I attended a red cross regional conference a few weeks ago and the
mayor of Parramatta spoke saying how when he first moved into the
community, he had a bbq to get to know everyone and how he got to know
people and his street community comming together and I dont know how
things are in different areas but most places that I see..its the same
story, people live in houses, youth have over 300 contacts, most of
them how live about 15mins away from them yet hey havent met.

We find more and more youth being diagnosed with depression, feeling
isolated, with the world at their fingertips...we still feel more
colder then our parents would have.

A way to get youth together, a way to show them that 'hey u have
potential, great potiental'
You get this ALOT at leaderships conferences and other various things
but it is restrcited only to leaders. We go and get our skills fine
tuned, we are taught to stand firmer, to speak louder and aim higher
but what about those who simply dont know how to stand to begin with,
those who dont know how to speak at all and those who lack motivation
and belonging...
Scary thing is, these people and we are the future so something more
needs to be done...

I really dont know what I am trying to say but I dont know...a youth
led festival organised by youth and not so much by the council, just
when people feel like their decisions matter , they tend to take more
intiviative so yeah...
Something new, something differenent...not sure what...

I know, it has been such a long time since my last post.

Its Easter =]

I dont think I am the only one who feels just a little extra loved during Easter.
As a christian , easter somehow has more signifiance to me personally then Christmas.

Maybe its because it hasnt been comsumerised (sp?) yet or maybe its about the scarifice that one makes to save others.

savior on a hill, dying for my shame, deifes the world I see, yet this is what my heart has been longing for

I am not sure if I believe in the big scary "God" person but whichever way you look at it, Jesus was amazing.
Whether divine or not, to die for people who rejected him
To show the world a way of life
To teach the world love
and to believe it enough to well be cruificed....
that is why I call myself a Chrisitan.

Other things have been amazing as well.

This week, I found out that I am in the NSW youth parliment so I am very excited about that =]

More updates as they come =]

xx
rusty

Once again its that time of the year...the joy of family, the warmth of home, the feeling of love!

Merry Christmas everyone! and have a fanastic new year!

Finally breathing time!

The year is almost over. The school year, for me, ends tomrow and then the presentation of reports followed by a eight week break.
Seems like only yesterday when I first started at Rooty Hill and now my first year is over. Time flies.

Today we also had a party for STAND. We now have around 30 members which is fanastic since well..its Rooty Hill.

Kevin Rudd has won Labor Leadership. Woot woot!! It seems unfair on Kim Beazely for putting so much effort and commitment to the party and then having it all taken away....but such is life and well go labor!!

The sensationalism of the coup in Fiji is absoulty ridicious. Ask the average Fijian how they feel and they tell you that there is no difference. I am, personally, for the coup. The measures needed to be taken. Who is the bigger sinner, the one who commits the crime or the one who watches it being commited? Hopefully this coup will put an end to corruption and injustice. However, I think there could have been other ways to resolve it and not having a coup but you have to give the military commander some credit, he did everything he could. He talked. He negioated. He gave them time and well sometimes things need to be done. I dislike his method but his intentions were good.

Oh god I sound so bad saying that >.<

Once again, 4th time in less than 20 years, Fiji is in a state of Coup.

They have promised that this will be a bloodless coup…lets hope so.

There wasn’t any deaths in the 2000 coup…but the atrocities that occurred were just plain old stupid. Jobs were lost, the economy was going down, there was fear amongst everyone and most importantly people simply lost hope after the injustice that happened.

The military has taken over the country because they are unhappy with certain government bills and yes I am for that. Fiji has become a place where the poor keep sliding into deeper poverty. More and more farms and houses are being taken over by the native and the law just sits back. One of the bills which the military was against was making all freehold land turned to the native title.

I am not against the coup, I just hope that the results from this coup isn’t the same as the last one.

Yes, I finally found time to watch the movie.....and wow!
It is incredible.

Human insanity.
Hatred.
Compassion.

How do stuff like that happen in our world? How does these types of hatred breed in todays world?

And how did we just turn our backs?
and things like this are still happening today and we are still ignoring it?

Have we just become immune to the attroctes of the world or do we just not care?

Over n Out
Rusty.

Today I attended the Youth Leaders Conference held in Darling Harbour by the Halogen Foundation.

It was a fantastic day. The people, the atmosphere, the speakers, Peter Garrett =p

It’s a day we stepped out of our bubbles and took a look at the others leaders in our wider communities (we had people from the ACT and TAS). These were the people who we were going to go later in life, the competition, the supporters, the people who we were going to see across the table of board meetings and papers.

