+10:00

This has been an incredible week in Brisbane and surrounding regions. Cities and towns north and west of us have been suffering with floods for weeks. Now it's Brisbane's turn and people are feeling shell-shocked and amazed that this has happened here, particularly in the way it's happened. I think Brisbane people never thought this would happen to us because "we've got Wivenhoe Dam to protect us." But realistically there would always have been circumstances which Wivenhoe would not be able to cope with. However, it would have been a whole lot worse without Wivenhoe. Many people's homes have been inundated and as the waters recede an horrific cleanup begins. At our house, we have been very fortunate being high enough not to be directly affected. We lost power for 24 hours and that was a minor inconvenience. All day we hear the sounds of sirens and helicopters. There are houses in our suburb and nearby suburbs which have been directly affected and it will be a long time before normality returns. Some shops are closed, if open there are many empty shelves, particularly the bread shelves. These photos were taken at Wacol Station Road, about a kilometre from our place. I wish all those affected well and hope you can put all this behind you soon. An awful start to 2011.

Thomas Macleod

2010-12-19T11:49:00.003+10:00

Yesterday my local historical society commemorated the unveiling of a plaque to mark the 100th anniversary of Thomas Macleod's pioneering biplane glider flights. Macleod was one of Australia's pioneering aviators. He flew the first heavier-than-air biplane glider constructed in Queensland from the slopes near where this monument now stands. He then went on to have an illustrious career involving aviation and other pursuits. The project to honour Macleod was driven by our society president and another member of the society. It took many years to get to this point, involving extensive research into Macleod's life and raising the funds to get the plaque which was unveiled by our Lord Mayor. We are pleased to finally give Macleod the recognition he deserves.

Sporting Wheelies Gym

2010-11-06T12:12:00.002+10:00

For the last couple of months I've been going to the Sporting Wheelies Gym. One of the staff did an assessment of my situation and wrote a program to suit me. I've enjoyed going there and doing the weight training. I need to improve my upper body strength and I do feel I'm getting stronger. I'm also doing exercises with my legs to try and improve those muscles. The staff and students at this gym are so helpful and friendly. The gym has a really good atmosphere. I like that I am doing something positive to help myself be as strong and "able" as I can be and that will improve as I get stronger each week. The cause of my spinal cord damage is unknown leaving me an "incomplete paraplegic", which means that some messages are getting through (I can wiggle my right big toe). I can stand with help and "walk" holding on to a wheelie-walker, swinging one leg after the other. I can't lift my knees. Spinal Awareness Week begins tomorrow and summer is the most dangerous time for getting a spinal cord injury as people are dumped into the sand at the beach. Please recognise that this danger exists and don't take unnecessary risks with your body. For many who will get a spinal cord injury this summer, their life will change forever.

U3A Oral History Presentation

2010-08-15T17:02:00.002+10:00

I was very pleased to be invited to give a presentation on oral history to a local U3A group last week. There were about 17 older people who came along and I received some very positive and encouraging feedback. We had some initial technical problems, which always seem to happen, but it didn't spoil the morning. I was able to tell the group about oral history and how most oral historians now use digital recording equipment. This has been the major development in oral history in recent years as it has made it so much more accessible. The stories can be accessed on the internet. For example, the slave narratives, held in the Library of Congress can be listened to. I played a few of the excerpts from interviews that are on my Oral History Blog and the group enjoyed them. I then did a couple of "mini-interviews" with two elderly gentlemen, aged 91 and 93, to demonstrate a little of the procedure.

"Hats" Exhibition

2010-06-27T10:38:00.005+10:00

Late last week I went to the Hats Exhibition at the Art Gallery in Brisbane. It featured hats from different eras, dating back to the 19th century. They are works of art. Some famous hats were also featured including one worn by Camilla Parker-Bowles for her wedding to Prince Charles. There were also old movies shown of hats worn in the 1940s and 1950s. The movies also showed how the hats were made. Once upon a time a woman wouldn't leave the house without wearing a hat. They really "topped off" an outfit and were very stylish. Nowadays they are rarely seen outside the racecourse. At the exit to the exhibition there was a Hat Salon with a number of hats and books for sale. I enjoyed watching women trying on different hats. Their prices were reduced as the Exhibition closes today. Also, this was my first outing "on my own". I went around the exhibition and then had lunch in the Gallery's cafe. It was a very enjoyable day out.

