I AM 2014 yearbook

On the cover and facing page: Ruan Sims Photography: KAT STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

SJ

Josh

Welcome to the I AM Yearbook for 2014.

If you haven’t heard of I AM as yet, this little B&W pub should give you a fairly good idea of what it’s all about.

For the most part, I AM has been an online mag featuring stories of local Sutherland Shire people. People who have inspired me through what they do, or simply, who they are. They could be a friend, family member or small business owner down the street.

In my opinion, everybody has a story and I have an obsession to tell it.

I AM is also about helping people find their joy, their ultimate fulfilling life. And, with the help of local health, fitness and wellbeing professionals, assistance on this is provided every issue - FREE. I urge you to check out the previous issues on our website - we are up to issue #19 now with 3 crazy fun years behind us.

As for me, who am I? I am a local mum, artist and writer with a passion for fitness and living a full life. I started I AM simply because I wanted to. I started it with no concern for who would read it...or if anyone would read it, really. I started this magazine because I wanted to live a life I loved, but most importantly, I wanted to connect with people doing the same thing.

And from what I have found, the Shire is FULL of seriously cool folk living an insanely cool life.

I imagine you are sitting at one of your favourite coffee haunts right now, maybe in Cronulla, maybe you are sitting right next to me. Chances are if you are at Annas Shop Around The Corner in Cronulla, I am watching you right now read this little Editor’s note. Say hi...I am not a suit stuffed inside the walls of a media corporation, I AM a local peep just like you doing what she loves in a place she adores…

The Sutherland Shire.

What has been the highlight for 2014…

As one of the owners and Trainers at Keep It Young Fitness the highlight of the year has been overcoming so many great challenges in 2014. We have been rewarded with an opportunity to help so many Shire residents improve their lives through healthy exercise. This year in particular our clients have achieved great results, not just on the scales but we have seen them turn their lives around with a new found confidence & happiness.

The year has made us aware that we as a business are headed in the right direction, and we want to continue on this path changing peoples lives.

Hopes & dreams for 2015.... In 2015 we see ourselves changing the standard of fitness professionals in the Shire. We want to continue the growth of our business by sharing our knowledge and experience with everyone! We have a plan in motion that will see us accessible by everyone in the Shire, so that everyone can feel as good about themselves as they should!

Lana

What has been the highlight for 2014...

This is an easy one ... getting engaged in Rhodes, Greece, and being able to leave my business for 1 month to my wonderful team, knowing that while I took some well deserved R&R they had the fort under control at home!

Hopes & dreams for 2015.... So many ... With a wedding to plan, a business to grow and a few new entrepreneurial ventures in the making, 2015 is set to be a busy one! BPS will hit the new year running with a bigger and better team, a whole bunch of new expertise and an ever widening scope of practice. I am jumping into a new role of educator and speaker and my beautiful fiancé and I taking the BIG step into marriage!

My hope is that I enjoy every spine tingling, hair raising moment of 2015 ... after all what is life for but to grow, learn and experience all that you can in the time you are given!

A few local peeps who make I AM happen month after month… (Left to Right) Opposite Page: Samantha Jane Editor & Founder of I AM mag&zine; Josh Bennett Personal Trainer Keep It Young Fitness Taren Point; Lana Johnson BPS Tensegrity Caringbah. This Page: Wendy Bowker RN & Health Writer Engadine; LLew Dowley Lifestyle and Business Writer Sutherland Shire; Kylie Green Travel and Life Writer Cronulla; Emma Pilcher Personal Trainer Sutherland Shire.

Wendy

What has been the highlight for 2014…

A personal highlight for me this year has been finishing my journalism studies and regaining that time to spend with family and friends Hopes and dreams for 2015... for the future include finding a little country get away and then dividing our down time between the coast and the country.

Llew

What has been the highlight for 2014…

2014 highlight is publishing my book ‘Crazy Mummy Syndrome’, as well as being published in some amazing and inspiring online magazines this year - one being I-AM magazine.

Hopes and dreams for 2015... to build on my passion in creating awareness around postnatal depression and to keep writing to let others know I am just another mum trying to find her way in the world.

Kylie

What has been the highlight for 2014… The main highlight has been completely turning my life around with my new fitness regime. After turning 40 I needed to get healthy and I am loving it! Of course I am still naughty some of the time, but the journey of getting fit is fabulous.

Highly recommend it to everyone.

I have also learned a lot about myself. I guess that comes with age. I have learned the meaning and value of true friendship.

My favourite highlights were taking my niece on her very first overseas trip to Thailand and watching her experience all the new sights of a different culture and also watching my godson Ace and second cousin Will grow up so quickly into gorgeous little men.

Hopes and dreams for 2015...I will continue to strive to reach my fitness goals and hopefully reach it but this time next year.

I will continue to learn more about myself and who knows, I may even change my mind about love. The jury is still out on this but I never say never.

Emma

What has been the highlight for 2014... My professional highlight for 2014 has been the launch of my new website, and more recently two of my clients, after years of procrastinating, bit the bullet and got their weight and life back in their control. One losing 10kg in the last 8 weeks and another losing 22kg in the past 11 weeks.

