Vicious Blonde channels punk rock power
In her day job at Goolum Goolum, few might expect to see Wotjobaluk/Gunditjmara woman Caitlyn Hayward fronting an unflinching punk outfit by night.
Cait, along with her bandmates Sean (Cait’s husband), Aaron, and Steve formed punk band Vicious Blonde in January this year.
Since formation they have written several songs, which have received Sean was writing music for another hey Cait, put some she said.
After a lot of hesitation on it. We sent it to Aaron
in Melbourne? They’ll love it!’.
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Sean, Aaron and I are family and we met Steve in January and we all just clicked and worked really well together.”
She said even despite the distance between the band members, they were pushing themselves to write and perform.
“The writing process is long and tedious. Sean usually writes a guitar riff and sends it off to Aaron and Steve to put their parts to it and then they send it back and I write and record lyrics onto it,” she said.
“Sean and I live in Stawell and Aaron and Steve live in Melbourne so sitting down together and writing a full song is nearly impossible, but we all do our parts collectively.”
Cait said the four piece’s ‘carefree, in your face and high energy punk rock’ attitude was what made them so vicious.
GOOLUM News
December,
2022
We are a primary health and wellbeing organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people operating on the traditional lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We strive to provide a holistic model that responds to the physical, social emotional, Cultural and spiritual need of our people.
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co operative//goolumgoolum.org.au
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Wotjobaluk/Gunditjmara punk rocker Caitlyn Hayward has been finding success with her band Vicious Blonde in Melbourne. The band’s original music has been played on airwaves globally and reviewed by Triple J presenter Declan Byrne. Want to see more
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Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.
With only a few weeks left of 2022, Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co Operative is full steam ahead until we close our offices on December 23 for two weeks.
While COVID 19 was spreading at the fastest rate earlier this year we had seen since the start of the pandemic, we persevered through. We have slowly moved back to COVID normal and seen the re introduction of many of our programs face to face. Notably, we had events including NAIDOC Week festivities, a flood safe on foot Wimmera River Challenge and not to mention our inaugural HAND UP event to celebrate cultural resilience and destigmatising the shame job of seeking mental health support. Something that couldn t be more timely as we emerge from lockdowns and have seen every day living pressures rising across the country.
There is lots of information in the newsletter about emergency services and contacts for the break and other useful resources you can call on if needed. A big thank you to all the Goolum staff who have worked tirelessly throughout 2022 and as we continue to grow our services, we welcome new staff and trust they will come along on the great journey of working with and for community. To all our mob I wish you a happy, safe and healthy Christmas and New Year and I look forward to working with you all in 2023.
Meet the Goolum Board of Directors
Makayla Secombe works as a Koori Engagement Support Officer (KESO) for the Department of Education and Training. She nominated herself to become a board member of Goolum Goolum as the Co Op has always been such a big part of her life growing up and continues to be a big part of her life now as an adult with young children.
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I am passionate about the future of Goolum the ever growing community that Goolum connects with and continues to support. I am eager to listening to the other members of the board and engage in the conversations that will contribute to the future of Goolum,” she said.
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative respectfully acknowledges that our offices are based on unceded land of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawajali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We pay our respects to their ancestors, and to Elders,
past and present, and to the future Elders and caretakers of this land.
Dalki Muwill,
Jake Goodes Chairperson
John Gorton Director
Nola Illin Deputy Chair
Lachlan Marks Secretary
Adrian Morgan Director
Kelly Britten Director
2 Goolum News www.goolumgoolum.org.au
Anthony ‘Ants’ Craig Goolum CEO
Goolum Goolum welcomes new board member
Vicious Blonde—cont
“Our live shows are energetic! We love to bring the energy and have fun with the crowd, whether it be 10 people or 100 people we love to put on a great, fun show for all,” she said.
Cait’s love for music roots back to 2010 when she first picked up a guitar. She listened to a lot of Taylor Swift and country music and loved to play and sing along. She also grew up listening to a lot of ‘80s music with her mum and dad.
