The Evoking Magic of South Gippsland

I reside and predominantly work on a beautiful cattle farm in Middle Tarwin. I'm a born and bred city girl and through unexpected circumstances, suddenly found myself trading a social career for complete serenity and solitude. Although the move was exciting and a positive lifestyle change, it proved to be an extraordinary transition on many levels.

Initially I concentrated on cleaning up the new acreage. I disposed of copious amounts of rubbish and scrap metal, cunningly hidden from view. Some was disguised or half buried in paddocks, while much was concealed deep within the hearts of bushy shrubs. Strange, I remember thinking.

I learnt such unfamiliar tasks as pulling down aged, rusty fence wire and manually replacing fence posts, all towards the improvement of the property. It was liberating dirtying my hands and I slept like a baby at night, satisfied with my physical achievements.

I spent most days alone appreciating the diverse, mesmerising sounds of nature, while curious cattle stood near, supervising my every move. It was wonderful, but felt surreal and completely foreign to the life I was accustomed to.

After a laborious nine months I began wishing the steers would join in on my one-sided conversations, as their big, beautiful, brown eyes were no longer quenching my social needs. The honeymoon was over and, although I loved my country life with all my precious, adopted animals, there was something missing. It didn’t take too long to decipher what that was.

Predominantly throughout my life, I had been employed in a service role, passionately assisting individuals to heal and grow. This opportunity initially arose through a nursing capacity, later within the addictions arena. I worked for a reputable, not-for-profit organisation for ten years, engaged in various programs. My roles were challenging, fulfilling, often frustrating and at times, extremely heartbreaking. It was imperative I nurtured my mental and emotional health.

So here I was, suddenly immersed in the rawness of mother earth, happily soaking in the fresh, clean air as the sun kissed my face. It was humbling, but was my purpose forever more to nurture the farm and the animals? Would my life now consist of patching fences, ensuring sufficient fuel is stored for the farm equipment and frequently changing the pump oil? I contemplated these questions for many months and suddenly one day it dawned on me.

I was exactly where I was meant to be!

I felt I was granted the opportunity to recuperate from the daily norm of actively listening to anguish and pain, years on end. Perhaps this was my reward for choosing to assist others. A gift of solitude and healing. Once I acknowledged this insight, my restlessness somewhat subsided and contentment prevailed. However, the niggling whisper to promote positivity beyond my organic bubble continued.

Upon reflection, I remembered I once loved to pen my words. In fact, during my adolescence, regular journaling supported me through challenging, teenage years. My thoughts, converted into black and white, fell powerfully into consecutive, rightful perspectives; each one comforting my juvenile concerns with comprehensible rhyme and reason. I recall, I happily retreated for hours on end into my private world, totally oblivious to my surroundings. Quite simply, journaling made my heart sing. However, that was in another lifetime ...

I wondered if my jubilation for writing still existed. Perhaps it was buried deep within under life's endless priorities and responsibilities. If I attempted to document my thoughts, would stirring, thought-provoking words come to fruition? I knew the vast internet was resourceful and an awaiting, global stage to host my heartfelt perceptions, but a cloud of self-doubt loomed near.

Soon after, I remember strolling through a paddock one summer's day to check on some cattle new to the farm. It was the most glorious weather, brilliant blue skies and not a breath of wind. Reality abruptly hit home and to my surprise, I was suddenly overcome with emotion. I took the time to sit down in the lush, damp grass and closed my eyes to absorb the expansive environment with my remaining senses.

The celestial symphony of the land, in all its glory, bared its soul and brought tears to my shut eyes. The scent of the spicy, seeded grass tickled the inside of my nose as I listened intently to the magnificent choir of darting, native birds and spasmodic, laughing kookaburras. In the distance a koala growled, while the gently flowing ripples of the nearby Tarwin River hummed a soothing, background tune. I sensed the shuffle of curious cattle cautiously heading my way, all the while relishing in the warm caress of the sun.

Doused with profound tranquillity, I breathed as one, in complete harmony with the essence of the earth. It was incredible, and in that moment, I felt invincible and free like never before.