Their lives are forever changed. On a personal level - our young children set huge goals for themselves this year, and through family teamwork and with focus and hard work they achieved every single one of them.

Hopes and dreams for 2015… I am excited to watch my family continue to grow as individuals and as a family unit. I am planning on taking a little more time out for myself!

I'm definitely hoping to be more organised! And, I have set the goal of shaving 500kg of body fat from the bodies of people here in the Shire!

When it comes to a girl showing the boys how it’s done, Ruan Sims is our superhero!

Her success in athletic achievement is extensive, to the point of, when we read it we had to research it! Here goes: Dual International in Rugby Union (15’s and 17’s) and Rugby League, Dual World Cup Winner in Rugby 7’s and Rugby League, currently embarking on a new challenge with Sydney Surge - Ladies Gridiron League in Australia… not impressed? Really? Well, she’s also a firefighter!!! As far as girls doing it for themselves is concerned, Ruan is the closest we have come this year to a super-being mascarading as everyday folk. So, when we were offered 5 minutes to throw a few ’I AM’ questions her way - we jumped at the opportunity.

Happiness is…

“Playing three codes of football simultaneously, having supportive & loving family and friends, flexible work life balance as a Firefighter…….AND chocolate, sugar free of course!!!”

First cab off the rank as always… finish this sentence. I AM ... “family orientated, a sports woman, a firefighter, self-motivated & driven, humble, fitness junkie, beach babe & lover of carbs!”

What has been your greatest achievement in 2014 and why?

“Rediscovering and reigniting my passion for football. The process has been a long and sustainable journey, whilst improving my nutrition, ramping up my training / recovery schedule and working with the best of the best athletic trainers in Sydney, thanks to my Manager at Hunter and Thor.

By changing my lifestyle and food habits, I am now in the best physical shape of my life and it has made a dramatic change to my body frame, endurance and all round health.

This all contributed to being selected for the Australian Jillaroos RL team, the NSW 7’s squad and the Sydney Surge LGL – which in turn has made my long term goal of pushing for selection in the Australia 7’s squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics an even more achievable prospect.”

What has been your greatest challenge on the road to getting recognised in sport?

“Exposure to the general public and sponsorship, not many people know that women play full contact rugby league and union – nor do they realise that gridiron is taking off here in Australia. It’s fantastic to see the ARU and ARL/NRL giving more support and exposure of their elite level women’s teams to the everyday punter.”

What advice would you give to young girls who want to follow their dreams?

“If you truly want something, make it happen.

Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you, find a way to make it work and then work hard at it, always. Never give up!”

2015 is just around the corner, what will we find on your ‘New Year’s Resolution’ list?

“Instead of a resolution, I list some goals which are centred around work and sport.

My additions to the 2015 list are: Attain certification as a Personal Trainer and Senior Firefighter, complete Aerial training for the Bronto and achieve my Rescue qualification. I am also working towards selection for the Auckland 9’s.”

PHOTOGRAPHY: KAT STANLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Lucy Morgan is not your average year 10 student. While 2015 will see her friends diving head first into what may be remembered as the most stressful 2 years of their life, the HSC, Lucy will be surrounded by Fijian children and a life very different to the one she has known for 16 years. She will however spend time within a School, the main difference being she will be teaching as well as learning. And although her new home lies along a Coast, it is the Coral Coast on Viti Levu in Fiji, not the surfside Cronulla she has grown to love.

Lucy will be the first person to volunteer at the Ratu Latianara Memorial School and her days, over the 7 month placement, will be spent assisting in music, art, computers, sports and basic English. Lucy also has the opportunity to supervise her own class, in time.

My first question to Lucy was of course, why? What made her want to leave school when all of her friends were choosing to continue…

“I really didn’t want to be at School. There was a long period when I hated School a lot. My mum was really supportive and we started to look for a Tafe course instead of continuing onto year 11 and 12...but I came up with nothing until I stumbled upon the Latitude Volunteer program. It was instant. I knew it [volunteering] was what I wanted to do. Being the first in the family to leave in year 10, there was a little disappointment from members of my family. There is an expectation now that all students MUST go through to year 12.”

In your opinion, do you believe students are forced to complete year 12 even if it is not something that appeals to them or their future?

“I feel like society manipulates kids in thinking that they won’t achieve anything if they don’t complete year 12. There is this opinion that there is no other way forward except down the HSC road. I believe there is a huge percentage of kids doing the HSC simply because they have been made to believe that they need to do it. I have a lot of friends that have realistic goals for the future that do not require the HSC, yet they will do it because they are almost too scared not to.”

What did you hate about School?

“I initially went to a Montessori School and really enjoyed the ‘free’ learning style. When I came back to ‘normal’ schooling the comparison was really disappointing. The subjects just didn’t appeal to me and the learning system was flat, it was one way for all students and I don’t think this is an effective way of teaching. It’s almost like they try to change the person to fit the learning style as opposed to changing the style to fit the person. There is no flexibility in ‘normal’ schooling.”

Lucy has big plans to fundraise money for the School and the community she will be assisting in. She also has plans to put in place small programs within the village she feels will benefit all that live there. Lucy knows village life will be very different to the life she knows here...cold water will be an enemy she will soon have to befriend if she plans to wash on a daily basis. She has a strong understanding of the luxuries she will leave behind when she boards the plane come January, however her excitement for following a path that is true to her heart far outweighs her desire for cold rock ice cream or shopping at Westfield on the weekend.

