Eumundi Voice Magazine

Eumundi Voice

16 hours ago

The Noosa Pengari Children’s Festival returns on 23 August, marking a special milestone as Noosa Pengari Steiner School celebrates 30yrs of education, creativity and community in the Noosa hinterland.
The story began quietly when in the mid-1990s a small group of families gathered at a Steiner study group, drawn by the idea of a different kind of education. In 1996 that dream opened its doors, with a preschool group and a single combined Class 1 and 2 of just 10 children.
There was barely a tree on the site, and for the first year the primary class was held off-site at the Noosaville Sea Scout Hall, where families packed the whole classroom away twice a week so the hall could still be used. Two century old Queenslanders were relocated to the grounds to become the earliest classrooms, one the former principal's residence from Cooroy State School, the other the old Cooroy Railway Station master's residence. Getting them ready took what one founding staff member fondly remembers as “mad working bees” and an enormous amount of goodwill.
To continue reading, please click here: issuu.com/eumundivoice/docs/eumundi_voice_issue_147/19 ... See MoreSee Less

Eumundi Voice

2 days ago

When I first moved to the area several years ago, I did what many people do when they're new somewhere, I tried to find my people. I joined a few groups, grabbed the occasional cuppa with people and hoped I'd find somewhere I felt I belonged. Everyone was perfectly pleasant, but I never quite found the sense of connection I was looking for. So with a couple of like-minded ladies, we decided to create it.
We gathered a few people together who either enjoyed being creative or were simply willing to give something new a try. We met regularly to paint, print, experiment and laugh our way through projects. Before long, strangers had become friends.
Later, I started another small creative group in my own suburb. It turned out to be one of the best ways to meet my neighbours. People who might have walked past each other for years suddenly had something in common. It reminded me that creativity has never really been about making art. It's about making connections.
These days we're connected to hundreds of people through our phones, yet it's surprisingly easy to go for weeks without having a real conversation with someone outside our usual circle. Sitting around a table with paint, paper or clay seems to change that. There's no pressure, no awkward introductions and no expectation to produce a masterpiece. Conversation simply happens while everyone's hands are busy creating.
One of my favourite moments is hearing someone say, "I haven't done anything like this since school."
Almost every workshop, someone arrives convinced they aren't creative. Two hours later they're smiling, trying techniques they never imagined and often surprising themselves. That's why one of the phrases we use most often in the studio is "play, not perfection." Art isn't about getting everything right, it's about giving yourself permission to experiment, have fun and enjoy the process.
Some of the most rewarding visitors have been travellers passing through, or people considering a move to the area. They're often looking for more than just something to do, they're looking for a way to meet people and feel part of the community, even if only for an afternoon.
Whether it's painting, knitting, woodworking, music or any other creative hobby, making something with your hands gives you permission to slow down for a while. The finished piece is almost secondary. The conversations, laughter and friendships are often what people remember most.
If this article encourages someone to dust off an old hobby, try something they've always been curious about, or simply walk into a room full of strangers knowing they'll probably leave having met a few new people, then it's done exactly what I hoped.
Brisky Creations Art ... See MoreSee Less