She said with the popularity of the band growing, she was keen to see what the future would bring for Vicious Blonde. One of the band’s biggest achievements to date was being played on Rodney Bingenheimer’s radio show on SiriusXM in America.
“We have been played on the radio all over the world, we have been played in the USA a fair bit along with the UK and even Japan and Poland,” she said.
“We always dream big but actually having any one of
those dreams come true is a bit surreal.
“Hearing yourself on the radio is one of the best feelings, having someone else love your music as much as you do is an amazing feeling.”
Vicious Blonde is playing one more show this year on December 16 at The Tote in Collingwood, Melbourne.
Cait said fans could also anticipate a a new single coming out hopefully at the start of next year.
“2023 is going to bring some new and exciting things for Vicious Blonde so make sure to keep your eye out and come along to one of our shows,” she said.
You can listen to the latest tracks ‘Ignore Everybody’ and ‘Dreams Come True!’ on Spotify, BandCamp and Triple J Unearthed.
www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/
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-blonde/
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Who joined the team in 2022?
Alice started with Goolum Goolum in September. She is the Family services IFS/FPR support worker, supporting case workers in their roles to support community.
Alice brings her expertise across from Geelong where she previously worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“I wanted to work in family services at Goolum to learn something new and provide support to community in a different way then I previously have,” she said.
“Working within an Aboriginal community is where I want to work, after trying a mainstream organisation it wasn’t what I wanted for myself or my family.
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I’m originally from Geelong and moved to Horsham in July 2022.
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I worked as a NDIS support coordinator for 3 years (first at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co op then in mainstream services at Gateways) as well as Aged Care and HAC PYP coordinator (at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co op).”
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Eva joined the Goolum Family Services team in June 2022.
She is an Aboriginal Practitioner at The Orange Door.
She receives Family Violence and Child Wellbeing referrals for our community members and support them to link into Goolum’s services.
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I have had a passion for working with our community for many years and was previously mentored by Jo Clarke in a mainstream role; this only cemented my eagerness to support our Aboriginal community, “ she said.
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I have a background in Family Services, ChildFIRST, employment services and medical administration. I’m also a qualified Beauty Therapist!”
Stacie joined Goolum Goolum
September.
Her role as the Family services support worker involves supporting other family service workers and community when needed.
Previously, I had worked at Wathaurong, and I loved working with community. Once I moved up to Horsham to be closer to family, I knew I still wanted to work with community. I feel the need to still give back to community and feel I have a lot to offer to Goolum,” she said.
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I am a Proud Yorta Yorta and Bidjara women, with family ties to Wotjobaluk because of my mum. Born and raised on Wathaurong Country.
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I have worked at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Operative for 3 years as a NDIS coordinator, Mental health Coordinator and Aged Care Coordinator and Acting Team Leader role. I then stepped into Mainstream and worked at Gateways Support Services as a NDIS Coordinator for a few months before I moved up to Horsham.”
Kym joined the Goolum Health and Wellbeing team in early September.
Her role is the Event and Projects Coordinator.
The role involves communicating, liaising and planning with the community, programs and events to develop and support health promotion and community engagement programs.
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The role was an exciting opportunity for me to connect, understand and support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” she said.
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I have a varied background. I have worked in finance, politics, real estate and lastly at Longerenong College as Residential Supervisor.”
Alice Knight IFS/FPR Support Worker
s Family Services team in
Stacie Murphie Family Services Support Worker
Eva Watson Aboriginal Practitioner
Kym Bateson Events and Projects Co ordinator
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Social and Emotional Wellbeing Support
Cait started with Goolum Goolum in early October.
She has been involved with the organisation as a community member for much longer.
She has started working in Social and Emotional Wellbeing Support, supporting the community of all ages. She is a proud Wotjobaluk/Gunditmara woman who has strong ties to community.
“I have been a part of the Goolum community for a very long time and been quite a few events and groups, I was so thrilled to be asked to be a part of the Goolum team!” She said.
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I am a mum to three wonderful kids and wife to an awesome husband (who is also in the band). I am in a band (punk) in Melbourne so most of my weekends are taken up with that.”
Renae joined Goolum Goolum in May 2022.