It was this sublime occurrence which prompted me to capture my feelings on paper, never to forget the heavenly experience. Whether I chose to share my story or not, I felt it was imperative I write it down - with as much sincerity and emotion as possible - as a cherish-able, personal keepsake.

To my delight, the words flowed quickly and easily as I breathed new life into my dormant pastime. The moments relived in my mind, filtered through my spirit and out through my right hand like honey oozes off a metal spoon ... and my heart sang once again.

It was on this day I was assured I had planted fresh roots in a special part of the world. It seemed the magic of South Gippsland awoke and stimulated my forgotten ardour, allowing my creativity to soar.

I was thrilled and have since met many, local artists and artisans, who too believe the seed of their creativity sprouted not long after relocating to this stunning area. Some have admirably transformed their passions into fruitful vocations and are well known and respected throughout the region. None are surprised when I share I am once again relishing in writing.

Since that profound moment I picked up a pen, I continue to be inspired to write narratives of the light and shade of my rural life, absorbing the wisdom they offer. I also found the courage to share my stories through numerous avenues, hoping they fall into the laps of those who benefit most from my heartfelt words. I wish, at the very least, my pieces bring smiles to readers' faces.

Sometimes my tales are amusing as ridiculous or embarrassing events spontaneously occur. Occasionally, as I reminisce of dear, departed individuals or adored, farm pets, overwhelming grief unexpectedly spills onto beckoning pages. My heartaches allow themselves to unshackle from self-preservation. Typically, my pieces are fuelled with honest, raw emotions as personal challenges or situations arise, however the beautiful, uplifting energy of South Gippsland is always interwoven within my words.

I am enveloped with peace and serenity in a way I have never known or ever thought possible. When I sit amidst my country paradise and allow my thoughts to materialise onto a blank page, my cup is overflowing with joy and appreciation.

Through the written word, I embrace and treasure a meaningful purpose to my otherwise busy lifestyle, and with only pen and paper needed, I feel privileged to pursue my renewed passion whenever I wish. On the odd occasions my words cease to flow easily, all I need do is wander over the vast, picturesque land and align my soul with stunning South Gippsland's heartbeat, and for that I am truly thankful.

An Enchanted Road Garden

Since relocating to South Gippsland many years ago, I regularly drive down a particular stretch of road which, especially in spring, never fails to take my breath away.

Country roadsides typically display wild, overgrown flora between distinctive property entrances. This is my perception as I travel from Tarwin Lower to Leongatha - until I turn into Whitelaws Track in Leongatha South. Suddenly the surrounding, untamed greenery transforms into spectacular gardens.

As I proceed, I find myself amidst beautiful, landscaped grounds, which spill out onto both roadsides from a private property. The extensive nature strips blossom with cultivated, nourished, deciduous trees, shrubs and flowers, emanating every colour of the rainbow. It's truly an outstanding sight and each time, I feel I am journeying through an enchanted garden.

Endearing locals, Hoopy and Val Deenen, are the proud, passionate caretakers behind the scenes. Twenty-five years ago they purchased a two acre property in Whitelaws Track and over time, with passion and laborious work, a wonderland emerged.

Hoopy explains, "Initially the roadsides wore thick walls of mature blackberry bushes. In fact, the area was so overgrown, it was impossible to erect or replace fences on property boundaries. After a tedious task of spraying, culling and burning the noxious weeds, a clean slate emerged in preparation for my vision."

Utilising their horticulture skills and love for gardening, Hoopy and Val created their own piece of paradise, one step at a time.

Beginning with their substantial yard, they designed and grew a stunning, serene space to relax and appreciate. Hoopy says, "As we don't own house pets, native birdlife and animals visit often, and are seemingly unafraid. It's customary for us to watch hares hopping through our garden or a kangaroo stopping by as we enjoy a cup of tea. All varieties of local birds constantly dance around our shrubs and we feed magnificent king parrots daily. We've also established a lovely, tranquil, private spot for our visiting friends to park their caravans."

