Upcoming Events

ONGO supports people to learn elements of NVC, especially empathy and deep listening, exploring needs and feelings and working together and with oneself to practice healthful communication and a more Zen way of living our daily lives. These are particularly good skills to have when being on Boards, Committees, in business teams or being in any kind of relationship. It involves working through a beautifully written book called ‘ONGO: Everyday nonviolence’ by Catherine Cadden, Jesse Wiens with illustrations by Kate Raffin. There is one group meeting per week, one meeting with a ‘Buddy’ per week and some personal practices to do each week on 5 of the days, though many of these take only a short time and some take some focus and time. I found the journey very valuable, especially the practice of empathy when in communication with another. There is an ONGO group planning to start at Crystal …

Robin is excited to be involved with the organisation that is putting on a Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Retreat for people who share, facilitate and practice NVC. It begins on Monday afternoon and runs till Friday morning from 22nd to 26th July. There will be three full days of gathering, workshops, sharing and practice, with quite a goodly amount of the program potentially being facilitated using Open Space Technology. There will also be some preset workshops, group times, meals and free space for activities, relaxing and adventuring on Bribie Island, Queensland, where the Retreat is being held. This isn’t a place for learning NVC as a first time encounter, rather, for people how use NVC to develop and share more. Have a look at the website here

If you have a 12 to 16 year old daughter or granddaughter, niece, friend or neighbor you may like to know details of our 2024 Journey into Womanhood Camp. The camp dates are Tues July 2nd through to Sat July 6th and the venue is Wild Mountain which is near Rathdowney (Scenic Rim region). It is an amazing spot and perfect for our needs.More details and tickets are available via the link below. We have a super saving of over 25% (full price is $2,500) if you commit before the 3rd April. Visit the Journey into Womanhood – Powerhouse Programs website here  All families will benefit from this positive, powerful and unique experience. Journey into Womanhood creates and acknowledges the girl-into-woman shift ‘from competition to co-operation’ and enables families to build a new foundation for their future. As you know this is a real-life game-changer! If you can’t attend, please …

Journey to Manhood (‘J2M’) is a program that dives deeply into the real issues facing families with teenage boys today. Many families have benefited from the powerful experience of father and son spending 5 days in the bush with other men and boys (13-16yrs). This is precious technology-free time to do something memorable for your family. Mothers are very much a part of this program too, at community departure and welcoming home ceremonies. All families benefit from this positive, powerful and unique experience. Journey to Manhood creates and acknowledges the boy-to-man shift ‘from dependence into service’ and enables families to build a new foundation for their future. This is a real-life game-changer! The September camp runs from 24th to 28th September The link to the website is here

There’s a magical and nourishing event that happens monthly in Maleny called the ‘Maleny Seed and Harvest Swap’. Robin was invited to be a guest speaker after the swap session during one gathering last year and has been going regularly since then to the swap. It’s the most awesome system. People bring anything they have surplus or to swap from their gardens, lay it out on the tables, then at 9am, everyone wanders around and takes what they want or need. More people come in later, place things down and the gathering continues. People bring produce, plants, cuttings, flowers, eggs, honey, dried herbs, seeds of course and you never know what else. Robin brings potted edible plants, bunches of greens from the garden, surplus produce, most recently chillies and passionfruit, dried herbs like Perilla, Horsetail, Peppermint and seeds that are in abuncance. Her presentation on the first occasion was about …

The last week of July promises to be a lively, creative and fantastic learning time. It’s a year since Robin’s last ‘Dynamic Groups’ course. It’s her annual offering of this type of course at Crystal Waters and since Covid began she has only offered this once a year in her home community as travelling to other states and countries by invitation wasn’t possible. The six day intensive runs from 23rd to 28th July and will be followed a day later by a big Permaculture Music gig with ‘Formidable Vegetable’ launching their new album. People booking for the course are recommended to stay the extra day and night and be part of the event. More info about the ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ can be found on the FaceBook event here. Treat yourself to some Professional Development and lots of fun and confidence building. Contact Robin now to book your place.