,7 CD 0-, C I)) '< I :s: I)) 0 ::J'" N 0 0 CJ7 Life Plunge in work travel study &more earning to do something you love The art of photography and learning new skills Robert Almond 'd never studied photography before, although I loved taking hotographs. I'd always been told I've got a knack, that I'm able o take unusual photographs. So when I heard about the photog­ aphy course through the Sanctuary, I thought I'd give it a go. It was really well organised and didn't cost a cent. The people at the Arts Centre in Pine Street were fabulous. Jamie Dunbar was the instructor, and I learned all kinds of skills. We learned how to focus, use Photoshop, and distort images. People tell you not to take photos when you're looking into the light. Jamie Dunbar told us you can often do the opposite because you get really fantastic results. The):' gave us a disposable camera for four weeks, told us to come up with a theme, and go out and take photos of anything we wanted to. I chose Tree Harbour water as my theme. I took my camera round Sydney Harbour, Watson's Bay, and took _some wonderful photographs of the Harbour. And then we came to the class and downloaded them on to the computer. We worked with Photoshop to distort the image and came up with different ideas. Learning to take a great photograph with Jamie Dunbar was the best thing about it. I loved having the chance to learn from him. It was a real treat and I felt really honoured. Another very important thing I learned was that you don't need a camera with all the gadgets. You can take the best photograph with the cheapest camera in the world. It's not what you've got. It's the person holding the camera. At the end of our course we got the chance of displaying our work in an exhibition at the Pine Street Arts Centre, and I sold all my work on the Troo Cuves night (over $300) so I was on cloud nine. I had so much positive feedback even from some people who didn't know me I made quite a few new friends, and we're still in contact with each other. We're going to organise a little camera group ourselves. I think there'll be about six of us who will maintain friendships and our shared interest in photography. I would definitely recommend doing something like this. You realise there are people just like you, who might be feeling a bit lost the moment, and don't feel like they've got the energy. You might not be working, but you need something else to do. The next step for me now is to meet David Wallace at Positive Futures and talk with him about doing a TAFE course in photography. I really Hartxx.,- Fala think I've found my niche in life. This is something that I enjoy, something totally different from what I've done before, and I don't want to miss this opportunity- no.137 February - March 2004 Wrap I Opening Doors Launch of Positive Futures exhibition Wrap 2 Learning to do something you love 2 Editorial: Life Plunge in 3 Letters 4 Talkshop 5 A name change BGF's Positive Employment Support project 6 Taking the Plunge and going back to work Mike, Peter and Steve 10 The Healing power of music Soothing sounds for the soul Cova- Photo: vctooa Par1< Pool 2005 12 Northern Exposure CADT Photography HIV and body shape change in the Northern Rivers 14 Leaving on a jet plane Visas, carrying medication, travel insurance, food and more Centre HIV and your mouth 1 7 Pets, companion animals and assistance animals 1 8 Speaking up for the benefit of all positive people 10 years of the Positive Speakers' Bureau 20 Celebrating Stories Importance of stories and how they sustain us 22 The state of the [positive] nation Futures 4 24 Growing older with HIV 26 Life in the Country Don't let services dwindle away 27 So can you cook? 29 Exercise is the ultimate complimentary therapy 30 Ask Ingrid 30 Olga's Personals Wrap 3 World AIDS Day in Kogarah Wrap 4 Happenings (home and away) ~ PEOPLE LIVING; mw1TH HIV/AIDS: ife: Plunge in CURRENT BOARD Prealdent Rob Lake Vic. P.