She works within the Early Years Team this involves running very successful playgroups in both Horsham and Stawell, for children and families, aged from birth to school age.
“We also support multiple Kindergartens in the region as part of a KPSA role (Koori Preschool Assistant) providing support around cultural integration in their programs,” she said.
“Before starting at Goolum Goolum I had begun studying my Cert IV in Community Services & I saw this as an opportunity to learn from as well as growing and expanding my knowledge in all areas of Community Services.
“I held a very long and honored position as a stay at home parent to my 4 children.”
Joanne
Her role is the Aboriginal Practice Lead the main function is to support Aboriginal women and their children escaping family violence.
She is a proud Wotjobaluk woman who has strong ties to the community.
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I have background in welfare and social justice and have worked in the family violence sector previously & enjoy supporting my people and community and goolum gives you the opportunity to do that,” she said.
“Before here I worked at Barengi Gadjin Land Council as the Manager of Community Development. This role included engaging with Traditional Owner of the 5 tribes around Land, Water, Culture, Language and kinship.”
Pauline started at Goolum in May this year.
She works in Family Services and has two roles as Integrated family services and family, preservation and reunification.
I support families with their daily struggles within the home such as parenting, routines, behaviours, appointments, and NDIS. We often work a long side with DFFH to support the families stay together or strengthen their knowledge and skills to be reunified,” she said.
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I heard a lot about Goolum being a more client focused organization which really inspired me to want to work here.
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Previously I worked for Uniting, first with disability and then Family Services. Uniting gave me great knowledge and experience which was a great place to work but unfortunately not as client focused as Goolum.
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Caitlyn Hayward
Renae Podolski Family Services Support Worker
Pauline O’Dwyer FPR & Integrated Family Services Case Manager
joined Goolum Goolum on May 29 this year.
Joanne Clarke Aboriginal Practice Lead
Nicole joined the Goolum Goolum team in November.
She is Practice Nurse Div 1 and also works in Health Promotion for the Medical Clinic.
Seven years ago l received a scholarship to nurse as a student in a remote area of the NT, which l really enjoyed and learnt a lot from the local community, and my fellow nurses”,”she said.”
“My friend saw the Goolum position listed in the paper and said l have found the perfect job for you.
“I believe strongly in quality patient care which l believe Goolum delivers well to their patients. I am excited to have the opportunity to work here.”
Previously Nicole was a Nurse at Wimmera Health Care Group working across a number of areas community health promotion, oncology, radiology and palliative care. She only became a nurse just before she turned 40, before that she worked as a photographer.
Farewell and good luck to Robsy
We sadly said good bye to our lovely Robsy this month. Robsy has been with Goolum for just over ten years and decided it was time to retire.
I’m sure many of you will miss her sense of humour and caring nature.
We wish her all the best as she enjoys time with her family and travelling and thank her for her many years of service. We have welcomed two new team members into the clinic Nicole Miller and Eliza Miller.
Nicole is a Registered Division One Nurse who will have a clinical role and assisting with Health Promotion; Eliza is a Maternal Child Health Nurse who will be working alongside Jenny.
Our Maternal Child Health Service has increased and the girls will be outreaching to Stawell in 2023. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year from all the clinic staff.
Dylan joined the Goolum Goolum team in late September.
He is the organisation’s first Media and Communications Officer. His role will be to keep the community engaged and informed.
I am excited to bring my multi media skills to Goolum Goolum to help improve engagement with our programs and promote our positive stories with the broader public,” he said.
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I got my start in media through University and the ABC in Queensland and later local newspapers on Wotjobaluk Country, before moving on to a communications role with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
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I am extremely passionate about the rights of First Nations peoples across this country and am learning new things about the local culture every day.
“While I’m not at work, I usually spend my time with my incredible fiancé, getting involved in music or can be found hanging out at my local café in Natimuk.”
Dylan De Jong
Media and Communications Officer
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Nicole Miller Practice Nurse Div 1 & Health Promotion
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Taking Expressions of Interest from January 9th 2023.
Goolum News www.goolumgoolum.org.au
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Taking Expressions of Interest from January 9th 2023.
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