My husband is a Grandad

2010-06-22T12:13:00.003+10:00

I am now married to a grandfather. Terry's son's wife gave birth to a beautiful boy yesterday. Mother and baby are doing well and baby's father is exhausted. They went to hospital at about 3.30 am and baby was delivered a couple of hours later so mother had a good quick birth. We are all very excited about it and so good to go to hospital for something positive.

My brother turned 50

2010-06-15T16:28:00.002+10:00

My little brother turned 50 last week - incredible! He lives in Canberra and being very considerate of his Brisbane relatives and to escape the cold himself had his birthday bash here. His family and friends came and we had a great time with a terrific party on Saturday night at a venue close to where my Mum and sister live. My brother enjoyed his stay up here, taking advantage of the lovely sunny days to play golf.

Mother's Day Picnic

2010-05-10T15:39:00.003+10:00

Yesterday for Mother's Day we had a lovely picnic at Somerset Dam. Our journey there was frustrated by roadworks on the Ipswich Motorway, which made an hour trip two hours - traffic was completely stopped for a long time then moved only slowly till we were clear of the work. We were late but my sister and husband had found a good spot close to the water and in the shade. My Mum was also there, so we were three mothers together. There was a lot of water skiing on the lake and was interesting to watch. Two of my nieces also came along with their cute little dog. It was such a gorgeous day weather-wise so we had a terrific time.

"Cakes" wins Honour

2010-04-16T13:36:00.005+10:00

I was thrilled to win an Honour for my photograph "Cakes" at my camera club, QCG, meeting last night. The subject was "Food for a Recipe Book". The judge said before he began that as he judged the photos he asked the questions - do I want to eat the food? and - does it look elegant? He said my photo fit those criteria well and he liked the "geometric" layout. He also commented on the small blue "hundred and thousand" which lay on the table near the plate. That was pleasing as I'd left it there deliberately. You can see other entries at the Gallery. I suppose one of the best things about it all was that after a visit from my peer support officer from the Spinal Injuries Association a few weeks ago, I was motivated to do some cooking. I baked the cakes myself with the only help having Terry get a couple of things for me that were out of reach. I then iced them and set up the photoshoot. So I'm feeling pretty good about it all!!

Barbecue picnic at Wivenhoe Dam

2010-04-09T12:07:00.002+10:00

Earlier this week, Terry and I went to Wivenhoe Dam for a barbecue picnic. After the record rainfalls for March the dam is almost full and it was beautiful to see it like that. It was a lovely sunny day, fairly quiet. In the camping areas there were a lot of people as it is school holidays. It is so good to get out to a beautiful spot like this and we're lucky to have it relatively close. Once you get off the busy Ipswich Road, it is a pleasant drive. Our barbecue was delicious - of course. Terry is the best barbecuer!!

Landscape-ing

2010-02-23T14:02:00.002+10:00

I was very pleased to receive a Merit for my first camera club competition for the year. The subject was "Scapes" and I took this photo at my local landscaping business. The judge said it worked on two levels, though wasn't sharp enough. I'll have to work on that. Otherwise all going well with my new different life. I'm still going to book clubs, camera club, historical society and oral history meetings, so having as "normal" a life as possible with the support of my family and friends.

Back home to start new life

2009-12-28T16:26:00.002+10:00

I've been discharged from Canossa for just over a week now after being there for six weeks. I'm gradually getting used to my new life. I'm feeling much better now that I've accepted I'm now disabled. I will now concentrate on those things I can still do and "let go" of those things I can no longer do, just remember them fondly without getting upset. This has been a very difficult year for me and for those who love me. My leg weakness was initially diagnosed as being a very rare auto-immune disease, CIDP, and I underwent uncomfortable treatments for that. In August when another opinion said I had spinal cord damage, I went through a terrible emotional time. There was no explanation for this damage. A later opinion was that it was probably caused by a virus (in the absence of any other medical evidence) and I was told it is "unlikely" I will walk independenty again. I have a lovely new wheelchair to help me get around and I will no longer put my life "on hold" waiting to recover. I will get back into my oral history interviews and already have a couple of good prospects lined up. Canossa was the best "treatment" I could have had. The staff there looked after me very well and helped me come to terms with my disability. They were all so good to me. Thanks to them I feel I can now move forward with my life.