“Some people I know don’t understand why I am doing what I am doing. Why I would leave school in year 10. They look at me like I am an alien and have even slipped a few words of concern to my mum when I am not around. For me, I know the HSC is not for me. I want to serve people. I want to get to the end of my life and see all of the good things I have done. I know this path I have chosen for 2015 will be a huge step in helping me achieve that.”

Two years ago Jessica Lee joined the ESG Asia Pacific team, located in Kurnell, as a receptionist and within a short period of time she found herself a long way from home on an adventure she labelled; the best experience of her life!

In June this year Jessica travelled to Uganda with the ESG Foundation for the Global Volunteer Network Distribution Trip. Travelling with Kirsten, the winner of the SUUBI Calendar Photographer search, her role was to visit the many projects the ESG Foundation supports and to assist in the making of the SUUBI 2015 calendar.

I had the opportunity to make the banana pancakes with the women in Uganda and it was fantastic to see everyone help out and join in. After we finished cooking, my once black dress was white with a thick layer of flour, however it was a really enjoyable experience and a memory I will have forever. It’s amazing how well you can communicate with others even though the native language is world’s apart from your own.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting Nalusse Success Primary School. The school has a hot lunch program that is supported through ESTC & other donations throughout the year. Often this is the only meal the children receive in a day and it’s vital nutrition that helps them concentrate and learn while at school.

Jessica Lee - “We spent a week in Uganda visiting a number of the projects that the ESG Foundation supports and contributed to from the funds of the SUUBI Calendar 2014.

Our final day of visiting projects was at Kitoola, Hopeland Junior School run by YOFAFO. It was a day spent making craft and playing with the children on the local field with soccer and netballs we had brought with us. It was such a fun day and you could see the children really got to enjoy themselves.

Seeing firsthand what the money goes towards in these communities and the large impact that it has, was amazing. The funds support a wide range of projects all starting at the grassroots and providing education and long term skills that can be shared throughout the community.

My trip to Uganda was an unforgettable experience. It has taught me so much and I know that the little we took over and donated will never compare to the knowledge and life skills I learnt from this experience.

It is something I will never forget!

One of the projects we visited was for vulnerable women; these women all support each other in a number of ways. Most recently they started up their own individual small businesses with the assistance of the Micro-Finance Program. This program not only helps provide communities with new skills, but it also helps provide them with an income to support their families. One of these groups have set up a business selling banana pancakes, a relatively cheap product to produce and even easier to sell.

Uganda is now so close to my heart and I can’t wait to see The ESG Foundation’s SUUBI Calendar for 2015 arrive in the office. After seeing where the money raised from the sale of the Calendar goes, only makes me more excited to support the much needed projects assisted by the ESG Foundation. It is a mission in helping support projects that assist in improving the skills and standard of living for future generations.”

The journey through her eyes….

Being a teen isn’t an easy task. With pressure coming from many directions, the desire to ‘fit in’ to the acceptable ‘norm’ by society’s standards, can be enough to separate some teens from the pack.

During the teen years external influences are accentuated and greater awareness is given to images portrayed by the media, celebrities and even family and friends. Perfect polaroids flash by our teens eyes at an increasing rate and it isn’t long before the ‘ideal’ body image is corrupted, leaving some young ones with the feeling that they don’t belong.

And, then you meet kids like Jessica Swain. Jessica will admit that she herself has been effected by what she sees in magazines and television, but what she chose to do with her evaluation of ‘perfect’ is truly inspirational.

Jessica Swain is a typical 11 year old. She loves School and social media, hangs with her girlfriends, listens to her favourite bands and shops for the latest trends in fashion. For Jessica though, when it came to buying the clothes she wanted, they just didn’t fit. Jessica by no means is abnormal in shape - like some magazines would like her to think - she is a healthy young woman trying to stay happy in a ‘perfect’ world.

I look back at my own childhood and remember times that brought me down...I would curl up in a ball and sulk about it for days or sometimes weeks.

The wisdom that this young girl has is well beyond her years and the choice to put herself first is one sadly some grown women fail to make.

A self confessed girl who loves a challenge, Jessica decided, with the support of her parents, to find a solution. Jessica stated, she was unhappy with how she looked and her appearance. A once regular snacker of foods, that didn’t compliment a healthy diet, Jess felt her unhappiness with how she was feeling inside and out was linked to her lifestyle. Being a smart girl, it didn’t take her long to work out how to do it - the right way.

Jessica’s mum, Sarah, felt Jess needed help outside the home to achieve her health and fitness goals and went on a search for a local gym that could assist with building strength, inside and out.

Sarah found Plus Fitness at Taren Point to be more friendly and accommodating to her young daughter’s needs. The Plus Fitness trainer assigned to Jessica provided knowledge on nutrition and daily lifestyle choices, along with exercise to assist her in achieving results in a way that was of the utmost benefit to her young growing body.

