I'm so proud of my mother Patricia Evans who has been recognised today by BORAL for International Women's Day. At only 21, in 1949 she became the company's first female accountant. Highlights from Patricia's interview for Boral's 75th anniversary can be viewed at
www.boral.com.au/articles/community-participation/one-borals-first-female-employees

Stay tuned Patricia's memoir "What Glass Ceiling?" which will be published later this year.
From 1949, a pioneer of women in the executive workforce, mentoring others to step out of society's expectations of women and the disadvantaged whatever their perceived handicap. Patricia Evans (Morris), my mother, didn't just break the glass ceiling for women in the workforce, for her the ceiling never really existed!

"Never underestimate what you can do in life" - Patricia Evans 2021

During one of my meditations in group this year a healing meditation was channeled through me - white light, golden gauze, lotus. At the end of the following information I offer this white light-golden gauze-lotus meditation  as my gift to you after a challenging 2020, and wish for healing in a safe and gentle manner be available to all in the forthcoming year.

General disclaimer: The following are meditations recorded by Suzanne Newnham. Copyright and permission are required for sharing, copying, or distributing them in any form. You may direct others to this site so they can listen for personal use.
Suzanne has provided these meditations as self-help, self-improvement, learning, motivation, relaxation and de-stressing aids.  They do not constitute a replacement for medical or psychological treatment and she neither expresses nor implies any claims to the contrary. Contact or go to https://www.suzanne-newnham.com/-contact.html for free access to password for other meditations.

Please note:
Anyone with various conditions including but not limited to epilepsy, seizures, blood pressure issues, wearing of pacemakers, pregnancy, mental health issues, or those under the influence of medication or drugs, should not use these meditations without first seeking medical advice. Under 18 need parental, guardian or carer supervision.
Do not use meditations whilst under the influence of alcohol or other mood-altering substances.
Do not listen to meditations whilst driving, operating machinery, or when you need your attention elsewhere.
To start: sit on a chair with feet on the ground, unless an alternative option is given to stand or lie down. Please use your own discretion.
Ensure a quiet place, no phone or other disturbances. It is important in a group that each person is in their own space, respect that space and do not touch or bump another person whilst they are in meditation, and until that person walking around.
After meditation: Have a drink of water afterwards, you may wish to write some brief notes, and wait until you are 'grounded' (not in the super-relaxed post-meditative state) especially before driving a vehicle. Some people are lightheaded afterwards & if this happens please ensure you have something solid nearby such as a table or stable chair to sit in to stop you falling.
Once fully back, smile, and enjoy the uplifting difference meditation can make to your day.

Enjoy ...

You are invited to the launch of a new anthology Oz is Burning on 13 September hope to see you there
https://www.facebook.com/events/805320396904253
 
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story ‘Firestorm Sounds’ in the new anthology Oz is Burning. The January 2020 bushfires for my husband Mick and I posed more than the threats of life and property engulfed in smoke and flames, Because of our ‘Black Summer’, an exacerbation of my potential life-threatening condition of extreme hypersensitivity to sounds meant I had to continually find new ways of coping as well as trying to minimise additional stresses on Mick. I’ve never wanted to be defined by my health conditions, but unfortunately as daily living is already a challenge for me, their constant presence since 2007 is a necessary aspect to consider and try to pacify when all seems against survival.
 
Nine years ago, Mick and I moved to the beautiful and creative-inspiring NSW South Coast, fulfilling my lifelong dream of living between mountain and sea. I look at the river and now give thanks for not only its beauty and the serenity it offers, but also its role via the water planes in helping to subdue the flames raging in communities and forests last summer.
 
A portion from the proceeds will be donated to help the Wildlife Rescue Service, WIRES, do much needed restoration and care of animals and habitat following the disastrous bushfires. I hope that donations are bountiful from sales of ‘Oz is Burning’.

I extend a huge thank you to firefighters, emergency and essential services, and volunteers for your dedication and courage over an extended period of time to help our communities, including my own. Since September last year various parts of Australia has been affected by bushfires of vastness and intensity never before experienced; now floods, hailstones - and communities rallied. Months ago the world looked at Australia and what was happening to its people, animals, plants, waterways and offered support and practical assistance - for that, thank you to you also.

Many stories are being told of tragedy, fear, that sliver of hope realised, tenderness, and even laughter and joyful moments in the midst of despair. Thoughts of a Black Summer, the summer that wasn’t, circulate and press upon memory. All have a story of impact. Some seek solitude to work out what to do next when everything seems lost or changed; others write, paint, listen to or play music or sing; some people  garden - tilling the soil in one's own yard, or replanting for the future. While for others being involved with community assistance groups such as Blazeaid, and sewing pouches for animal rescue is what matters and gives purpose once again.

Emotions raw of survival, of loss, of friendship and community, of a future unknown, of counting your blessings – I hope that everyone is getting the support and comfort in ways that will help you, your loved ones, friends, and community.