Canossa Hospital

2009-11-22T12:25:00.003+10:00

I've been "rehabilitating" at Canossa Private Hospital, Rehab Unit, for a couple of weeks now. The staff are all wonderful and I'm enjoying the physiotherapy. I'm allowed "leave" during the day on weekends, on Saturday after physio session and on Sunday as there is no physio. I'm under the care of a good doctor who seems curious about my "unusual" case so he's trying to find answers, but he's said it's "unlikely" I'll walk independently again. But who can say - doctors can't tell me how this has happened and they can't really know what the future holds for me. I'll just take each day as it comes. I believe I've come to terms with my current situation and that acceptance will make it easier to cope, I think. I've got wonderful support from my family and friends, so I'm truly blessed.

Life Member OHAA

2009-10-17T16:50:00.003+10:00

At the Annual General Meeting of the Oral History Association of Australia (Queensland Inc.) this morning I was surprised and honoured to be made a Life Member. I have been a member of OHAA for many years and on the Committee since 2001 as Newsletter Editor and also Secretary. The only position I now hold is Secretary and that keeps me very busy and that's what I need. I consider I am in illustrious company with some of the "greats" in the Australian oral history world and I am pleased to be now in that select group. I will continue to do my best to promote oral history as it is something I am passionate about.

European Windows

2009-09-14T10:46:00.007+10:00

At a recent camera club competition I entered my audio visual. I was up against some stiff competition from the best photographers in the club so didn't get a place. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there on the night so didn't experience the audience reaction or hear the judge's comments personally. However, friends who were there gave me some feedback on how I could improve it so I've taken that on board and changed it. View it on full screen and make sure you've got the sound on. Hope you enjoy it.

Brain & Mind Institute

2009-09-08T08:57:00.002+10:00

A couple of weeks ago Terry and I flew down to Sydney to the Brain and Mind Institute to see an eminent professor of neurology for an opinion on my condition. He examined me and ordered tests be done at the Institute by a neurophysiology technologist. They were interesting. The first was in a darkened room with a computer screen showing black & white squares, like a chessboard. I had lots of coloured wires attached to my head and I had to look at the screen as the program began. The squares changed at different speeds from black to white and back and I had to concentrate on keeping them in focus. The technologist could tell from looking at her monitor screen when my mind was wondering - very creepy, she could virtually read my mind. It was quite exhausting. Each "run" would last about 2 or 3 minutes with one of my eyes covered. After about an hour of that, I had more wires attached to my arms, legs and head and an electric pulse was turned on. That all went for another hour. We then saw the Professor again and he said I didn't have CIDP or MS but he concluded I have spinal chord damage at waist level which will require further investigation with better MRI. It was a bit of a shock to learn I've been treated for 12 months for something I don't have but also relief. I'll now go on to the next step in this medical "journey".

Lucas' Graduation

2009-08-23T11:11:00.003+10:00

Our family was very proud to attend the graduation of my nephew, Lucas, last week. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensics. Early in his studies, at times he struggled with the workload and the subject matter but he persevered over the years and has done very well. Now comes the task of finding a job (anywhere in Australia) to match his newly learned skills. He is a very nice young man and will work very hard. We wish him well.

TeckoGecko

2009-07-23T09:37:00.004+10:00

I'm on the committee for the Oral History Association of Australia (Qld Inc.) and earlier this year we decided to get our own web site. We finally settled on a fairly new company, TeckoGecko Small Business Websites Brisbane, and we have been very pleased with the result. Although this is a new business for them, they have a lot of IT experience and provide innovative ways for getting businesses on-line. As they grow, their services to clients will also expand. For example, they provide tutorials for many aspects of managing web sites and are always on hand to provide additional assistance. They are friendly and professional to deal with and provide training so clients can manage their own sites. As a small not-for-profit association, OHAA also found the cost of setting up our web site very reasonable. And ......... they have the cutest business logo!!