So we all got brainwashed by Peter Garrett into saving the world, joining conservation groups, making poverty history, listening to Bono and well voting for Labor so they can save Australia and Africa for that matter but hey nothing bad right?

The joys on mingling…was most of you know I am a random free spirit, today whilst “mingling” with people, I met a friend from stir (stir.org.au…CHECK IT OUT =D) it was so awesome! All it takes for a stranger to be a friend is a simple ‘hello’

Anyway I best be off right now, work to go to, things to organise, postcards and a hamper to prepare for my MP and lastly trying to find my strengths and weaknesses whilst trying to save the world.

Everybody's gone to war
- Nerina Pallot

No cause could be so worthy.

If love is a drug, then I guess we're all sober,
If hope is a song then I guess it's all over,
How to have faith, when faith is a crime?
I don't want to die...
If God's on our side, then God is a joker,
Asleep on the job, his children fall over,
Running out through the door and straight to the sky,
I don't want to die...

For every man who wants to rule the world,
There'll be a man who just wants to be free,
[ these lyrics found on www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
What do we learn but what should not be learnt?
Too late to find a cure for this disease.

And so...
Everybody's going to war,
But we don't know what we're fighting for,
Don't tell me it's a worthy cause,
No cause could be so worthy.

If love is a drug, I guess we're all sober,
If hope is a song, I guess it's all over,
How to have faith, when faith is a crime?
I don't want to die...
If God's on our side, then God is a joker,
Asleep on the job, his children fall over,
Running out through the door, and straight to the sky,
I don't want to die...
I-I-I-I don't want to die,
I-I don't want to die...

I've got a friend, he's a pure-bred killing machine,
I think he might be dead by Christmas...

Oh my god!
The makepovertyhistory concert was the greatest thing I have ever seen on TV!


If you didn’t get a chance to see it or listen to it…then you missed out on the GREATEST THING EVER!!!!

I was unfortunate enough to not be allowed to go but the highlights on Channel 10 were amazing!

WOW! Is all I can say…to see an event like this happen in Australia with nothing more than the passion and innovation of members of my Generation is amazing!

Yes we can make history.
We will make history

Generation 2015…will be a great generation….now it seems fair to say that I am not being idealist but realistic.

Hopefully our leaders got the message.

Hi there!

Yes, it has been ages since I blogged here but other aspects of life have been taking their toll on me…

I am overcommitted and … lovin’ it, it just doesn’t give me much leisure time for pointless things like sitting in front of a computer all day and wasting away my youth. I don’t like the idea of wasting away my youth either…yet it seems like that is what will happen.

So whats been happening…..nothing much really expect ….

I attended the ‘Culture for Care’ conference for Western Sydney a few weeks back along with the Social Justice Group which was awesome.

I have also decided to NEVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER join politics. The little examples I see of democracy within the school and community and how good intentions don’t really have much of a place and instead power and popularity wins has made me reconsider.

I don’t think I mentioned this in any of my other blogs but I got a job…yup a really job…minium wage, good shifts, great people, Dominos Pizza. Great place even though the pay is beyond terrible but hey!

Had elections for the Social Justice group…which I won after a tie...so that felt good...good intentions won bahaha

Today the school held a mufti day for the Cancer Council which I suggest…which brings me saving the world to…3 fundrasier’s this year…..Famine, One Day and Cancer Council…hey it’s a good start since there is always something going on and there is not much one can do without destroying the school calendar.

I was one of 10 students picked to represent Rooty Hill High at the Young Leaders Conferece next Friday…along with 3000 other kids from across Sydney…so should be fun!

Storms and rain clouds have passed…forecast for the near future…sunshine…sunshine, blue skies…and a little bit more sunshine =D


The MakePovertyHistory Concert is on tomrow!!!!! Woot woot!! Hopefully the message gets through to them and with bands like Jet and Evermore, I’d be shocked if they didn’t!

For Australians…there will be a Radio broadcast live on Nova FM around the country (96.9……..best station ever!) also there will be a one hour delayed webcast on www.news.com.au/heraldsun and also a delayed 2 hour highlights package on Channel 10 on Saturday 12 noon.

That is all from my little world of worldnes...
hmmm I am going to start a daily blog here!

...are the ones we totally mess up.

You have more fun falling and getting up then you do jsut walking up ahead.

Life doesnt go according to plan..god I have heard that a few too many times by a few too many people but whichever way it does, its beautiful.

Not always beautiful, most days its just a beautiful disaster but eitehr way, in the end life gets you where you should be not where you necessary want to me.