If you or someone you know is having difficulty coping the following support services are recommended by https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/bushfire : Lifeline Bushfire Helpline | 13 43 57; MensLine Australia | 1300 789 978; Beyond Blue | 1300 224 636; GriefLine | 1300 845 745

https://www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au - for practical information.

Electricity is limited & intermittent, but as the Moruya Hospital needs grid-connection (generator only had about a day's diesel left) the electricians and others did a fantastic job of getting services working again. Moruya Evacuation Centre allowed charging of phones or devices to enable communications and this also helps put less strain on 'find people' and what's happening where' websites. The intense scale of fires means keeping fire websites sufficiently updated is an impossible task.

Southerly winds on Saturday night from south east across the water rather than from fires in the south west. Our house has survived its second emergency day in less than a week. 😊
Earlier that day my husband stayed at home to put check for spot fires.  While I, along with my 93yr old Dad-in-law and his 17 yr old dog went to the Moruya evacuation centre, & found a place to park. Friends had a van (no tents allowed to reduce risk of spot fires taking hold) so we set up our blow-up mattress under the van's annex instead of sleeping in our car. The dog, confused and fretting with no normal routine, unwound his tethered lead and ran away and I only realised he was missing when at 2.30ish am I took Dad for one of his late night walks to toilets. I went looking for the dog, tripped over the 'only tuft of grass for  kilometres' in the evac centre's temporary campground and fell heavily. My leg and foot were misshapen, an ambulance was called and I was taken to Moruya Hospital. Swollen & bruised left foot, right shin, right hand and finger (xrays came on at 10am, insufficient power for CT or other scans) Left ankle & right shin fortunately showed no broken bones. With fire threat diminished I was home just after midday Sunday.

In the Emergency Department instead of people just waiting we conversed, mainly where are you from, what's happened there? Many stories of loss.
Now it's overcast, orange grey sky & smoke, lots of ash & burnt leaves. Just waiting and hoping for rain.
Dad's dog was found by an evacuee about 9am and reunited with him.

After surviving the 31 December fire threats, fires loomed very close and ferocious last Saturday (4 Jan). At 7.30am looking north at the top of our street beyond Moruya River the photo shows the southern part of Currowan/Bimbimbie fire before it advanced to Mogendoura and Polwombra later in the day and across to the coast. To the left of photo Bimbimbie, Broulee fires and near Moruya Airport.
Many thanks to firies & SES for their dedication beyond exhaustion and what might be happening to their own houses and property.
Thanks also to Moruya Evacuation Centre & volunteers.

Sometimes it's only in retrospect that you realise what you've achieved. That happened to me recently when I was asked why I wasn't going to participate in a ‘how to write towards publishing a book’ program since I like writing.

Right now, I'm at the final stages of editing "What Glass Ceiling" which is a memoir I’ve been writing based on an extraordinary woman accountant – my mother - who was accepted into the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. Over the last two months I’ve been busy writing articles for my health column on chronic pain in PnP Authors magazine; two articles for Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA) to be published shortly; a talk on catastrophising and fear in a chronic condition for the HCCA seminar series; drafts of chapters for my Writers’ group novella, with a proposed publication date in a few months; an abstract based on my recent article on Tai Chi and Qi flow published in a Beijing based scientific publication “Life Research” for a “Tai Chi, Qigong and Wushu” conference where I have been invited as guest speaker and panellist; preparation of my talk on spiritual and psychic communication as guest speaker at a Spiritualist meeting in July; and I’ve finished writing a short story to read at a Literary Salon. I’ve also been busy with increased marketing for my book Ethics of a Psychic Reading which is currently discounted.
All of this was while I  was coping with a severe ongoing health and pain conditions, which also affects my cognitive and language comprehension abilities – causing the written word taking longer to write and to comprehend when reading it.

Since April I’ve been fortunate to travel with my husband to Melbourne, the Northern Territory, as well as Canberra with the latter being multiple times visiting family in hospital and at home, friends and for appointments.
 
To think that only a few years ago I could barely struggle out of bed due to extreme fatigue, severe pain, and breathing difficulties, let alone socialise, travel, and do all those things that normal healthy people do. Everything I do I have to plan and make back-up plans – but then that’s what happens when coping with extreme hypersensitivities. I’m lucky that I’m surrounded by a lot of good family and friends who support and encourage all my activities, and the groups that I participate in are welcoming of me and my requirements.
 
Life might be difficult at times when a severe flare-up happens and it takes days, weeks, and even months to recover. But I keep in mind that the half-glass is always able to be filled with whatever I want and focus on, and that anything is possible it’s just a matter of perspective. 😊

Having a reading can give wonderful insights helping to clear confusion, clarify and open up possibilities and options to consider when looking at decisions, changes or even coping mechanisms for a situation that just needs time. A reading should empower you, but what if it doesn't and leaves you feeling helpless and perhaps fearful? My article Ethics, Free Will, and Psychic Advice looks at the responsibilities of both a reader (whether psychic, medium or using divination tools) and a client. It was published on 26th January 2019 in the International Psychic Association's annual magazine on pages 40 and 41
www.psychicsdirectoryonline.com.au/