Barbecue by the Dam

2009-07-19T11:02:00.003+10:00

We had a lovely barbecue picnic by Wivenhoe Dam last week. The beautiful Brisbane winter added to the occasion - sunshine, warmth, no wind - perfect! Terry cooked steak and sausages on the little barbecue provided, but we brought our own wood - just as well, as that was not provided. It was great to see so much water in the dam after the terrible drought we've had and then lots of rain has brought the dam to life again. Terry had found on the internet that there were disabled toilets at the site on the National Public Toilet Map. What a great service! So there was no excuse not to go for a drive out there. It was so good to get away and do something "normal" like we used to do.

American Impressionism

2009-06-28T10:49:00.003+10:00

Last week Terry and I visited the Queensland Art Gallery to see the American Impressionism & Realism exhibition. The American paintings were from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were a number of Australian paintings shown as well, demonstrating the influence on their art by the Americans of the time. So the exhibition was a treat, combining the best from our two countries representing this era. My favourites of the Americans was John Singer Sargent and Childe Hassam. The beautiful painting of "Mrs Hugh Hammersley" by Singer Sargent was hung on a burgundy wall, a similar colour to her dress. The effect was particularly striking, especially from a distance. This exhibition is well worth a visit.

London Lunch

2009-06-23T12:47:00.002+10:00

I was very pleasantly surprised to receive an "Honour' for my photo in the People subject in competition with my camera club, Queensland Camera Group. As we were walking along the Thames in London last July I saw this boy with all the take-away boxes beside him and thought it looked funny. He probably didn't eat it all himself, but it was amusing seeing it all lined up like that.

CIDP

2009-05-26T12:42:00.004+10:00

I have Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), a very rare autoimmune disease which has severely affected my mobility. My peripheral nervous system is under attack by my immune system. The myelin sheath which surrounds the nerves is damaged so signals from my brain cannot get through. I cannot walk unaided (use wheelie-walker around the house) and outings are accompanied and in a wheelchair. This disease affects patients in different ways and the treatments are also varied. If one patient responds to a certain treatment, it does not mean another patient will respond in the same way. There is no known cause and the prognosis is uncertain for each patient.

My symptoms began in late July 2008, shortly after my return from a wonderful overseas holiday where we walked everywhere. My legs began to feel "abnormal". I had to think about walking, taking each step, as my feet gradually became numb. I had numerous blood tests, three MRIs, CAT scan, nerve tests but it was some time before my "difficult" case was diagnosed as CIDP. I've been in hospital three times. Currently I'm being treated with Methotrexate and receiving fortnightly infusions of immunoglobulin (IVIG). So far there's been no improvement. I attend hydrotherapy three times a week, which is the only exercise I can now do, apart from walking (dragging or swinging one foot after the other) with my wheelie walker.

I've joined an on-line Yahoo discussion group which has been invaluable in learning more about this rare disease from others around the world who have it. I am optimistic that I will eventually have the treatment that will have me walking again. In the mean time, I try to have a positive attitude and live within my physical limitations.

Haircut

2009-05-13T17:02:00.003+10:00

I'm having a "good" day with my illness. I slept well last night, no spasms, and my legs feel "okay" today. I breezed through hydrotherapy this morning, very different to Monday. I visited the hairdresser for the first time in months but was prompted to go when my 89 year old friend, Billie, said to me last week that I needed to go for a "colour and cut" so I would feel better. My visit to the hairdresser was actually easier than I thought it would be in the wheelchair. My wheelchair is actually more comfortable than the hairdresser's chairs and I was also wheeled to the washbasin which bent to accommodate me. So there's really no excuse for not going more often.

My birthday

2009-04-28T11:29:00.002+10:00

On ANZAC Day I "celebrated" my 56th birthday. We had beautiful sunny days for the weekend. I enjoyed a birthday dinner with my family. We took some photos, including a few of me in a wheel chair. I will hopefully look back on these photos next birthday and remember this time when I couldn't walk, but I will be walking then. I am now having fortnightly IVIG treatment so look forward to having some improvement in my walking.