Jessica said, the greatest thing she has taken away from the food training is that she can now identify whether she is in fact hungry or whether she is just eating out of boredom. And, according to Jessica’s mum, the changes in her daughter’s diet are effecting the whole family in a positive way. The introduction of mindful eating has removed a great deal of junk food from the weekly shop. Since changing her food choices, Jessica states that she is feeling a lot happier and more energetic.

Sitting across from Jessica during this interview I couldn’t help but be inspired by her commitment and choice to make the changes she truly deserved, she is only 11 years old after all. I look back at my own childhood and remember times that brought me down...I would curl up in a ball and sulk about it for days or sometimes weeks. The wisdom that this young girl has is well beyond her years and the choice to put herself first is one sadly some grown women fail to make.

We closed this interview in a circle of good vibes, because essentially that is what Jess has achieved overall from her training.

What was once a mission to fit into ‘modern’ clothes has given Jessica a smile and happiness that can only come from someone who truly feels good on the inside. And as the quote goes…

As within, so without.

Jessica trains under the guidance of a qualified Personal Trainer at Plus Fitness Taren Point.

In I AM magazine Issue 13 we caught up with local Shire girls, Sarah Hutt and Brittany Woodford, to chat about an exciting, yet challenging, adventure they were about to embark upon.

Brittany and Sarah had signed up for a bike ride across Cambodia. The mission was to spread awareness on human trafficking in support of the Australian based organisation, Project Futures.

The best friends joined 18 other cyclists to ride over 400 kilometres across South East Asia.

Their mission was to visit centres, like the Somaly Mam Foundation, to see firsthand how programs are providing healing and empowerment to survivors of a crime affecting more than 1 million girls globally.

I AM: First up …after pedalling over 400 kilometres on bicycle, how do you feel about bike seats?

Sarah: Well…. It’s been about two months since we returned so my dislike has diminished slightly. But let me tell you, me (and my butt) were extremely grateful to get off that bike on the final day. I haven’t been game enough to hop on one since, although, I am planning to rekindle the romance in the coming weeks.

I AM: In one sentence, what did you see in Cambodia?

Sarah: Wow, it’s hard to put it into one sentence, we saw so much! We saw a lot of hopefulness and positivity side by side with sadness and despair. We saw a country and its people that have all the qualities it needs to flourish, with just a little support from the outside world.

I AM: How did this compare with your pre-trip expectation?

Sarah: I don’t think we could have imagined the trip to resonate the way it did. It’s a country I found hard not to fall in love with, the people, the landscapes just draw you in. It’s a place full of extremes, so much beauty and happiness one minute … and then some much poverty and longing the next.

I AM: Visiting the centres facilitating the programs to empower and heal survivors, what emotions did you experience?

Sarah: The first AFESIP centre we visited was the Kampong Cham centre (one of three centres in Cambodia), which houses victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation 16 years and under.

At the time of our visit there was 57 young girls living in the centre. This was one of the most emotionally challenging days I have ever experienced.

We arrived at the centre and were greeted by a sea of young eager faces. We were engulfed in hugs from every direction and our hands were taken in theirs as the excitement to show us their home and where they go to school over took them. The horrific pasts these girls faced were easily hidden at this moment, they were just like any other child living in Australia when their friends come to play.

We toured the centre and could not help but feel proud of our fundraising efforts to support this incredible work, knowing exactly where the money was going and the stable place of happiness it was providing to this most deserving group of young women.

During our time in the centre I had the opportunity to speak to the very inspirational Somaly Mam. Somaly was a victim of human trafficking and sexual exploitation and is the reason the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP centres exist today. As I spoke to Somaly, one of the young girls climbed into her lap, snuggled in and fell asleep. To these girls Somaly is their Mum, offering the love and security that, in most cases, they had never before experienced. Somaly explained to me that in the two weeks previous, eight new girls arrived at the centre. They arrived as the result of a police brothel raid. Three of these eight girls were only three years old. It was at that point that what these 57 girls had faced in the past really hit home.

The past may have been horrific for them but the future is so bright. The amazing team of staff at the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP are miracle workers. The girls are given a warm loving home, undergo psychology sessions, receive an education and learn a trade to be able to support themselves in the future. >>>

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KYLIE GREEN

I AM: What do you personally want people to know about the issue of sex trafficking?

Sarah: I want people to know that it may seem like a problem that is too big to solve, but if we all do something small we can win the fight to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Even if the money I raised means that only one girl is removed from captivity in a brothel, then surely it is worth it!

I think it’s important that people in Australia also know that this isn’t just a problem in developing countries, PROJECT FUTURES also helps fund the Salvation Army’s Safehouse here in Sydney, which houses victim of human trafficking here in Australia. It is a cause that is in our own backyard too!

I AM: After settling back into your normal routine at home, what are your thoughts about what you experienced?

Sarah: This experience has changed my life, and I cannot recommend it enough. My view on my own life has changed dramatically, the gratefulness I feel everyday for the life I have is unwavering. I no longer ‘sweat the small stuff’. I look at everyday as a huge blessing.

I found it hard to ignore the burning feeling I had inside to do more, and as a result am now employed

by PROJECT FUTURES. I am so fortunate that everyday I can do my bit to help end this huge injustice facing thousands … which means I’ll be back on the bike a few more times before the year is out.

I AM: What hopes do you have for the future of the Somaly Mam Foundation and the centres you visited?

