PFLAG - Sam Dawson

PFLAG

with SAM DAWSON

from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Bisexual Visibility Day (also known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day) was first officially observed on 23rd September 1999, at the International Lesbian and Gay Association Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa and is celebrated on the same day this year.

Ellie Watts wrote from her perspective and raised some great points here about being bisexual and how that is perceived in society and I wanted to share: “I was born and raised in a small country town approximately 80km west of Brisbane, with Ipswich being the closest major hub. I remember Ipswich being (in)famous in the media on several occasions. As I navigated my teenage years, I always felt like I was different to everyone else or that I didn’t fit in. I could never answer the one question that was constantly tormenting my thoughts – why? “Now at 27, I’ve realised that sexuality wasn’t discussed in the environment I grew up in. The occasions that I did hear someone talk about bisexuality were always negative. I was told that bisexual people were just going through a phase, confused or greedy. I was told that bisexual people (especially women) were promiscuous or more likely to cheat. “Bisexual people face numerous stereotypes and negative assumptions. I should know, I’ve heard them all. Nearly 30% of bisexual respondents report hearing or being made personally aware of negative commentary, jokes or innuendo targeting the bisexual community and other LGBTIQ people within the last year. “Growing up, I also never saw myself in anyone else. I wasn’t aware of any television or movie characters that were bisexual. Or if they were, they were portrayed in a negative light. Icons ‘Bicons’ who had come out as bisexual, such as David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, consistently had their identities erased. Bi-erasure is a pervasive problem in which the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality (either in general or in regard to an individual) is questioned or denied outright.” People can often feel pressured to fit in with society’s conventional ideas of being male or

female. Those who don’t fit the mould can be subjected to ridicule, intimidation and even physical abuse. Even though there is an increasing acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people in society and greater visibility in the media and public life, many LGBTIQ+ people still experience discrimination, harassment and violence at work, school and in social situations. Discrimination can take the form of: • obvious acts of prejudice and discrimination Icons ‘Bicons’ (e.g. someone who is open about being who had come transgender being refused employment or out as bisexual, such promotion) as David Bowie and • more subtle, but no less harmful, Freddie Mercury, discrimination that reinforces negative consistently had their stereotypes and feelings of difference (e.g. use identities erased. of the word ‘gay’ as a derogatory term). It’s so important to be mindful of our fellow community members and loved ones and I would love if we could all STOP. THINK. RESPECT before we speak. Words hurt and even the most unlikely people do not realise how hurtful words can be.

PFLAG is here to give help, support and information to families and friends of all gay people right here on the Coffs Coast. pflagcoffscoast.com

O’Donnell

Julie O’Donnell is a creative mover and shaker who uses scrap timber to create beautiful pieces including everlasting floral designs and children’s toys.

Hi Julie. Have you always enjoyed making and creating?

I sure have, my wild, colourful and creative mind has kept me busy from the get-go. After I finished school, I studied Interior Design in Sydney and over the years I have explored many different creative fields including being a Family Day Care Educator.

Working with children and dipping my toe into creating my own natural toys was the combo that set me on the course to where I am today.

I am a big lover of creating beauty with the eclectic balance of colours and textures so both Let Them Play Toys and Branch & Bloom naturally evolved

from there.

Many of your creations are made using wood, when did you first discover this as a creative medium and what do you enjoy about using it?

I think my love for creating beautiful things with wood is built in, as my father was a wooden toy maker when I was young. He passed away when I was 7 so his creations and how they have I am a big lover lasted have really made of creating an impact on me. beauty with the Around 4 years eclectic balance of ago is when I found colours and textures my passion. We have so both Let Them a lot of large trees Play Toys and Branch surrounding our home & Bloom naturally which we need to trim evolved from there. regularly. Most people would see unsightly green waste and grab a woodchipper but I could see so much potential and natural beauty within those branches. From there I started to steal my partner’s tools, and

one Christmas he brought me a scroll saw and from there I’ve never looked back.

As a family day care educator, I always found it hard to find natural wooden resources and toys that weren’t covered in varnish and paint, or unbelievably expensive.