Hospital

2009-04-01T16:37:00.003+10:00

Last week I spent a week in hospital for treatment of my CIDP using intravenous immunoglobulin over five days. The treatment was fairly comfortable though getting the canula inserted was not a pleasant experience, but of course necessary. When not being infused with the treatment, I was on a saline drip to keep my vein open so was hooked up most of the time. With my disability, it was difficult when I wanted to go to the toilet or shower, taking the drip with me and being helped on to a toilet/shower chair on wheels by two nurses. At times they were all very busy and I was desperate but fortunately no "accidents". The staff at the hospital were very good but there are not enough of them to cope sometimes, especially in the mornings. The food was quite good. I was glad to return home because in hospital, understandably, the patient fits in with the hospital routine which doesn't always coincide with your own body routine. I will have follow up treatments as a day patient and hope to see some improvement in my condition in about a month.

Another merit

2009-03-20T14:06:00.004+10:00

Last night I was very pleased to receive a "Merit" for my latest QCG club competition, the subject being "Music". My photograph "Harmony" is of my violin teacher, Susi, who very kindly and patiently posed for several photos, even though she said she was "not photogenic" (I disagree). I am happy with the photo and more so that the Judge deemed it worthy of a merit.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-03-15T13:08:00.003+10:00

Terry and I have been to see Slumdog Millionaire which was an excellent movie. We'd planned to see it some time ago, before it won the Academy Award, as we'd both enjoyed Q&A, the book on which the film is based. Set in India, a young man is on the brink of winning the top prize in a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" type quiz show when he comes under suspicion. Authorities and the game show producers cannot believe the young man could possibly have known the answers to the questions and believe he must have cheated somehow. The film then looks back on his life and reveals how his life experiences brought him the answers. Finely acted, beautiful scenery, confronting, great music. This film is highly recommended. Also one of the great things about this outing - we went to the Eldorada cinema at Indooroopilly. They have excellent disabled access and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Toenail cutting

2009-03-08T17:18:00.004+10:00

One of the things that highlights my current disability and lack of independence is that I now need my husband to cut my toenails. He is my official "carer" 24/7 and does almost everything for me, for which I am very grateful but wish it wasn't necessary. He does all the cooking, housework, washing, ironing and he helps me dress and shower. Fortunately, I can still use the toilet on my own, but is toenail cutting one step up from that? Despite my disability, I am doing my best to keep a positive frame of mind but at times it can be difficult to maintain that mindset. I've been reading Practising the Power of Now and learning to meditate. I had always been an independent person in control of my life so that loss of control is the hardest to manage and I have to guard against thinking about that and focus only on what I can do - not on what I can't. My neurologist believes I may have both transverse myelitis and CIDP but my case is so complex, I'm not sure he really knows. Anyway, "live for the moment" and "always look on the bright side of life." Cheers!!

Camera Club Photos

2009-02-21T10:14:00.003+10:00

I returned to my camera club this month, Queensland Camera Group, after a break and was pleased to receive Merits for all three of my entries in the "Open" subject.

"Marry Me" was taken in Trafalgar Square in London. Terry and I were looking out over the Square and I observed this young couple sitting by the fountain. He pulled out a ring box and handed it to her. She was obviously thrilled and excitedly put the ring on her finger, admiring it and kissing and hugging her new fiance. As I realised what was happening, I took several photos but not all came out well. This was the best. The photo was cropped to show only them. It was delightful to be a witness to this special moment.

"Tangled Web" was taken in Bucharest, Romania and shows that city does not have underground power. There are "webs" like this all over the city and must be a challenge to maintain.

"Gone Fishing" was taken from our boat, "River Duchess" as we cruised down the Rhine River. I spotted this guy on the bank and fortunately with my 20x zoom camera, I was able to capture him.

Click on the Queensland Camera Group link above to see other wonderful images that were in the club competition.

Australia Day

2009-02-01T13:34:00.002+10:00

I've never really been that excited about Australia Day but it seems the general populace is becoming increasingly excited about it. This year a newspaper gave out flags to put on our cars. The flag is flown more in people's gardens and there is an alarming increase in nationalism which seems to exclude any race that was not here 200 years ago.

On Australia Day this year, my sister and her husband celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with an Australia Day party. They met and married in London. This year they shared the day with family and friends and capped it off with an amusing "renewal of vows" and an Australia shaped cake.

Reflections on health

2009-01-06T10:02:00.003+10:00

Most of 2008 was a great year with our wonderful holiday in Europe the standout event for us. However, the latter half of the year has not been so good. There are some sayings regarding health "don't take your health for granted", "health is more precious than wealth" etc. and this is something I now very much appreciate.

