Max's Island

Charlie Gunningham was a little uncertain about the long term future of his teaching career in the late 1990’s. But, like many changes in life, there was a sequence of events … some unplanned and generally not expected, that eventually catapulted his professional life from teaching to something totally different … the tech world of digital real estate.

This mixture of influential events included completing an MBA, connecting with an American “hedge fund” manager and entrepreneur who had found himself in Perth WA, investing in untried mapping technology … and even being on stage with his wife at a Dame Edna Everage show at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco WA.

And … all of this coming together just as the world wide tech bubble was about to burst.

But it worked out … with Charlie and his American business partner taking the plunge to establish a mapping based Real Estate tech platform and quickly evolving their business model so that it became not only sustainable … but making money.

This is a typical entrepreneurial story of a good idea, the connection of passionate people, fast and intuitive decision making … added with a spice of the quirky. If a Dame Edna experience isn’t quirky, then nothing is!

Estelle Blackburn OAM, is an acclaimed journalist with a career that has included working for WA Newspapers, the ABC and as a media advisor for Carmen Lawrence, Western Australia’s first female State Premier.

However, for this Walkley Award winner, perhaps her greatest achievement has been the impact made on the lives two men, wrongly imprisoned for crimes committed by Eric Edger Cooke, WA’s last man hanged in Fremantle Prison.

A chance meeting with the brother of John Button, one of these falsely convicted men, sent Estelle on the passionate pursuit for truth and the quest to right the wrongs of these injustices. And this included giving up her full time job and selling an investment house to fund this journey.

The story is featured in her award winning book “Broken Lives”. This example of fine journalism and the pursuit of citizen advocacy was instrumental the wrongful convictions of John Button and Darryl Beamish, being squashed.

Pat O’Donnell is a couple of years through her graduate degree at Notre Dame University in Fremantle WA. Like many new university students, she started with an initial subject choice, but also like many, that has now evolved and a double major is likely to result…there’s even talk of an Honours year and additional studies.

This current journey and the planned outcomes sound typical of any new student embarking on a tertiary education…It’s just that Pat began this journey at 83 years of age.

Now at 85, with the degree pathway becoming clear, there is no stopping Pat in her endeavours to do her best in attaining a degree and taking full advantage of the knowledge she has gained.

In this episode, Pat tells the story of why it is only now that she is at university, what it means to her and her family, and shares some of the interesting findings she was part of during an archeology unit that took her down to Albany … the town where she went to high school.

Brooke Jones experienced a strong career, which was most recently within the health policy and research sector in WA. With the necessary academic qualifications, she was a knowledgeable policy maker. This allowed her to be involved in the monitoring and implementation of key programs to support those in our society.

However, this career was interrupted with her becoming a mother. As can often be the case after a significant life event, she reassessed her professional outlook during pregnancy, after child birth and through the wonder mothering a new born. Brooke changed her focus and has successfully studied to become a “midwife”

Through the combination of the emotions felt during this lived experience and the compassion for supporting other women, Brooke has now fully embraced a career as an independent registered midwife. Further, she is committed to understanding the importance of the individual circumstances faced by every woman during their pregnancy journey and what is important when supporting them during this time.

We are all confident in what we believe and know that our life experiences are true to us.

Thanks again to all the regular listeners to Max’s Island for your loyal support.  

Continuing our reflection of recent special moments on Max’s Island … in this episode we’re highlighting another important Value we like follow on the island. 

In this second BONUS episode to start our 2024, we will hear stories from recent guests to the island who truly embrace the value of “Daring to be Human” … you know…being uniquely themselves.

Last year we had visits to the island from two musicians who have uniquely different lived experiences that have dramatically influenced the way they make music today.

Firstly, there’s Jay Wood. She had to totally relearn how to play the guitar and then recapture the magic of her music … following a car accident that led to a severe brain injury. Her strength of commitment toward sharing her talent to the world whilst still being genuinely herself… is truly amazing.

 https://jaywoodmusic.com/

Stefan West is embarking on the release of his first solo album. With the trials and tribulations of a life full of twists and turns … Stefan openly shares his past experiences with drug addiction, mental health challenges and friends lost to suicide. He uses this opportunity to weave a story of how his realisation of the past and the personal reconciliation of his actions can be shared through his music.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0PBx1cYritKInSKLkn3Zea

For this years reflection of special moments on Max’s Island we are highlighting the important Values we follow on the island.