Sarah: I hope that one-day the Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP centres are deemed redundant, that human trafficking and sexual exploitation will not longer be an issue that needs combating. Until that point, I hope that incredible people continue to support this incredible cause so there is capacity for more girls to have a secure and loving home.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENSINSIGHT We have followed the very talented local, Ben Kiggins, on his photographic journey throughout 2014.

His underwater and surf photography has always captured our attention and his contribution to I AM magazine will always be appreciated. He is a young man with a big future ahead of him in an industry that requires true creative passion and natural talent.

I AM: Why is this program so important to you, have you experienced low self-esteem yourself?

Ruth: I definitely experienced low self-esteem throughout my school days and beyond. The main attributor to my low self-esteem (and many others) was a lack of understanding and confidence in my real identity. I didn't know who I was, and therefore never felt secure in myself, always feeling the need to prove myself, never fully accepted, trying to 'fit in' instead of just fitting with alike people. This is a struggle that the majority of teens face and something I witnessed within my girls group at youth, which makes it even harder to challenge the deceiving messages through the media, peer pressure, high expectations, perfectionism etc etc.

Seeing my youth girls struggle is what inspired and motivated me to create something to help be a solution to these ever-increasing issues that leave girls feeling trapped in low self-esteem and unaware of their value, purpose and strength.

With the focus on helping girls explore their identity throughout Esteem Designz and develop key coping mechanisms, I hope for girls to develop a deep sense of security in who they really are, knowing their value, unique characteristics, strength and ability to face these pressures head-on, standing firm in confidence.

I am thankful for my experience of low self-esteem and lack of confidence, as devastating as it was, because it has given me the drive and passion to make a difference and help others escape this dangerous trap.

I AM: What a world this would be if low self-esteem didn't exist...

Mission: To Empower Girls!

Society and the media has a lot to answer for. Television programs, the news, the internet, social media and magazines are all culprits. Each industry adding to the unrealistic story being fed to girls on how they are expected to look and act, providing them with an expectation that is not only unhealthy, in some cases, it’s lethal.

Studies performed in 2009 analysed the effect this ‘societal’ expectation has on teenage girls, and the results were alarming. The studies revealed that one in five teenage girls were suffering from emotional or behavioural problems due to low self-esteem. They were experiencing self destructive behaviour, like; depression, anxiety, substance abuse and poor mental and physical health, to name a few.

Local Shire woman Ruth Lewis-Jones came up with a solution. She designed a program that has the ability to equip and empower teenage girls. The program is called Esteem Designz and it’s purpose is to encourage a sense of identity, giving self-esteem strength.

Ruth: I would love to live in a world without low selfesteem and lack of identity. There is immense security and joy in truly knowing and being completely content and confident in who you really are.

No longer would teens feel the need to display a fake version of themselves to fit in, feeling pressured to do whatever it takes to feel included, loved, valued, cool, etc. They could be free to be themselves, not turning to self-destructive means to fill gaping holes in their lives, from never feeling good enough, accepted, not meeting expectations, never having the lives and bodies that media portrays as normal and needed.

Teens especially are crying out for affection. But what if they knew their intrinsic worth and didn't need to go searching for it in dangerous means? What if we really knew? We could all be building each other up, not tearing others down out of insecurity and pain. We could all endure, be strengthened, and thrive through life's challenges, instead of giving up hope, dangerously taking it out on ourselves and others. We would all value and respect ourselves and those around us.

With self-awareness, self-confidence, self-belief, selfmanagement, self-worth and self-esteem, we could healthily determine and address our needs, whilst having empathy and compassion for others.

We would be free.

JOHN TSIALOS PHOTOGRAPHY

The change Michelle has provided to the children is immeasurable, in the fact that the ripples will continue to flow well beyond her time. The education of these children and the kindness this ‘blonde angel’, once a visiting stranger with songs and games, has shown, will continue for generations to come.

On a Thursday night towards the end of March, I attended the Moshono Foundation Orphanage Fundraiser held at Cronulla Cinema.

The woman behind this truly inspirational event was Michelle Bevan, and as she stood in front of the crowd that had gathered on this evening, she spoke with honesty and love for what she found when she visited Africa all those years ago. The words delivered were powerful and the audience was provided with confirmation that small acts by a single person really do have the power to change the world.

It was 2011 when Michelle, whilst living in Africa, first laid eyes on the Moshono Orphanage and made the decision to be the one to facilitate the changes the children so desperately required. After making a few repairs, with the small amount of money she had set aside for her stay in Africa, she called on family and friends to assist her in her mission.

Michelle’s goal shifted into overdrive as she discovered how easily it was for African children to slip through the cracks and fall into the mass population of poverty with no future. The education system in Africa is devastatingly limited and inaccessible by most, adding to the desperate situation that currently exists and has done for many years.

It is common for society to look at issues, like those facing Africa, and see the problem as TOO BIG! Michelle is a living, breathing example that one person can make a difference. It is simply a case of choosing to take action and understanding the resources available to the first world that can assist those in need globally.