Shortly after our return from overseas I began to feel unsteady walking and this has gradually led to my now being unable to walk unaided. For outings I'm accompanied, and in a wheel chair. I've had all the tests, scans, hospital treatment to find the cause of this but so far all I know is that I have a disorder "transverse myelitis" which is an indicator of an auto-immune disease but which one is not yet determined. Further tests in the next few weeks may give an outcome.

Being disabled has opened a whole new world. All outings must be planned in advance - is there wheelchair access? I've discovered that people in wheelchairs are invisible so has given me a new awareness.

So you must look after your health as much as you can and enjoy every day because your life can change without warning. I was a fit healthy active person, jogging, walking and now my exercise is reduced to walking slowly in a warm therapy pool.

ANZAC Day

2008-05-02T10:32:00.005+10:00

ANZAC Day has always been a special day for me. When I was young, it was mainly because it is also my birthday but as I grew older and learned the meaning of this day and the reason we commemorate it, the day has become even more special for me. I remember in primary school we had a large elaborately framed painting (I suppose it was a print) depicting the landing at Gallipoli and I would stare at that painting and wonder at the bravery of those soldiers on the beach. Of course I was always the envy of my school mates because my birthday fell on a public holiday. As an adult my appreciation of this sacred day increased and I read all I could about the tragic Gallipoli campaign and the terrible Western front. When I began my oral history collection, I was determined to make my first (outside family) interview with a World War 1 veteran and he was a great privilege to meet. Sadly I think they are all gone now, at least in Australia. I have attended many ANZAC services over the years, as well as marches. I was most proud to attend a march a few years ago in which my son who was then serving in the Air Force marched. To my shame though, I have not yet attended a dawn service - but I hope to do so next year. This year I attended a local suburban service which attracted hundreds of people including many local schoolchildren. So the ANZAC spirit is alive and growing. LEST WE FORGET.

Weight Loss

2008-04-28T13:07:00.004+10:00

I've completed my 12 week weight loss program and am very pleased with the results. I lost 5.3 kgs and 5.5 cm from my waist. It was a fun way to do it. We had lovely ladies in our group who met twice a week for our gym session with a terrific personal trainer. The first couple of weeks were difficult as I got used to the diet, which is mainly protein and using a protein supplement. The best part of the diet was having one day a week when we could eat what we like. But as time went on, even on those "free" days I was still eating carefully. I've been jogging most days of the week as well as going to the classes. So now that it's all over and we've "graduated" the challenge will be to continue on this health and fitness path.

Camera Club Honour

2008-04-20T09:56:00.003+10:00

I'm very excited to have won another Honour at our last Camera Club meeting. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the judging night as I was at the last class of my weight loss program (more about that in a later blog entry!!). My friend and fellow Camera Club member, David, gave me the good news about my entries. I received an Honour for my "Nimbin Smoko" photo of a couple of middle-aged hippies having morning tea outside a shop in Nimbin. They were just two of the many colourful characters in the town which attracts a lot of tourists keen to see the "alternative" lifestyle in action. It's a lovely part of the world. You can see more of the wonderful photos taken by members by clicking here.

Jury Service

2008-04-15T13:15:00.002+10:00

Recently I did what I believed to be my civic duty and served on a jury. I had been called twice before but had declined because of my occupation but this time, as I'd retired, I thought it might be an interesting experience. I checked the jury list every day to see if I was required to attend the following day and after a week it was finally my turn. I was herded into a large room with other potential jurors and gradually large groups were taken away. Those left behind were given no explanation of what was happening and what we were waiting for as we whiled away an hour watching the overhead TV or reading magazines provided. At last it was my turn to be taken to the court for empanelling. Our names were read out and the Defence barrister and Prosecutor decided whether to allow each person to be sworn in. My name was called and there was no objection so I found myself on a trial with 11 other jurors. The trial was not a pleasant experience and dragged on for three days. There was a lot of traipsing back and forth from court to jury room. When the trial concluded, we had to deliberate on our verdict and that was an interesting social experiment as there were many different personalities who had different viewpoints on the trial. We had to make our decision on the evidence presented and that included the word of the defendant and the complainant. So for the most part we had to decide who was telling the truth. We were unable to make a decision by late evening so then were herded off to a motel for the night. As we were in deliberation mode, there was no contact with the outside world except through our bailiff, who was very nice and looked after us well. The next day we returned to the jury room to make our final decision. In the court room we gave our verdict and were discharged. I went to the public gallery to hear what happened next. I wanted to see it through. The defendant was duly sentenced.

