Today I spoke to Chris and Aileen Savill, the co-founders of United Tradies a fledgling local business formed from the desire to create a business that not only made people’s lives easier but also could help change lives for the better. It is a win-win really - you get work done by tradies who believe in community and someone in the local community gets an opportunity to get a project done each month sponsored by United Tradies and the awesome team on their books!

 4 people share their relationships with God reflecting 4 religions. Is there one path to God or are we all held in a body of Love, the body of the Universe, the body of God and this is the source we are all feeling and responding to?

It has taken me many years to say the word God without feeling an awkwardness around it, without feeling like there was an apology for mentioning the word. So it was a breath of fresh air to talk to these people and contemplate a relationship what a relationship with God might look, feel and sound like and hear how people came to that relationship in their lives.

One thing is for certain, we need to Be the change we want to see in the world, everything matters to someone somewhere and that someone starts with us.

So thank you Andrew Starr, Wayne Zwar, Nasrin Azizi and Liane Mandalis, 

Wal Edwards in 102 years old this year, he lives with his wife and still drives to visit members of the community who need his support and his advocacy services. He is also a member of St Ives Rotary Club and has some very simple steps for contributions in life. Listen in to this wonderfully inspiring man as he shares the importance of community, selflessness and love in keeping him young.

Our other guest today is Dr Ross Grant Dr Grant is a Biochemical Pharmacologist in the School of Medical Sciences UNSW, Clinical Associate Professor at the Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School, University of Sydney and Head of the Australasian Research Institute. Dr Grant’s research focusses on characterizing, at the molecular level, how lifestyle and environment (eg emotional stress, diet and exercise) produce changes in the body’s biochemistry that lead toward either health or disease. Very much in keeping with what we talk about on this show all the time!

How much are we part of the health and wellness pathway or the pathway to pathway that leads towards disease

"Roughly 9 out of 10 will die from a lifestyle related disease" - gulp

What makes someone want to push themselves beyond normal endurance, particularly when you have broken your neck? That is one of the questions that really stayed with me whilst interviewing Steve Plain who is in the middle of Project 7 in 4 - a plan to climb the 7 summits on 7 continents in 4 months - a world record. We talk to Chris Peck, the General Manager, Lifesaving and Training Surf Lifesaving Western Australia about the critical support Steve received in the water that most likely influenced his outcomes.

It only takes one person to connect with another person and to have an impulse to support a wider community for magic to happen. The Friends of Mount Colah community group have done just that! Listen to Jan Forbes and Mariko Smith share how they participate in a community group with no other purpose that to close a gap which left vulnerable people feeling alone. Find out how you can get involved in local events or set up a community group in your local area.

Rotary International do an enormous amount of work, both nationally and internationally. Listen to some of the magic these dedicated individuals are able to do when they work as a team for service above self.​ Today you will hear from Ian Stuart from the Rotary Club of Turramurra, Bobby Holder from the Rotary Club of Hornsby and Ian Cameron from the Rotary Club of Wahroonga. Each offer a snapshot of the work they do for and with their local communities as well as the work they do internationally. You will hear more shows on Rotary in the future as it is not possible to cover all they do in one show.

Peter Kirkwood has worked tirelessly for 16 years as a volunteer to ensure the local PCYC had a new home. The opening of the PCYC in Waitara on Wednesday 8th November 2017 is a testament to the dedication of a diverse team spearheaded by Peter. This show offers insight into the origins of the PCYC, how Rotary has been a foundational contributor and an inspiration to all volunteers who wonder if small plans will ever make real life bricks and mortar!

What is your Party Plan? Join Dusana and Tenee two members of the Future Problem Solving Team as they share with us their project called Wise Decisions all about safe party planning. Role modelling of alcohol use and parties by adults and parents also came up as a hot topic. well worth a listen! To see the top tips for having and going to parties below as well as links to useful websites.

We all have fathers in our lives, in fact we may have more than one father figure who brought us up, so how can we understand the relationship and what it offers in the family? This show looks at men and women and their recollections of their own fathers and the men share how the relationships with their fathers have influenced how they parent their own children.

My guests are Alexis, Shushila, Johan and Simon they each bring a different angle to the same relationship.

So what makes that relationship special?
Across all interviews a common theme is connection - wanting Dads to meet us for who we are not the behaviour and Dads wanting to be met for who they are below the responsibilities they carried to provide for their families. Spending time together with no outcome needed was high on the list.

So enjoy :-)

This week I speak to Tim England about his work as a Dementia Champion. When we have an ageing population it is vital that we talk honestly about some of the challenges associated with the range of symptoms described by this syndrome. Person Centred Care is the way forward but what does that involve? How important is connection and touch to the person with the condition? How important is an advanced Care Plan? In this episode we talk about what dementia is, what support is available for both the carer and their loved one and how we can bring a model of prevention into the upcoming generations.