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14 OCTOBER, 2022 P: 0477 663 696JUNE 28, 2019 P: 0477 663 696MAY 31, 2019 P: 0477 663 696 E: editor@villagepump.org.au E: editor@villagepump.org.au E: editor@villagepump.org.au
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LOCAL SWIMMER CONQUERS ENGLISH CHANNEL A REWARDING LOOK BEYOND FIRST IMPRESSIONS Samford Arts Trail starts this weekend
Joep Buijs is known locally as a Like many young women her age, 21-yr-old Anticipation is building for the Samford professional photographer who also Samford Valley local, Sinead Skorka-Brennan and Surrounds Arts Trail and Open Studios, donates his time to capture huge smiles dreamed of finding the perfect job. One commencing this weekend and continuing at community activities for various local groups. What you might not know is that he has also just completed an epic 33.5km open water swim between England and France. Pushing-off around midnight on September 10, the Dutch national and Samford local started his 12hr 27min dip in the ocean, becoming one of the oldest people from the Netherlands to swim the English Channel. After successfully swimming across Australia’s Rottnest Channel in 2020 in a time of 6hrs 33min, Joep caught the eye of English Channel fastest world record holder, Trent Grimsey, whose brother Codie Grimsey owns and coaches at Samford’s Redfin Aquatics. Despite concentrated preparation and training, Joep’s initial strokes didn’t go quite to plan. “In the first 5 to 6 hours I didn’t feel great I must say. It was hard to finish every that would build her confidence but also give her independence and job satisfaction. In a world where preconceptions about disability are still an issue, she was finding employment opportunities really difficult to come by. You see, Sinead is a young woman with Down Syndrome and because of this, she is often treated like a child, instead of a young adult. Ironically, Sinead is an accomplished gymnast, having represented Australia at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March this year, bringing home four medals, two of them gold in bar and beam events. She was also the recipient of the 2019 Dickson Young Sportsperson of the Year Award. You would think these achievements alone would open doors for her – but unfortunately not. Enter the award-winning and critically acclaimed ABC documentary series Employable Me, which followed the stories of nine people with disabilities as they battled to find work. The documentary, which was for the next four weekends in June. Thirty five local artists will display their talents throughout the Samford Valley, Samford Village, Yugar through to Warner, Cedar Creek, Clear Mountain and Dayboro. Join the talented artists and artisans for a great day out (or several!) in our beautiful region. You can pick up a Studio Guide (which includes a map) from the Slab Hut in Samford, Information Centres and selected retail outlets in the area, or head to www. creativesamford.com/2019-arts-trail/ for a downloadable digital version. The Guide features the artists exhibiting in the Trails, as well as a great range of workshops on offer for you to enjoy. For the first time this year, the Arts Trail will be working with MBRIT and Mountain Wine Tours to offer a ‘Wine and Art’ bus tour. This will be a great day out with wine tasting and food experiences, while enjoying a great variety of local art. Tours feed and I felt a little nauseous,” he said. aired in April, aimed to show potential can be booked on the Mountain Wine “There was a little swell, but nothing like employers the capable people behind their Tours or Creative Samford websites. I had seen on previous swims for other condition and highlight the importance One of the artists featured this year is swimmers. I tried to concentrate on my for people to feel valued. Throughout the Danielle B Latta, owner of Running Duck breathing and technique. We also changed series, participants worked with experts, job Studio in Dayboro. This year, Danielle a few things in the feeds.” coaches and their families to uncover their is undertaking an Endangered Project, As chewing is difficult during a swim, skills and talents and match them to roles whereby artwork will be created to draw Joep’s nutrition plan revolved around that harnessed their strengths. attention to the plight of many animals liquids and eating small portions of banana. Sinead hoped to work in aged care with in the wild - from beautiful big lions and “Your body processes food differently in the goal of improving the lives of those she elephants to the smalls of our very own a horizontal position compared to a vertical cared for. Taking steps toward her goal, endangered pygmy possum, the variety and position. Every 30 minutes they signal from the boat and throw a bottle on a rope in front of you. You quickly drink everything and continue swimming,” he said. Joep pushed through the dark hours of the early morning before the tides turned on his struggle. “The moment the sun came up in the early morning of 11 September and the swell disappeared, I got an enormous she completed a Certificate 3 in Aged Care and was looking for an employer to give her a chance. That employer was Anglicare Symes Grove, where Sinead secured a parttime role, helping residents with their daily needs two days a week. “I make cups of tea and coffee and serve meals and drinks. I feed someone if they can’t feed themselves. I help with activities like craft or physio classes, take residents for walks, or push someone in a wheelchair or wheelie bed so that they can participate in special activities, for example in a concert. I numbers are overwhelming. As an artist, Danielle finds herself looking a lot deeper into every aspect of her surroundings - visually, spiritually and emotionally. Drawing from these observations allows her to connect with the viewers of the resulting artwork. Danielle will donate a portion of the sale of artworks sold from this collection, to the corresponding animals’ preservation fund, in your name. Danielle’s studio is Number 23 in the Arts Trails booklet. will also run activity programs in the future,” said Sinead.
