Max's Island

This episode is titled, “For a short time” – and we reflect on two stories from 2022 where a person entered the lives of each of our guests for just a short period yet made a momentous impact.

Firstly, there’s Simon White, someone who has been a successful journo in newspapers and online … for many years … all around Australia.

He spent some of this journey in South Australia, working as the racing writer for the Adelaide Advertiser, and it was during his time there he got to meet … and become friends with, a particularly colourful horse racing identity.

Following a suggestion from an editor at the paper and since it was the 25th anniversary of the “Fine Cotton” affair … the infamous horse substitution ring-in, at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Queensland, Simon started to look for one of the key characters in this ‘affair’, Hayden Haitana. The trainer of Fine Cotton was now living in and around the fringes of Adelaide, and leading quite a mysterious life.

This story is one of genuine connection and friendship that ends with Simon being able to do for Hayden, something that no-one else was able to in the previous 25 years … And that was to get him legally back onto a race course.

Then there’s Dean Margetts, who at 21 years of age, responded to an advertisement in the local paper … to become an umpire.

This began a speedy journey to the AFL, where he eventually umpired 377 games (and that’s after 110 league games in the WAFL), across a career spanning more than 20 seasons. He featured in 12 finals (2 Prelim’s) and is an AFL Life Member.

During his time umpiring, whilst still based in the west, he travelled well over 200 times to the east coast of Australia to umpire games. This weekly traverse across the country was just in a day’s work for a self defined footy-head who saw umpiring as ‘his sport’.

It was on one of these trips back from the east when a dramatic mid air incident occurred. If it wasn’t for a chance meeting with someone on board, his life could have changed forever. A decision made by a doctor on board that flight … someone who was in his life for just a short moment in time … probably saved his life.

Every year on Max’s Island, we like to begin the year by reflecting on some of our interesting guests from 2022 and combine their stories into a mixed episode that has added meaning. These extended episodes are a great way for you to allow yourself the time to refresh your energy for the new year and be inspired by the experiences of others.

In this first episode of two in the 2023 Starter Series, you’ll hear the stories from 3 strong women of our world … all who have had significant moments that have shaped the rest of their lives. They all had common desires to seek a meaningful life and career … and interestingly each of them have a story that has some closely related themes and experiences.

Kristel Tuul - www.kristeltuul.com

Sarah Gregg - www.thepowertoreinvent.com

Emily Silva Hockstra - www.soulsadventures.com

Stephen Miller made his mind up early in his time at the University of WA, to follow a career in economics. It has taken him to the policy and financial capitals of the world … including Canberra, London, New York and Sydney.

In Canberra, he had a front row seat to the significant developments of the Australian financial markets in the 1980’s … especially during his time working with the then Australian Govt Treasurer, Paul Keating.

He eventually left the safe confines of the Canberra bubble to begin a long career in the competitive field of bonds and funds management in Sydney and then overseas.

His career was not without its challenges but Stephen always managed to stay loyal to his employer, clients and most importantly his work colleagues … especially when times were tough.

This is a story of resilience and trust … with a dose of good humour and common sense.

For SJC, 2016 was the year when she started a new job, went on a holiday to Bali and then faced the trauma of caring for her mother, as her health began to dramatically fail.

Having worked away from her family in the US, for 22 years in Australia, SJC had to deal with her mental challenges after her mother’s passing in a new way. The mental scaring from being raised in a domestically violent environment had been the catalyst for her to disassociate from traumatic situations, as a way of coping throughout her adult working life. But a “PTSD blackout” after a confrontation at work in 2018, became the moment when her approach to dealing with her mental health issues dramatically changed.

She began to assemble a supportive team of clinical professionals and created an environment where she was able to confront her lifelong challenges of being a black, Latino woman, AND the shock of being diagnosed late in life with ADHD.

Being “wrapped” in the support of this team of mental health specialists and business coaches had allowed SJC to successfully operate her own business and begin to discover what is needed in her life to cope with the pressure of daily life.

USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes contemporary romances that sparkle and seduce you one kiss at a time. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight for their true love.