Michelle’s goal for the children at the Moshono Foundation Orphanage is to sustain an adequate and safe standard of living and to keep the children in School. The children also require extra assistance to allow for progress through all stages of education in Africa. Our world’s differ in that factor, in countries like Africa, ‘complete’ schooling isn’t considered a basic human right. Fees are very expensive and out of the reach of most families. The Moshono Foundation are working towards providing every opportunity for the children to achieve academically, as this will create a future they were not rightfully gifted with when born to parents that abandoned them for reasons like extreme poverty.

The Moshono Foundation Orphanage charity event at Cronulla Cinema raised approximately $8000. A huge contribution to the $12,000 it costs to sustain the orphanage annually.

Laura Wells is an Environmental Scientist and International Model. When she’s not jetting off to appear in a lingerie or fashion shoot for the fabulously curvaceous, she’s sailing the South Pacific seas studying the devastating effects of daily waste on our oceans.

As a child Grays point was her neighbourhood, and even though she travels the world, the Shire is still bliss for this Cronulla goddess. Living nice and close to the beach also enables Laura to include her Environmental “nerdy stuff” into her daily life.

A self confessed nerd…“I have always had a passion for science and wanting to get my hands dirty. Whilst filming the Ocean Ambassador documentary I was given the opportunity to assist in the flushing of the birds on Lord Howe Island. There are a lot of sea birds that breed on the island and sadly they feed their chicks plastic from the ocean.”

Flushing of the birds??? “Water is passed through tubes placed down the throats of birds to induce vomiting of ingested plastic.” - just another day at the office…

On returning home Laura met with people in the field of investigating plastics in the ocean, and marine debris. That meeting led Laura to discover a few groups in Australia doing their bit in protecting the environment, including Responsible Runners in Bondi. It was her discovery of that group that prompted Laura to start cleaning up Cronulla beaches.

“So many people enjoy Cronulla Beach and sadly a lot of them leave a whole lot of crap behind. It’s not just the rubbish people leave behind, more of it washes up on shore.”

In comparison to other beaches, where does Cronulla fall on the rubbish scale?

“It’s pretty bad. In the middle of Summer 10 of us can collect 12 big bags of litter off the beach in half an hour. In Summer it’s more litter from the beach than debris washing up. Water bottles, food wrappers, McDonalds, Boost juice, even nappies … we get so much of it. Our clean up group, Responsible Runners, is a great network of local families and kids.”

What should people understand about the daily dumping of plastics?

“It’s about the future and being sustainable - although sustainability is a word that gets overused.

For me, it’s about having a future that is clean and beautiful. We look at other countries and grimace at the mess, but we [Australia] can easily head down that path. We have an incredibly convenient throw-away lifestyle. Plastic is made to last forever, but sadly it’s been designed to throw away. Plastic can break down into small pieces, but it will never completely disappear. Right now is the time to focus on waste minimisation. Bringing awareness to the habit of using plastic and the damage it is doing.”

Is there a D day for dumping?

“It’s not that far away. It’s a slow crawl in reverse now. Any decisions we make right now, obviously effect the future. We are attempting to ‘go back on ourselves’ and that is going to take quite a bit of time. Making the changes now will only help the future, not making the changes will hinder it. We will never get rid of all plastics, if you look around they are everywhere. It’s about bringing awareness to the habit and the value on the environment. Plastics are made from petroleum, they are oil based, therefore they do have a relatively high value when oil depletion is taken into consideration also.”

5 years ago Jackie Hewitt felt helpless as she stood by her friend who was losing her mother to Ovarian Cancer. When you ask Jackie today why she has devoted so much of her time to raising money for a cause that has not directly effected her or her family, she will tell you that she would rather be at the end of her life knowing she acted at a time when she knew she could make a difference.

With diseases, like cancer, flooding the media and effecting more families every year, it is easy to get caught up in the idea that the problem is too big.

Do we have any control where this disease is concerned or are we simply at it’s mercy?

People like Jackie are showing the rest of us what we can do. And, although not all of us have the time, talent or patience to put a product, like the very popular Tradesmen Calendar, together, we can assist a woman in her mission to raise a large sum of money for a very important cause.

On November 14th the bottles popped and the champagne flowed. Men and women flocked to the Elouera Surf club dressed in their best cocktail attire ready for a night of celebration as the 2015 Tradesmen Calendar officially launched and made its way into the hot waiting hands of the Sutherland Shire community.

This is the second year Jackie has put the extremely popular calendar together containing images of local tradesmen who happily strip down for this female focused cause. Last year Jackie raised over $11,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation of Australia and this year the target is a whopping $25,000. To say the community spirit is strong in the Sutherland shire is an understatement. Businesses from a plethora of industries have come together to assist Jackie in completing the 2015 photographic piece.

Jackie Hewitt is a teacher, a mum and a photographer. She is a woman dedicating herself to a service that will only provide positive effects and hopefully solutions for a disease killing far too many people every day.

In the I AM opinion Jackie is a local superhero.

SO … Who is Leah?

“I Am a Mother. My children are my everything and everything I do is for them. I Am a successful business owner and I have worked extremely hard for over 20 years to get where I am now. I Am passionate for anything Beauty; Beauty intrigues me, I love removing people’s hair! I Am caring; in life you must give to receive. I Am quirky and a bit eccentric at times.

But most of all I Am independent, hard working and determined.