The Deenens have admirably grown a wondrous, idyllic utopia, incorporating a multitude of diverse vegetation. Their innovative ideas came alive and exhibit a magical array of blossoming colours all year round.

Val and Hoopy affirm, "Although outside our property boundary is crown land, we've converted the thirty feet wide nature strips from dense, weed scrub to a colourful oasis. Our motivation is to share beauty with everyone."

Over the years plenty of passerbys have stopped to admire the gardens and to chat with Hoopy, who is typically spotted nurturing his beloved foliage. Many were Melburnians venturing down to their favourite holiday destinations. Even a car club once pulled up its train of vintage cars to take a closer look at the picturesque, fruitful land. Hoopy excitedly claims, "People constantly slow down as they pass by or stop to take photos. It's wonderful to see our creation offers so much joy."

Val and Hoopy assure me the upkeep is not as monumental as one would think, as the garden itself is established. It's the weeds that endlessly scream for attention. However, Hoopy diligently keeps on top of the undergrowth, while he uses a ride-on mower to trim the lawns.

The striking acreage is, no doubt, Val and Hoopy's pride and joy. They especially delight in the tubes of gum trees they planted years ago, now prominently standing sturdy and tall along the road. These evergreens will outlast generations to come if unharmed, and will eventually become one of the Deenen's legacies, along with their impressive, manicured gardens.

Val & Hoopy Deenen

A Christmas Gift Idea

Christmas is just around the corner! It seems this crazy year is flying by faster than previous years, although how can that be?

Is you budget a little tight, thanks to covid-19? Are you clueless as you begin to search your mind for perfect Christmas presents to surprise your nearest and dearest?

Here's an idea, which will give you as much pleasure as the recipients are sure to experience.

Why don't you take the time to write personalised, heartfelt letters to family members or kindred spirits, capturing your perception of them.

The letters will tug at their heart strings as you share sincere thoughts, summarising their strengths and quirky ways. Alternatively, humour could fill the pages for the more reserved writers.

Envision the person you're writing about and trust whatever springs to mind. Allow your words to flow until you're satisfied you've written all you wish to convey. Then creatively customise the keepsakes, according to each recipient's taste, and send via snail mail or place under the Christmas tree.

A timeless, unique gift to treasure, no amount of money can buy ...

The Merging Of Two Worlds ...

The covid-19 pandemic is horrendous on so many levels, however the creativity which is transpiring and rising from the ashes is commendably astounding. One of the innovate ideas presently emerging at full speed is Pages For Wisdom.

Chelsea Dynan, from Gembrook, is a psychologist and an experienced palliative care counsellor. Presently on maternity leave after giving birth to a gorgeous, second child, Chelsea has been reflecting and writing about her meaningful work. "I found myself pondering over the fragility of our aged care community and how one person can have such a substantial impact on another," she claims.

As we all know, aged care facilities have had it devastatingly tough due to the wretched virus. Residents are psychologically suffering, being isolated from family and friends and contained in their homes. Even communal reading material has been confiscated for fear of contagion, while libraries remain closed.

However Chelsea, herself an avid reader and writer, experienced a light bulb moment and came up with a brilliant, exciting plan, which will greatly benefit all involved!

Budding or seasoned writers are invited to submit stories each month (word count and genres of personal choice), to Chelsea, either through the 'Pages For Wisdom' face book page or direct email. The tales will then be collated and, according to preference, passed onto aged care facilities to enjoy and give unbiased feedback if authors desire.

Not only will residents take pleasure in reading fresh material, they will feel a sense of purpose playing an important role in the assessment process. Writers too will gain confidence by sending their stories in to be enjoyed and critiqued honestly and impartially. A purposeful win-win situation.

However, the magic will be the all-important, special connections organically establishing themselves as two worlds join forces.

The project is in the early stages, but Chelsea says, "The response so far to contribute has been phenomenal." She hopes Pages For Wisdom will grow and eventually become a valuable venture Australia wide, continuing on once we’re past this global pandemic.