Anglicare Symes Grove Manager Sharon Marsden said Sinead had been a welcome addition to the team at the home. “We were thrilled to offer Sinead the chance to follow her passion of working in the aged care sector. She is a valued member of our team here at Anglicare and brings a lot of joy, compassion and empathy in the way she interacts with our residents.”Pygmy Possum by Danielle B Latta Sinead believes that the series has made people more aware of what it’s like to have a disability and try to find a job. “It’s so Creative Samford Inc. is the organiser of the Arts Trail, and Coordinator Ann Russell much harder to even be invited for a job is hoping that this year’s Trails will attract interview. Being in the Employable Me new visitors as well as those returning to series was a huge opportunity for me to experience them again. “This unique art show that everyone has different qualities experience benefits not only the artists, but and strengths, disability or not,” she said. many other local businesses, with visitor mental boost,” he said. “My stroke rate had Asked what she liked most about her job, numbers increasing every year,” she said. dropped a little, so I focussed on increasing Sinead said, “I like helping other people. The trails will run from 10am to 4pm over my rate and I powered towards France.” That is why I had the idea to work in Aged the first four weekends in June, with the After overtaking another swimmer, Joep caught his destination country in sight, but knew that many swimmers failed to reach the French shore due to strong currents caused by the outgoing tide. “When France was getting really, really close I got the call to give everything I had to swim the last stretch. I still felt great, but the current was too strong to swim against,” Care already since High School. I find it most rewarding when I am able to make the residents happy and can help to make their lives a little bit easier. I find it very rewarding to get to know each resident and know what their needs are and how they like something done. It makes me happy when they are happy.” fifth weekend playing host to some great workshops. This is your chance to get your friends together and enjoy a great day out in the country. For more information, see the Creative Samford Website, keep up to date on Facebook www.facebook.com/ samfordartstrail, or contact Ann Russell at trails19@creativesamford.com. Joep said.
“We took a little detour to where the current was weaker. About half an hour later I saw that Graham, the observer, was preparing the tinny to lead me to the beach. I knew I was going to make it.”
Despite the personal efforts behind his achievement, Joep is aware that a ‘solo swim’ can’t be achieved by one person alone, and is extremely grateful to his family, supporters, swim clubs and local swim buddies.
With the English Channel under his swimming cap, Joep’s next challenge is Photo courtesy of Jeremy Simons Happy Days by Lance Boucaut a little closer to home, setting his sights on conquering New Zealand’s Cook Strait. We can’t wait to see Joep making This Edition: This Edition: his next splash in the world of marathon Real Estate.................................... 26-35Real Estate.................................... 26-35 swimming. Trade & Business/Classifieds Trade & Business/Classifieds ...... ...... 36-46 36-46 Community Contact Community Contact Tanya Hall..................... 47..................... 47
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