I found the whole experience emotionally exhausting and something I never want to repeat. My case was comparatively mild to many you read about in the papers and I feel for the jurors on those, but I still found the process traumatic and took me a couple of weeks to stop thinking about it. I was happy to return home after that terrible week. Jurors are not supposed to discuss the case except with their GP, and I did. I'm feeling better about it now but I never want to be in the situation again where my decision will affect someone else's life. I don't want that responsibility. It is too heavy.

Camera Club Honours

2008-02-24T09:11:00.004+10:00

Last year I joined a camera club, Queensland Camera Group, to meet like-minded people and learn to improve my photos. The club is full of enthusiastic friendly people inspired by a love for photography. There are monthly club competitions and seminars by guest speakers teaching us about different aspects of photography. I have entered some of my photos over the last few months achieving an "Acceptance" and receiving some helpful tips from judges on improvement. This month, I am very excited to have achieved two "Honours" from judge Anne Russell. In January I did a weekend course on Digital Photography at the Queensland College of Art, at Southbank which I very much enjoyed and learned a great deal. I took several photos during that weekend and two of them were the ones which got "Honours" at this month's competition - "Yeller Propeller" and "Fountain or Ashtray?" So now I am "honoured" to be part of the group to have won "Merits" or "Honours" and therefore featured in "Club Competitions" gallery. There you will find my photos among a number of outstanding photographs by other club members. I am very proud to be among them and am sure you will enjoy them all too.

Losing Weight

2008-02-01T10:25:00.000+10:00

Like many other people at the start of the year, I have begun a weight loss program at my local YMCA gym. After putting up with a very unattractive spare tyre around my middle, I was determined to do something. So I've rejoined the gym for an intense 12-week weight loss program. I was told the first two weeks are the hardest, especially with the diet which is mainly protein, fruit and vegetables - no carbohydrates. The diet is difficult but I'm getting used to it. The best thing is that one day a week I can eat whatever I like. I've begun dreaming about food. Part of the program is walking at least 10,000 steps a day and I've now gotten into a routine of getting up and doing about 6,000 steps before breakfast (protein shake and fruit). I also drink lots of water which is okay and something I've always done anyway. Our group of about 10 has two sessions per week at the gym with our personal trainer and I'm enjoying that. So I really feel I'm getting somewhere and may even get to my target weight of 60 kgs by the end of the 12 weeks. The gym took a "before" photo side-on in all my pot belly glory. I feel like one those sad people on those "lifestyle" shows(which I emphasise I don't usually watch!) who are cajoled into pushing themselves. Fortunately our personal trainer is very sweet and doesn't bully us into submission. I've already lost about 2 kgs so that's some progress. But gee I look forward to my "free" day when I can indulge without a guilty conscience.

P.S. no the photo is not me - it's a promotional photo from the gym (but it could be me in 12 weeks - fingers crossed!)

Muriel Bath

2008-01-12T11:15:00.000+10:00

I've completed my oral history project on Muriel Bath which you can see on my web site. She is a remarkable spritely 99 year old womanwho has had an incredibly interesting life. She was an officer in the WRANS during World War II and then was one of the first policewomen working in Queensland. She wasn't sure she would last, as she tells in the video clip. This was an era when there was a place for "style". Muriel wore hat and gloves (not a uniform) to work. In 1948 when she married, it was a race against time to have the ceremony over before 8.00 pm (after which it was illegal to marry), as the wedding cars didn't arrive. Muriel is a treasure-house of wonderful stories and I wish her good health so that she makes it to her 100th birthday later in the year. I feel privileged to have met her.

Atonement

2008-01-12T10:33:00.000+10:00

Terry and I went to see Atonement this week. I had read the book a few years ago and remembered most of what it was about, but had forgotten the ending. Consequently I cried buckets. Terry didn't like it - too gloomy. It was a clever story and the ending was "right". There have been a few articles in the papers and on-line about what "atonement" means and whether it is ever truly achieved. In this movie, based on the book by Ian McEwan, a young girl witnesses an act which she misinterprets then lies about one of the people she saw, then spends the rest of her life trying to make things right. The moral? We must always be conscious of the consequences of our actions and try not to hurt people.