If you are interested and wish to make contact or submit a story, please visit Pages For Wisdom Face book page or email Chelsea directly via:

pagesforwisdom@gmail.com

Well done, Chelsea. An extremely admirable project.

The Magic Of Yoga ...

 The Magic of Yoga.

At the commencement of term one this year, I had big plans to return to yoga to pursue the ancient spiritual science, incorporating mind, body and spirit. Corona then rudely got in the way.

'Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self' – The Bhagavad Gita.

Sounds deep and insightful and it is! It's an amazing process of stilling the natural upheaval of thoughts and restlessness of the body. Yoga is about going within.

When I initially began to pursue this practice many years ago, it was in a beautiful location close to the ocean. The atmosphere of the venue was serenely fitting, incorporating earth colors accentuated by dimmed lighting. Soft, but powerful repetitive music hummed in the background and the temperature of the room was just right.

Each week I would front up, ready to 'go within'. I executed the yoga postures role-modelled to the class as best I could. However, while I was balancing on one leg or pretzeling my body, my mind was busy planning my shopping list or guessing what time high tide was next morning, pondering over when would be a good time to turn the water pump on to fill the cattle troughs!

Nearing the end of the class, after I had productively planned the entire following day, it was time for Savasana (corpse pose), which is a restorative pose consisting of lying down on the floor and relaxing your muscles. While Savasana requires no physical effort, it can be one of the most difficult yoga poses to master.

'Students will find they either fall asleep, go into a dreamy state or otherwise find their mind thinking and planning for such mundane things as the grocery shopping, or worrying about work'.

I'd already mentally completed my shopping list, so I skipped that bit and fell straight to sleep, (and upon waking, hoped I hadn't embarrass myself by snoring).

This happened every single week, however I found it to be a wonderful (guilt-free) rest; one I immensely enjoyed. The most uncomfortable part of the whole yoga experience was having to peel myself off the floor at the end of each session to drag myself home, especially during the cold South Gippsland winters.

A few years on and after a fair break, I once again became a keen participant of a yoga class; a different one, with a different teacher, and a somewhat different me. I actually did go 'within', as opposed to planning my shopping list. I did feel a stillness as I focused on my poses and imagined how my body, as a whole, was working its magic to create the particular postures. I even found myself in a subtle meditative state during my practice and often experienced dizziness (in a good way), as I felt my body release pent up energies. By the time I walked (more like floated) out the door after a one and a half hour session, I typically felt I had just experienced a full-body massage, which was so nurturing and gratifying.

However,the most profound simple act, one which I had always taken for granted, was my breath! Conscious breathing, taught within the yoga framework is so powerful.

Before each yoga pose, and sometimes at the completion, we started with our hands in prayer position, resting on our sternum, and focussing on our heart (centre) area. Through the nose, we breathed a few deep breaths in and out ... and we were centred. In fact, 'we were centred immediately'. I found this astounding.

I now finally understand when, many times throughout my journey, I was encouraged to deep breathe during anxious times. It's our breath that transports us to the quiet place within (our centre), where time stands still and all is well. The ancient yogis taught that learning to control the breath can assist in regulating and calming the mind and that proper breathing enhances focus, concentration, relaxation, and energy.

So, each time, as we go about our daily lives and feel off balance, anxious, upset, confused, nervous or even craving an unwanted addiction we have let go of, we can instantly become centred and brought back into 'the now', where there is no turbulence, no upheaval. All we need do is take some deep breathes, especially if we close our eyes and focus on our heart centre, and we immediately find peace, bringing ourselves back to the starting line, before the overwhelm. It's that simple!

I plan to continue my enjoyable and inspiring yoga quest. It's a little challenging practising at home presently with two, cheeky, playful fluff balls darting around my heels, but it's worth it for the many benefits it grants me. I also remind myself to consciously breathe often as I go about my day, reducing mental noise of agitation, distractions and self-doubt.

As for the Savasana pose, I still to this day find myself falling into a beautiful, deep, short slumber during the end phase of my yoga sessions. This I imagine, may take some time to perfect, as I'm not sure I want to let my guilt-free nap go just yet!