When I set my mind to something ... I want to achieve the very best of whatever it is!!!

How did Leah's Waxworks evolve, was it always a goal of yours to own your own business?

“Yes, owning my own salon was always a goal of mine, I gave up a trip to Europe and my birthday money when I was 21 to own my own business. It has been a challenge over the years, but who doesn’t love a good challenge!

When you are passionate about something you should always follow it!”

Business can be a tough gig...how do you stay motivated when things turn out 'not as planned'?

If you are a regular to Cronulla Mall chances are you have seen the trademark beach blue signage belonging to one of Sydney’s leading and most successful beauty salon chains. From the moment word hit the street about the new kid on the block murmurs were heard voicing concern for the need of ’yet another’ beauty salon set to occupy prime Cronulla retail space. After researching how Leah Ingram, founder and director of Leah’s Waxworks, has kept her company in top dog position in the beauty industry, it’s not hard to agree that Cronulla could do with a little healthy competition when it comes to value for money in the local beauty stakes.

Now, if we were just another ordinary community lifestyle and wellbeing publication we could use this space to rant about the services Leah’s Waxworks offers, but, we know if you want that sort of information you’ll head in store and grab it yourself. Our goal with I AM is to bring you inspiration and reveal the core of a company. We believe getting Leah Ingram to bare all is far more interesting than telling you what you’ll be getting when you bare all next time you step into one of her salons...

“Things always turn out not as planned! I always try to stay as motivated as I can, I try to look at the bright side of things and always reassure myself that everything will be OK; but, I also have a wonderful family and great staff to always help me if I need it.”

The latest addition to the 'Leah’s Waxworks' family popped up beachside Cronulla. What's your favourite thing about this location?

“My favourite thing about Cronulla is it’s in the suburb I truly love, it is my home here. I love the beach and the atmosphere. I love all the people here and the restaurants, my faves would probably be the Greenery and Alphabet St. I love my new store in Cronulla - it’s a fresh face in the mall.”

YES you can!

By Kylie Green.

Recently I decided, at the ripe old age of 40, I needed to lose the pounds, get fit, get healthy and change my lifestyle. The big questions were, where do I start and how do I get motivated?

Enter my very own Uncle, Baden Green. The most motivated person I know. He sets a goal and he achieves it! As I am writing this story my Uncle is celebrating his 60 th birthday, with possibly way too much champagne, but you can bet your bottom dollar he will be back in Sydney to take me for a grueling session at the sand hills on Tuesday morning offering support and encouragement and whatever else it takes to get me to the finish line.

From his late teens, along with one of his best mates, Kevin Neilson, Baden dreamed of swimming the English Channel, and guess what? He did it! Not once, not twice but 12 times. The first time he swam was a solo effort and he did it in a record time for an Australian male. He was lucky enough to have the legendary Des Renford who, for a period of time in 1980 held the title ‘The King of the Channel’, as his mentor and inspiration.

What inspired Uncle Baden? How did he achieve his goal? It is difficult to grasp but so simple really, he had conviction and determination. Once he decided to actually do it he committed wholeheartedly and just went for it. Nothing stopped his training. He was in that pool following that black line rain, hail or shine. At 37 he was approaching middle age and getting chubby so fitness was also a key motivator. Being a swimmer from a very young age and a lifesaver with Cronulla Surf Club the swimming part came easily to him. The determination for success and the fear of failure was all the motivation he needed.

The training started in August 1991 and he gave himself until December that same year to make the final decision on whether or not he was actually going to go for it. Obviously the answer was…this is my dream and of course I am going for it.

He commenced training 6 hours a day and worked 10 hours a day at his accountancy firm. This weighed heavily on his family but his children were fortunately young at the time and Baden attributes the complete support of his loving wife Jenny as a contributing element of his success. The fear of failure and also the fear of disappointing his wife, mother and children spurred Baden on to train for the 11 months it took to get him ready to attempt the Channel swim.

Uncle Baden swam the English Channel in July 1991 and became the fastest Australian male ever to do so. He is currently ranked 67th out of the 903 solo swims completed.

I asked Uncle Baden at what point did you decide to not drown? His response…when he stood on the shore in Dover he knew it was a certainty that he would make it. He said he would have swum through a brick wall to the finish line. There was absolutely no fear of failure and he had never felt so sure of success in his life. He has never felt so pumped and full of such surety since.

Baden has not only swam the English Channel as a solo swimmer, he has participated in 11 relay crossings, also being part of the first group of men from Australia to compete in a 4 way and a 6 way crossing. Funnily enough, the first time he crossed the Channel was by ferry at 21, drinking lots of alcohol and he advises this was by far the easiest way to get from A to B. The success of the Channel swim has changed my Uncle Baden as a person. It gave him the confidence to achieve greater success in business, gave him more focus, provided him with a more meaningful life and a sense of achievement because he now knew that he could achieve anything he set his mind to.

As a result of this great achievement Baden became an Australia Day Ambassador which saw him travel throughout Australia to give motivational speeches. This appointment was a complete honor for him but he does say that, although it was a total pleasure for him, he felt sorry for the poor people that had to listen to him speak.

The moral to this story…He was motivated, he had conviction, he was committed, HE DID IT.