Alan Roaf

2008-01-05T10:24:00.000+10:00

I've just completed my oral history project on Alan Roaf, an international rowing coach based in Canada. He was significant in Queensland rowing as a head coach and mentor for Queensland in the 1980s. His expertise was again called upon recently when he was asked to review Queensland rowing. You can read the interview on my web site. I'm going to try adding video to this blog - click the "Play" button below.

Happy New Year

2008-01-05T09:56:00.000+10:00

Well I survived the stress of Christmas and catering for 23 relatives for Christmas dinner and ended up enjoying the experience. It's always easier looking back than forward when faced with the prospect of feeding and entertaining 23 people!! Everyone seemed to have a good time. We had a lovely ham from the local butcher (see photo of Terry carving). My sister and husband brought a roasted turkey which went down a treat. Terry also barbecued chicken and sausages. We had lots of salads, vegetables, cakes, desserts which many guests brought along to contribute to the mountain of food - lots of good cooks in the family. We fit everyone in the garage for our meal and we were blessed with unusually cool weather for Brisbane's summer.

Terry and I had a very quiet New Year - early to bed. Now 2008 has begun and everything is back to normal.

Indian salesmen

2007-12-15T20:41:00.000+10:00

For the second time in as many days a handsome young Indian man has rung my doorbell trying to persuade me to change my service provider for electricity and then telephone. They were very polite but spoke imperfect English and were walking from door to door looking for customers. I did not engage with them, telling them I wasn't interested, but I wondered if they were recently transplanted from a call centre in Bangalore.

Do Telstra and AGL really think this marketing strategy is going to work!! These poor young men have been inflicted on Australian households probably because we're all now entered on the Do Not Call Register. I cannot see how this is going to win customers for these companies. When I don't want to receive phone calls, I turn off my phone - but now they're ringing my doorbell on a Saturday afternoon (when I'm having a nap)! I'll be ringing these companies on Monday morning to advise them that this new strategy is hardly likely to endear them to the public. Makes you wonder who came up with this stupid idea!!

Interviewing Alla

2007-11-12T07:57:00.000+10:00

On Saturday I had a wonderful oral history experience participating in the interview of a Russian woman, Alla, who is my friend Lena's mother. Our friend Rlene recorded the interview on video, which lasted more than six hours. Alla's life story was spoken in Russian and translated by Lena. At first Alla was a little nervous about the process and insisted her story was unremarkable and not worth all this fuss. But as the story unfolded, she became more relaxed and comfortable with the experience. Rlene and I both enjoyed listening to the story of her life in Russia during World War II, her trip to America during the War, schooling in London, love in Paris, Stalin's impact, work as an immunologist, studying the effects of radiation, the space program and her wisdom, based on her life experiences. A remarkable woman!

This interview reinforced for me the value of oral history and the value of oral historians, as we are genuinely interested in hearing these stories and want to ensure their preservation. Rlene is one of the most passionate oral historians I have met. She listens carefully to her interviewees and probes beneath a superficial level to reveal who they really are.

I learned a lot from witnessing how Rlene conducts her interviews both from the interviewing and the technical process she uses. She has a video recorder with a MP3 player (for transcription) and has a tie-clip microphone attached by cord to the video recorder. The MP3 player is attached by cord to the video.

I very much valued this experience - meeting Alla and learning about her life, spending time with Lena, and watching Rlene conduct this wonderful interview.

Blogging experimenting

2007-11-03T16:21:00.000+10:00

I had a great time learning all about blogging yesterday. It's opened up a whole new world. Will anyone else ever read my scribbles?? Who knows but I can have fun doing it.

With my oral history today I'm working on transcribing a wonderful interview I did with a 99 year old lady a couple of weeks ago. The photo on previous posting is not really her - that was just part of the training - showing you how to find a photo on Google.

I'm also doing the sound editing for another interview for a sporting and life coach. No photos today.

Oral History Interviews

2007-11-02T10:18:00.000+10:00

This is my training course pretend blog.

My latest interview was with a 99 year old woman who was one of the first policewomen in Queensland.

More information about oral history.