In this episode we learn about Nicole’s passionate approach to her craft and how over a long period of time … and with a great amount of hard work … she has established a place in the romance writing world as a distinguished published author.

Also, she speaks compassionately about the value of the collaborative network of writers and how this collective works to support many budding writers.

You can find more about Nicole’s work at http://www.nicoleflockton.com/

Emily Silva Hockstra believes everyone has the power to create the lives they dream of.

During a holiday to Costa Rica she saw a handwritten flyer in a coffee shop for an “intuitive painting course” and immediately was taken on a process that changed her life. The woman teaching her ended the course by interpreting her paining and telling Emily that she needed to be Brave … and to go after what she really wanted … Love!

Returning to the US, she quit her job, then booked a one way trip to Bali to find herself and plan the future. But in the beginning this wasn’t so spiritual and meaningful … it took 3 weeks of rain, rats and stray dogs, before Emily realised the need to look at life differently and be grateful for what she was experiencing and use this for her motivation.

Back in the US again, her dream of being a published author did not immediately eventuate at her first attempt. However, a random encounter with a man in a coffee shop, who thought she was a good listener, suggested she would make a great life coach. Within a month Emily enrolled in a course to become a life coach and this has been a primary part of her life since…And finally a year later she did publish her first book on Gratitude.

Emily can be found at https://soulsadventures.com/

CRAIG HOLLYWOOD, FOUNDER, CEO (VOLUNTEER)

Craig founded a charity called Short Back and Sidewalks (SBSW) in early 2015. It’s a free hair-cutting and grooming service for members of the community who are experiencing homelessness and is currently governed and operated entirely by volunteers. 

They work alongside service providers across Australia, providing friendly and attentive hair-cutting experiences with some of Australia’s best hairdressers and barbers as volunteers. SBSW currently operates in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Victoria.

The service goes beyond just giving free haircuts; they create meaningful connections through conversations with clients, and create visibility for some of the most marginalised community members in Australia.

Importantly, Craig was named as Western Australia’s Local Hero in 2022 as part of the Australian Of The Year Awards. Craig has volunteered at all levels of SBSW and he is the visionary that keeps the organisation striving to better serve those in need. He now plays a critical role in the national expansion and strategic partnerships. Having had a family member experience homelessness Craig is passionate about breaking the stigma often attached to society's most vulnerable people.

His story will truely inspire you.

https://www.shortbackandsidewalks.com/

Previously, we learnt that Ryan took up “blind cricket” in his mid forties … after a successful career as a national Goalballer and a world champion sailor.

On this episode, we’ll discover how he made his way to Queensland and into an international series against New Zealand … BUT, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Ryan. Illness nearly prevented him achieving the ultimate goal.

Also, Ryan tells us what is like to be in the same game when teammate and long time friend, Stefan Nero scored a world record innings of 309 runs.

Follow this link to see the video of Ryan receiving his Australian baggy green cap.

https://www.facebook.com/CricketAustralia/videos/987107032006522

Returning to Max’s Island in this episode is the inspiring Ryan Honschooten.

Well known and world regarded blind sailer, adventurer, mentor, motivator and general great guy.

For someone who has achieved so much, then why would he choose to take up a new sport in his mid forties? Because that is just what he does … and it was no surprise that this new sporting endeavour has seen Ryan reach the pinnacle of Australian Cricket … a Baggy Green cap.

Part 2

Sarah got the feeling of ”where she was meant to be” when she got the surprise offer of a book deal.

The amazing process of writing the book happened in Copenhagen … another place where Sarah and her husband Chris just happened to travel too.

The book took ten months to write and was finally publish in 2020 … just 2 years after she was first contacted by the publisher. The launch was in New York, and in her own words… it was like being in a movie …like being in “Sex in the City” in downtown Manhattan.

“Find your Flow … a life changing practice for a happier you” was soon followed by her second book “Choose Happy”. Whilst she couldn’t change the publishers name for this second book, she was able to create a book that makes you feel good … as she says it’s like “a hug”.

This has created a platform for Sarah to promote across the world a method for living a better life using “Flow”. She continues to follow her ‘gut’ to plan the future and live the life she wishes too.

Find Sarah and her work @ https://thepowertoreinvent.com/