I have messed up...wayy more than my share, I see it as a blessing though, it has shown me the true nature of people, what 'friendship' really means or doesnt mean for that matter and how people change.

and most importantly that in the end all you have is yourself and thats not a bad thing.

I feel so much better, not because I have made the biggest mistake of my life and that my head is going at a thousand miles per hour with confused messed up thoughts but because this is helped it from making bigger mistakes, this had helped me see people for who they really are.

This had showed me how wrong I was and still am and thats a great thing.

A lesson learnt.
A broken promise.
A whispered prayer.

Be warned this is very very long!


Ever just sat down, looked and thought about what you have, what you don’t have, why its never enough, steps in life where you have messed up and times in life where other people have messed thing up for you, just thought that if today, this hour and minute was your last what you would do? Who you would kiss and miss? The things you left unfinished and more importantly what will people remember and miss you for?

I sat next to two old ladies on the flight from Sydney to Nadi (fiji), I couldn’t help but think about what would happen if this aircraft didn’t reach Nadi…I got a pretty good answer to it…

If I died today, I would die without any regrets and yes I am 15 I have a long way to go but I have everything someone could want in life…modern plumbing, family, friends – actual real friends, gods grace, I don’t need anything more. Someone up there loves me a lot for giving me a life like this.

Anyway, the flight to Nadi, which I used to call home was pretty good, I sat with old people and thought for about 4hours, thought about things, forgiveness, mistakes, breaks, second takes, I liked it, time to myself. Okay so I sat there with tears running down my eyes but hey I was watching Lake House of that was an excuse if someone saw me but no one did.

Arrived at Nadi and Rakesh (the groom) picked us up in his crappy car which should not be allowed to be on the road, we got home, well the house I used to call my home, my grandpa’s place.
There was hugs, kisses, and more hugs, there was love.

My best mate for 9 years called 15 minutes after I got home, he was shocked, it was so great hearing his voice again, I don’t know what I was complaining about before when I used to feel alone, I was never alone, all I needed was to press a couple of numbers and love was at my service.

My uncle from NZ came half an hour after us and then we had cake…for my birthday which was 10 days earlier. Family. The people I grew up with, the people who meant more than the world to me – grandma, pa and the uncle.

After the shocks and the poking fingers on who has changed, there was conversation, laughter, anger and fights just like the good old days, if only there was a way to freeze these moments and keep them safe forever…it had been 4 years since the family had gotten together like this..

The next day was shopping…I bought an Indian suit, the town was messy, the shops were rip offs, there wasn’t a smile on people’s faces, this wasn’t home, this was not the Fiji I knew.

The day after, Friday, the wedding began. There was coconuts being smashed, there was turmeric being rubbed on grooms body.

In the evening I went to visit Ray, he has been my brother / best mate since year 1. we didn’t change much, we were still the same, I was still the wiser saner sister, he was still the trying to stand steady, stepping on rocks brother. His parents and my parents had become friends after seeing how serious we were about being “brother /sister” . it didn’t feel as if I was sitting at a friends house, his mum was my mum, his dad my dad. Mum and dad went with me as well. The mothers talked. The fathers talked and we talked. It was awesome


I was in the shower and he threw a Colgate packet at me. I cried. I haven’t cried like that before and I didn’t think I would cry like that again…but I was wrong.

The day after, Saturday, had over 200 people, the people playing the music drew a lil too much attention to themselves, they asked my dad who I was, dad asked them why, they replied saying I was acting all flirty and teasingly, dad stopped the car and said I was his daughter, they apologised

During the night, more friends and family came, there was loud music, there was traditional indian music for the groom, there was kava, food and there was sisters rubbing turmeric on the groom.

(The whole point of the night was to put turmeric paste on the groom, old tradition)

It wasn’t much fun. No one danced. No one laughed. There wasn’t much of an atmosphere.

At 12, the night ended, people went home, I cried again. There was pain, a lot of pain, pain that didn’t exist but pains which’s present couldn’t be denied.

now preparation for Sunday. I stayed up till 4am making a flower garland for the groom, maybe this was the way I was going to forgive him, maybe this was my way of letting go and forgiving.

Sunday morning, I got up early, finished the rest of the garland and then around 10 the procession left, a big bus, the car and other relatives and friends. We were off to the bride’s house where the wedding would take place. I was in the bus, the ride was boring, it rained, it had been ages since I had felt the rain on my skin, it felt wonderful, I felt beauty again.

The wedding was boring. More then 5 coconuts got smashed. The bride was no comment, the groom looked stunning. The food was pathetic and the wedding traditions were also lame since no one cared and everyone was angry.