So … to begin with this year … we’ll feature some stories from last year, where visitors to Max’s Island truly reflected one of these values.

In this BONUS episode we will hear stories that embrace the value … “Believe in Everyone” … we know the world is full of individual personalities who add to the richness of our relationships and connection.

These stories from Chris Singleton, Rutchi Kaushal and Bec Bowman will give you an insight into what “Believing in Everyone” is all about.

This may be you … as an individual with a strong sense of self actualisation or just the way you allow others to be themselves.

David Maddocks recently travelled to New York with many “diehards” to see the final Kiss concert at Madison Square Gardens… all dressed in their favourite black Kiss t-shirts.

This was Kiss concert number 69 for David and it delivered exactly what he expected…lot’s of pyrotechnics … lots of familiarity and as usual … and finished with “Rock’n’Roll all night”.

The Kiss army was out in force at the concert in NYC …and they were joined on-line from all around the world as a pay for view event. Kiss, always looking to make money!

AND, the show finished with a teaser for the future … it looks like Kiss will live on !!!!

Laura has 4 children who have never been to school … that is … in the formal sense of learning. But this does not mean they haven’t experienced an education process that has prepared them for life and their future endeavours.

Initially through specific circumstances and then from a deliberate desire and a belief in her eyes to give her children the best opportunities to learn, Laura has chosen to home school them all. She in fact does not call it home schooling, but refers to them as a ‘home educating family”, with the ‘holy grail’ of achievement is her children being able to read.

Laura and the children have also managed a number of neuro diverse conditions that have added to the complexity of their journey.

Getting the most out of experiential learning situations and the ongoing quest to source unique, real life opportunities where this can occur, has been a huge part of the education process for all 4 children.

Now that the eldest of her children is preparing for adult life and future learning, Laura is clear in her belief they are prepared … even for university. She says … “it’s really easy getting into university … without going to school … that’s the truth”.

After suffering from a work related head trauma, Mark Ewing developed an acquired brain injury that needed to be managed as he attempted to return to work. But this was challenging when colleagues kept saying “you look fine to me” … and his manager even said “if you don’t recover, you will be dismissed”.

It took the astute recognition from his GP, of his real condition, for things to change … finally someone who took interest in his post traumatic growth recovery. And then, a considered referral to a psychologist who knew what was possibly happening to his brain, unlocked the inspiration for taking positive action.

The link to art, as a way for Mark to demonstrate his emotional position and feelings, provided the inspiration to follow a path toward recovery. Initially, this art reflected how Mark associated these emotions exclusively through colours and positioning them together.

He also likes to have metaphors and stories in his work. These are self reflective, self driven and totally for himself.

Mark is now in a gallery and an art studio, but most importantly he is influencing others with ABI’s by volunteering in an art program at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Another great step toward his recovery and personal growth.

Mark’s art can be found at:-

Facebook: Mark Ewing Art

Insta: markewing_art

Rutchi Kaushal was embedded in her chosen career in accounting and finance … and behind the closed door of her CBD office, she had the confidence and skill to successfully be herself and achieve peer recognition.

However, whilst always maintaining this professional outlook and persona, there was a hidden desire to something different. Something that was a true reflection of who she was … what her passions were … and something she saw as her real future.

It took a few years for Rutchi to begin to share these dreams with friends, family and then her work colleagues. But once the “idea” had been released, there was no turning back.

After giving 4-5 months notice to her employer, she began her own business, called “Inner Spice”. Like most entrepreneurs, the business model has been down many paths in a short time and has evolved to become a place where people can learn, experience and find wonder in the world of “spices”.

Connect with Rutchi today … so you can find your inner spice!

https://www.innerspice.com.au

https://www.instagram.com/rutchi_kaushal/?hl=en