If you have a goal and are committed you can achieve anything. If you need to fear anything, fear FEAR.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to I AM. The people who have told their stories, inspired others and connected as a community. I AM can not happen without you. It is a story of a community...the people who live, love and play here.

The Sutherland Shire.

Chrissy Tafili CRONULLA Finish this sentence: I AM … an honest, approachable, lovable person who LOVES to live LIFE to the fullest. I LIVE with no regrets!

Shire SHOUT OUT! Tribe Social Fitness - A GYM where POSITIVENESS sprays from every corner, in whatever state of mind you’re in.

Whatever the situation, however you’re feeling, you know you can always walk through the doors of this gym and be welcomed with a Smile. The instructors will even remember your name! So much love & support in this place, its where you want to be. The OWNERS have done a great job!! Keep up the Great work Guys!

What do you want to be when you grow up? CONTENT! Anna - Anna’s Shop Around The Corner MONRO PARK CRONULLA Finish this sentence: I AM … happy to be here. If I had to pick two things that define who I am on the inside, I’d say book-lover and crafter of great coffee!

Shire SHOUT OUT! Two local businesses I love are Seabreeze Yoga and Secret Scent. I love yoga and Bridget from Seabreeze yoga is simply lovely. Secret Scent provide all natural aromatherapy oils and are local to the Shire. We stock a variety of their products at the shop.

What do you want to be when you grow up? HAPPY!

The Mercy Huts Project You may know the name Sally McMahon from the incredibly cool & outrageously resourceful wedding site www.bridalicious.com.au offering close to every service a girl may need before getting hitched. However, Sally McMahon has also tied her name to something greater than weddings and the apparent ‘Big Day’; she is also a part of a dynamic and compassionate team striving to make change daily and long term in a community that has clearly stolen her heart.

Established in January 2012 by a small group of people sharing a mutual desire to empower people living in poverty in remote Indonesia, Sally and her husband Paul McMahon teamed up with Matt & Nat Thistlewaite to develop the ‘Mercy Hut Project’.

In 2010 the team were personally impacted whilst visiting communities in East Indonesia, a region most severely affected by poverty.

Holding the highest malnutrition and infant mortality rates, it is a struggling part of Indonesia in desperate need of outside support. And, although Tourism is being promoted in East Indonesia, it can sadly have negative impacts on remote communities such as this.

The ‘Mercy Hut Project’ aims to promote a sustainable, communitybased tourism industry through the provision of education and employment. Stage one of their goal is to develop a Surf Retreat located on Rote Island, Indonesia. The retreat will be an eco-friendly, beachfront oasis that will provide financial support & education for the families living in poverty on one of Indonesia’s most beautiful and remote islands.

How can you get involved? To find more information on the Mercy Hut Project head to www.mercyhuts.com

Sitting across from Debbie Bird, I can’t help be envious of her positivity and willpower. Her small frame and soft nature belie her amazing ‘I can do anything’ character. She is a woman with a huge heart and nothing will hold her back. Not even multiple sclerosis (MS).

On September 12, 2010, she challenged her body and the disease. Along with a group of inspirational women, Debbie decided to take a walk. A 270km walk from Mudgee to Sydney. Debbie was ready. Her mind and heart were ready to tackle something her body seemed unable to. M2S (Mudgee 2 Sydney) was designed to raise awareness and much-needed funds to help find a cure for a disease that has affected these women’s lives and those of many others, Multiple Sclerosis.

How did you physically prepare your body for the 270km walk you were about to embark on?

“I walked as much as I could. It was hard fitting in with my husband’s work hours and the children. I would generally walk either really early in the morning or on the weekend. I tried the odd evening, but generally fatigue set in and I was good for nothing past 7pm. I noticed the more I walked, the greater my ability was to walk further without problems. Towards the end of training I actually became scared that if I stopped I would go backwards, so I guess fear kept me going. When I first started training I could walk about 4 or 5km before I would get ‘foot drop’ [foot slaps due to fatigue], however after several weeks I was managing 10-12km.”

How did you feel mentally about the walk?

Apart from the fact that I was leaving my husband and children behind, I felt great. I had broken it up into a series of 12km walks and as long as I had a break after each 12km I was confident I would be able to get up and do it again. The team really are an amazing bunch, extremely motivating. Of course I was nervous about making the distance. I remember a few dreams where my feet were rotting on the journey, but I did believe in my heart I would make it. I am pretty stubborn and don't give up all that easily. More than anything I wanted to finish.

On a personal level, this was something I had to do for myself. I had to prove to myself that I COULD do it. As a mother of young children it was very hard to put myself first. It was a big deal for me to leave them, but it felt right.

When you finished this incredible challenge, what was the first thing that crossed your mind?

“Where are my boys? We [the team] all held hands crossing the finish line, which was a huge step up from a visualisation I had of crawling across it.”

M2S raised an outstanding $143,000. Where will the money raised go?

“Foundation 5 Million. It is a foundation set up by a man with MS for people with MS to help themselves by raising money for research. The money funds research into finding a cure. Without this vital research a cure will not be found. There has been exceptional progress made in recent years and I truly believe a cure is closer than ever. MS is the biggest cause of disability in young adults, it strikes people in the prime of their lives.”

[exert]