Slippery Suckers High Season

As we welcome warmer temperatures to defrost our bones, it's also time to keep our wits about us to avoid undesirable experiences. Swooping magpies injuring our scones or being stung by angry bees isn't much fun ... nor is wrestling snakes.

Australian snakes don't hibernate, although they do find shelter in the cooler climate and their mobility is slowed if and when they are active. Now that the ground is warming up, snakes are beginning to move around more. The next 7 months we may typically come across them in our travels.

Numerous venomous snake species are found in Victoria, including the tiger, brown, black, copperhead and red-bellied black snake. The reptiles now appear basking in the sun not far from their winter shelter. Once they've soaked in enough sunshine and warmth, they are keen to feed, searching generally for frogs, rodents, or skinks.

Many of us are fearful of snakes, yet they are mostly shy creatures not seeking confrontation with humans. They're interested in food and have no desire to eat us. Thankfully not in Australia anyway!

Snakes will strike if they feel threatened. If we attempt to catch, kill, provoke or corner them, chances are we'll be bitten. If we startle or step on them by accident, the same outcome may occur. So please keep your eyes peeled when you and/or your pets are outdoors. 

If you see a snake during a walk, just calmly move away and warn other people you happen to come across. If you are bitten, ring an ambulance and remain as still as possible to slow down the flow of venom. Apply an improvised pressure bandage over the bite and up the limb, while attempting your best to keep composed.

If you discover a snake on your property, ring a snake catcher (best to have the number of your local service close at hand), and if possible, from a safe distance, keep the snake in your sight until help arrives. 

The risk of being bitten by a snake or dying from a snakebite is extremely low. Use commonsense and be mindful of our native creatures and simultaneously we can all enjoy our stunning environment.

A tiger snake

Well, Spring is here!

 The saturated earth is waking up and preparing to come alive with all the colors of the rainbow. The sun is finally radiating welcoming warmth and the grass is beginning to accelerate it's growth. The birds are busily, vocally fluffing around, focussing on expanding their families, as are most creatures at this weather-pleasing time. It's definitely nice to see and feels uplifting.

However, while spring is a blessing in itself, it's now been over six months since our lives became 'contained' ... and, from what I can sense across the board, it's beginning to wear a little thin.

On the whole, from my perspective, people have been amazing, upholding a positive, realistic attitude. They've kept focussed on priorities to beat this loathsome, harmful virus, all the while making the most of their abnormal lives. It's not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, especially for families and the elderly living alone. But it's not been a piece of cake for anyone.

I've noticed our local smiling eyes, peering from behind camouflauging masks, aren't so smiley anymore. There's a sense of general frustration and fatigue when people are asked how they're travelling.

I can relate to this too. 

Yes, I'm clinging to 'the glass half full', but I definitely have my moments! I'm starting to not only miss, but yearn for dear friends, especially those living overseas. Social media just isn't cutting it anymore.

As much as I usually like my own company, I'm becoming a little fed up with myself and my repetitive positive self talk. My alter ego tells me frequently to put a sock in it, stopping me in my tracks. I defeatedly comply.

My poor husband is also suffering my restlessness. I tend to talk his ear off when he comes in at night, being the only person I see most of the day. I'm sure his selective hearing skills have perfected themselves beautifully this year.

... and my legs could do with a shave, but what's the point in that?! Doesn't look like I'm going anywhere anytime soon to bare my all. My cats aren't phased by my woolly legs, and I'm sure my hubby doesn't notice.

... and there's the root of the widespread frustration. If only we knew an end date to life's present restraint. This situation would be so much easier to deal with having something to look forward to. We could happily make plans for the future and strive towards them among life's norm, excited about anticipated events, holidays, celebrations, what have you.

But no, at least not yet. For now it's best we continue our focus, preferably with a smile on our face, although a little forced. We're doing well, people. Let's pat ourselves on the back, bid 2020 winter farewell, wipe the slate clean and start a new, refreshing chapter by welcoming spring with a newfound spring in our step. It's challenging, no doubt, but we can do this. I know we can ...