My passion for creating with wood has continued to grow, creating beautiful things from the wood that people often disregard or overlook. I just love to work

We have a lot of large trees surrounding our home which we need to trim regularly. Most people would see unsightly green waste and grab with the flaws, grain and character of each branch or slab a woodchipper but of recycled wood, I could see so much highlighting how potential and natural perfectly imperfect beauty within those mother nature is. branches. You create very

unique floral arrangements, using both dried and wooden blooms. Can you tell us how the idea for this came about for you?

I hated this trend of purchasing plastic plants and flowers, as well as the habit of spending money on unsustainable floral arrangements that have a very short natural life – so I knew there must be a better option. But there really wasn’t! Plus, let’s be honest a big part of Branch & Bloom was very self-serving. I am too busy to keep indoor plants alive, and there was no way I was going to bring those imposter plastic plants in, so I used my resources in our Let Them Play workshop and created some pretty blooms from sustainable wood instead. I realised I could offer this alternative to others and the concept grew from there.

Continued over...

Can you tell us a bit about the process of creating your wooden flowers?

I’ll start with inspiration and pull together some different concepts on my computer until I get the right feel or look for what I am trying to create. It’s much harder than you would think to make a flat 3mm thick plywood flower organic and natural.

From there I will prototype and redesign or make a design adjustment. Next is to play with different dyes and choose which colours it will be made in.

I am a very spontaneous creator, which would drive most manufacturers crazy – as I don’t generally follow a process (but I am learning to). I generally will create a new season collection, or when I feel like I have a missing piece in our range.

What inspires your new designs and combinations?

A lot of inspiration comes from the natural beauty of each season. I am always drawn to our beautiful Australian natives, organic shapes and the eclectic earthy colour palette found within nature, so they are always a key part to any of my designs.

Often a new design idea hits me at very random times, and I’ve got to write them down before they disappear. For me, the flow of ideas isn’t the problem but in fact reining in how Often a new many pop up and which design idea hits ones I should run with. me at very random times, and I’ve You’re known for your ‘Let Them Play’ children’s toys, which

got to write them are also handcrafted down before they designs. With the disappear. For me, success of that the flow of ideas business what made

isn’t the problem but you decide to start in fact reining in how your Branch & Bloom many pop up and project as well? which ones I should I often think back and run with. question my own sanity when I decided to create another company, but there’s a big part of me (thanks ADHD) that will give anything a go when a new idea hits me. I wanted to inspire people to create beautiful floral art for themselves and those they love that stands the test of time and can be endlessly reused and recreated.

I am always drawn to our beautiful Australian natives, organic shapes and the eclectic earthy colour palette found within nature, so they are always a key part to any of my designs.

Adults often forget how to play even though we all have a cheeky and creative inner child just waiting to bust out, so being able to create your own arrangements is a fun way to get a bit creative.

A big part of your drive when creating your pieces is to create beautiful things that reduce environmental impact. In what ways do you work towards this with your floral designs?

I find it really overwhelming sometimes when aiming to be eco-focused in every area of life, so from the get-go we made our commitment to sustainability and looking after Mother Nature. I knew that if we could focus on doing our best as a company, alongside creating beautiful eco-focused alternatives that could help others make better choices, then this is my part in ensuring our

future is better than our past. We are not yet perfectly eco-aligned, but we try our best at every stage of the process and within the business to respect Mother Nature and ensure that our practices are sustainable. We commit to getting better at this every day.

Where can people see your designs and

Adults often forget how to play even find out more? We are proudly a part of the Kaleidoscope Store in Coffs Central, and have a Pick n Mix though we all have a Bloom Bar where you can create your own eco cheeky and creative arrangements. inner child just waiting Online is a bigger range:

to bust out, so being branchandbloom.com.au

able to create your own We also have just over a dozen new stockists arrangements is a fun way and Bloom Bars popping up across Australia to get a bit creative. and the US. Plus Let Them Play Toys is stocked in many stores across Australia including our local gem The Creative Toy Shop – plus online:

letthemplaytoys.com

To keep up with all the behind the scenes adventures follow along on Instagram.

Thanks Julie.