-.aldent Johll Rue Tre■■unr Bernard Kealey You can think of thousands of reasons soothing sounds, and makes a number of sug­ Secretary ""' J Thompson Dlrecton to put it off. It might be inconvenient gestions to match anyone's mood from recov­ Jason Appleby, David Barton, Pete, Canavan, (takes a long time to get there), or you ery and relaxation to acceptance and sexual Norman Last might think you will look foolish (not healing. Staff Rep......,ntathr• Rebecca Reynolds the most elegant diver). It might be The Positive Feelings photos on our colour li><eeutlv• Office r (Ex Officio) Goolf Hornor scary (a long way down), or uncom­ pages feature the creativity of people who CURRIINT STAPP fortable (the water might look chilly have taken the plunge to study and explore ~ecutlve Officer Geoff Hornor· at first touch). But you know you did their talent. Robert and Keith are just two of Health Promotion Kathy Triffitt the right thing when you've taken the the participants in the exhibition, but their Convnunlty Development Advocacy plunge and you're splashing around in beautiful photos are an inspiring example of Rebecca Reynolds the water, feeling refreshed, and doing transforming experience in art. Community Development Communloatlona Glen<, Flanagan what you really wanted to do. In this issue, we look at living in rural areas Manager Organlaatlon &. T-■m of New South Wales. Asha Persson's article Dewalopment Jodie Uttle This issue of Talkabout focuses on plunging on body shape change in the Northern Riv­ Website Phll'p-McGrath into life. Someone recently said to me: '[An ers records some of the ways attitudes are PUBLICATIONS HIV diagnosis] makes you realise that there's different (and sometimes the same) in rural Editor Glen, Rooagan, bigger things in life. Just small things at the settings. Peter Thoms reminds us n<;>t to be Design Slade Srrlth end of the day- you think that's not really that complacent about the services available in PUBLICATIONS WORKING QROUP important. I've got to focus on what's really Davd B!r1m (Ccrneraj, Bema"d Gibb, Kim rural and regional areas. Gotieb, Glem Flanagal, CM>lyn Muray , ~ important and quality of life and stuff like Ra'rier, Rebecca Reynolds , Edwi7 Whennouth that. Small stupid things, you know, at the end A desire to discover new places isn't such a CONTACTS of the day, just forget about it and move on.' bad way to plunge into life. In our office at Office Sule 5, Level 1, 94 Oxford Street , Certainly for many of us, an HIV diagnosis PLWH/A (NSW) we get many enquiries from Dertni:,tust or a period of being unwell can take the flavour HIV positive people about travel to different PO Box 831, Darirl\t<JSI 1300 out of living for a time. But it can also help us countries. Stephen Gallagher offers lots of Phone (02) 9361 6011 Fax (02) 9360 3504 focus on what's really important. We're also useful tips for the HIV positive traveller in Freecal 1800 245 677 edto,Opiwha.Ofg.00 at the beginning of a new year; a reasonable his article. It's a good rule of thumb for most www.plwha.org.au time to reflect on where we're at and what we things of course, but thoughtful planning can TALKABOUT want to do. In fact, the challenges we might take some of the (bad) stress away and ensure is published by People LMng W1th HIV/AIDS (NSW) Inc. Al views expressed ara the opiions have experienced can intensify our decision to you have a good time. of the autrors and not necessart; trose Claude Fabian and John Rule reflect on ten of PLWI-VA, Its manage,nent or ITl8fT08fS . plunge into life, and make our determination Copynglt for al mateool In T~ rssidas to do so all the sweeter. years of the Positive Speakers' Bureau, and with the contributor. Tal<about is made possible by 8'..lbsc,1)tions, advert isi1g r<M0.!8, For quite a few of us, work takes up most the power of telling personal stories. We can't dona tions ard a g:a,1t und€r" the State/ Corrrronw8alt h AIDS Program. Tal<Bbout of our waking hours. It's important to feel we underestimate the impact of HIV positive thanks the many voiunt88f8 without whom Its pubica tloo woukl not be possi,le. can make good decisions about it. In 'Taking people who have been willing to talk about Pmted by lvp:!cy Pmtng the Plunge and going back to work', we read their lives, and thereby challenge misconcep­ ISSN 1034 0866 about the experiences of three people who tions and stereotypes. The work the Positive DISCLAIMER made significant changes in their lives. Being Speakers have done over the last ten years has Images ol people rdooed 11 Tal<about do rot alive is being open to change. Mike, Steve helped to ensure that others realise that we rdcate hlv status either iX)Siti"8 or regatiYe. and Peter share strategies for change which also have dreams, plans and ambitions. tt a person cisdoses thei" hlv status In And there is a lot more.