Jess' Page

I'm a gypsy and a dreamer and i want to travel to every corner of the earth.
I'm inspired by nature.
I Love... Op shopping, swimming in the ocean, sun rise and sun sets, people watching, good food with good wine with good people, the smell of cut grass, drinking from the tap of a cold rain water tank, light, hurling myself off the cliffs at Six Mile creek, riding my horse, creative people, crusing in the Kombi with el, snowboarding, spring snow, my very ectectic friends, art, music, listening to someone play guitar as i fall asleep, morning sun through my bedroom window, road trips, music festivals, people watching, my family, the semi-arid beauty of central NSW, camping, winging it, being creative, treasure hunting, films that make you feel, inspiring people, bangles, climbing trees, a coopers pale with a dash of lime in the afternoon sun... all of lifes little pleasures!
I believe if you don't stant for something you'll fall for anything!

Oh and Lachy is the monster in my stomach

Links:

• Jess' Article
• Jess' Tools Research
• Group jessjessel- Creative Space

Inprirational Youth

Skye Bortoli/ Eco-Warrior

"That first whale-watch changed my life completely. It inspired me to dedicate my life to their protection and it's incredible
to think that one moment can alter the course of your life forever." Skye Bortoli

At the tender age of 16, teen anti-whaling activist, Skye Bortolis' resume boasts achievments many of us only dream of accomplishing.
The founder of teens against whaling www.teensagainstwhaling.com is one of the teens i will be using in my pitch to inspire youth about the difference they can make to their own lives and the world around them.

Illawarra Youth Landcare

A team of young volunteers (late teens to early 30s) has just come on the Landcare scene! This is the very first Landcare group for young adults to form in the Illawarra.
As a team of volunteers, the group travels around and visits a different Landcare site one weekend a month. The group lends a helping hand to existing Landcare and Bushcare groups around the Illawarra region. Members of the group not only learn about environmental management issues, but also benefit from networking opportunities, build on social skills and develop a more sound understanding of the real environmental challenges this region is facing.
This is a great way to see parts of this region you may never normally get to visit. Not only is it a fun day out in the great outdoors, it's an opportunity to lend a helping hand to our beautiful environment, and the wonderful groups that already exist!
There are some spectacular sites out there that need our help and activities include creek restoration, bushland regeneration, and open space revegetation.
Each working bee is topped off with a social event whether it be a game of beach cricket and a swim in warmer months, a BBQ and footy in the park, or a meal and a game of pool at the local!
Meeting Times
Once a month on a weekend day as notified by group coordinator.
Next Meeting: Saturday 5th of September with the Gainsborough Chase Minnamurra Wetland Landcare Group. 10am-12pm meet at the end of Thornett Way, Gainsborough.
Coordinator
Megan Rowlatt - 0412 532 817
To become involved or for more information contact Megan Rowlatt Landcare Community Support Officer on 4229 7526 or mrowlatt@conservationvolunteers.com.au


Fling- Physical Youth theatre

"Every child is an artist... the problem is staying an artist when you grow up" Pablo Picasso
"Art is not what you see... but what you make others see" Edgar Degas
"Have no fear of perfection... You'll never reach it" Salvador Dali



The portrayal of today’s youth tends to be dominated by negative themes. Binge drinking, violence, partying, crime, graffiti and vandalism.
They are known as the generation that live so well and still complain about it.
A generation of consumers.

Now being on the outer fringe of the “youth bracket” myself I find this all a bit harsh.
I don’t just shop and complain. My lifestyle isn’t focussed on partying; I know how lucky I am. I care about my role in the community.

I also find this attitude so conflicting. All the young people I know have so much more substance and intelligence than what the older generations give them credit for. Why is at that youth are perceived in such a negative way?
Is it he need for older generation see the one following as deficient to boost their own collective ego or is the attitude a result of the actions of a majority of Gen Y’s?

Recently I found myself in a social scene with a bunch of 18 year olds. So I asked them why they think they are portrayed in such a negative way.

"Well we do get weighed down by the bad actions" of others, continuing on to say that "for every news report about the deteriorating behaviour of youths, there are many unpublished stories about young people who are doing the right thing".
This representation by the media that focuses on the negatives is a case of the negative minority receiving the most attention.

These kids were smart, socially aware and very proactive within the community and further evidence that this bad attitude is obviously initiated by the media.

Take for example Corey Worthington. This young man received months of media attention for having a party that was gate crashed by up to 500 teens. He was on the news every night. You couldn’t open a paper without seeing him or his ridiculous glasses for weeks. The money and energy that went into following Corey’s story was outrageous.
The same media attention is given to the well publicised “schoolies week”.
Every night during the Schoolies week season we hear the reports on kids getting arrested, Binge drinking, taking drugs, unsafe sex and just larrikin behaviour.
The media creates this mess by portraying each year’s school leavers as parting animals with no respect for themselves or the community that they are partying in.
A majority of “schoolies” enjoy their time with friends at various schoolie destinations as responsible young adults.
If the media turned their attention to the kids out there who are making a difference it would create a positive image and encourage more to follow in their peers footsteps. Australia’s Youth are intelligent, articulate and passionate about the future of their community. It is time we acknowledge the young people in Australia who are doing the right thing, who want to make a positive contribution to their communities and are perhaps not receiving the attention they deserve.