After the wedding, there was angry, hard and not so nice Pat, everyone laughed at the angry comments about the wedding. It was fun.

Arriving home, I went straight to bed, the rest of the night was a bludge.

Monday was fun, I spent a lot of time with my uncle, we both knew it was never going to last, it felt so weird knowing that we probably would never get to talk like this.

Monday night, we packed.

Tuesday morning, it felt wrong, once again it was time for goodbyes.

How did this even happen? Why did we ever leave this country we called home?

There was a few tears. Grandpa’s little girl had grown up, their cute little girl had turned…beautiful, there wont be moments like this … ever. Everything had changed.

Fiji had changed so much since I first left, there was advertising everywhere, there was dirtiness everywhere, new infrastructure, the ongoing fights between the native Fijians and the Indo-Fijians.

My personal trip was quite alright, the best friends there were still best friends, I was eaten by mossies, I had cried, I forgave, I realised what I had. It was awesome.

Sydney was home now. My home.

91,987 were part of the 23million people who stood up against poverty.

There was events at 342 locations and we had more people standing up then Canada and the UK.


_______________________________________________________________________________

A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD CHALLENGE has been set on October 17th 2006, for the most number of people globally to STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY in 24 hours from 15 & 16 October, 2006!

23,542,614 at 11,646 events in 87 countries
Record Title: Largest stand up (multiple venue)

Holder: United Nations Millennium Campaign

Date Achieved: October 17, 2006

Attempt Text: The world record for the most people to 'Stand Up Against Poverty' in 24 hours was set on 15 - 16 October 2006 for the United Nation's Millennium Campaign and involved a massive total of 23,542,614 participants in 11,646 events around the globe.


woot wooott!!! Goooo everyone who participated!!!

Sydney
Martin Place
Monday, October 16, 1pm - 1.45pm
Comedians, perfomers, celebrities - all inviting you to stand up and take the Pledge against poverty.



What is STAND UP?

STAND UP is a global event to show world leaders that it's time for them to take a stand against poverty.

STAND UP will raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an eight point plan to halve global poverty, and publicly demonstrate the growing global support to Make Poverty History.

STAND UP will send a strong message about ending poverty to the leaders of the world economy, the G-20, who are meeting in Melbourne in November 2006.


STAND UP coincides with global activities around the International Day of Poverty Eradication. The Make Poverty History coalition is coordinating the event in Australian businesses, schools and churches and internationally it is coordinated by the UN Millennium Campaign.


STAND UP aims to break the official Guinness World Record for the most number of people ever to STAND UP for a cause - be part of it


makepovertyhistory.com.au

=D

BE PART OF IT!!!!
________________________________________





Weeee two week break.
One week gone.
One started.

Anyway, I am flying to Fiji tomrow. Hooorrraaay!!

One week without technology should do me some good.

Sitting here writing about whats probably the most important thing to me, a thing called life with a candle trying to burn and with the lights off feels weird, weird in a good way.

I turn 15 two days ago and it was crazy. It felt weird. Weird in a weird way. I had been expecting it for a long time yet when it was finally here it felt like it had crept up from behind a little to suddenly.
I am just starting to get to know myself…who I am as a person, what I am, what makes me special and what am I here for but I guess it’s a little to soon to answer those questions, 15 and I still feel like I felt when I was 9 and well I think that’s how I will ever be and it feels wonderful.

I still don’t get the concept of growing up.

The birthday was nothing special, yet it felt very special. I spent the day with mum, we got along, maybe that was it, maybe growing up was understanding and seeing things from a different view, maybe it was being taken seriously or maybe it was not being able to beg for a different flavour of gelato because yours tasted sickening.

We went for dinner, together, it was family time, something that hadn’t happened in the house for the past 4 years. Further into the night, I played the role of mediator, relaying conversation to sort things that have been bugging everyone out…maybe that was growing up, maturity?

At the end, everything worked out fine.

Another year past me by, another day went, another hour about to do.

The past year had taught me soo much.
I found a purpose, I found out how insane our world was, I found the best friends I could have ever hoped for, I found a little bit of myself.

I learnt to cry. I learnt to smile with the sad. I learnt to forget, forgive and let go. I learnt that happiness was sitting there right next to you all along, all you had to do was poke it. I learnt to find beauty in things. I learnt to live, love and be happy.

Looking at 15, it seems wonderful. Suddenly everything seems to be in place, everything looks, seems, smells perfect. Hey I even have a new definition for ‘perfect’ now =D

Happiness is what life is about. It’s the love you give and the love you (sometimes) get in return.