Trishelle

Australian school teacher and miracle worker, Trishelle Grady, has left her Ugandan charity and returned to her home of the Gold Coast to give birth to twins. Trishelle looks after more than 100 local Ugandan children through her charity 100% Hope, a venture born from a dream to help some of the world's most vulnerable children. The vision began in 2006 when she was studying to become a teacher. "I had a dream about starting a village for children. My dream was so vivid; it was pitch black with a pin-prick of light on the horizon. As I started walking towards the light, everyting went grey and there were dead bodies surroudning me, so I continued towards the light. I was confronted with huge gates that read 'CITY OF HOPE.' When I pushed open gates, death and despair disappeared and there were homes, medical clinics and church. It was pure joy." Upon her arrival in Uganda, with only one way ticket and one suitcase, she found herself stuck in the middle of a riot outside the International Airport. Trishelle was required to lie on the back seat floor of a taxi in order to stay alive for over 7 terrifying hours. “It was a confronting way to be welcome to Uganda and I thought, what have I gotten myself in to?” But within a week, Trishelle had over 60 children on her doorstep. The children were mostly orphans; whose parents had died from aids or the civil war; but also included severely neglected or abused children, even those whose parents had tried to murder them. “I wouldn’t change any of it. I’m a Mother to over hundreds of kids, and now have four of my own."

To add to her adventure, Trishelle found herself lucky to survive a horror murder plot last year from a rival organisation. A nearby charity, doing similar work to that of 100% Hope, became envious of Trishelle’s success and hired someone she trusted to deliberately end her life. “We couldn’t keep working with them- all international funding for them stopped when they were exposed for corruption.” Hope Village’s school cook was hired to poison Trishelle when she was 16 weeks pregnant with Destiny (seen pictured). By a miracle, Trishelle was on the edge of the capital city when the poison hit her system. She began to feel contractions and vomited blood, and feared she had lost her child. “If I was back in Mityana, over a two hour drive from a hospital, it would have certainly been too late."

To add to her adventure, Trishelle found herself lucky to survive a horror murder plot last year from a rival organisation. A nearby charity, doing similar work to that of 100% Hope, became envious of Trishelle’s success and hired someone she trusted to deliberately end her life. “We couldn’t keep working with them- all international funding for them stopped when they were exposed for corruption.” Hope Village’s school cook was hired to poison Trishelle when she was 16 weeks pregnant with Destiny (seen pictured). By a miracle, Trishelle was on the edge of the capital city when the poison hit her system. She began to feel contractions and vomited blood, and feared she had lost her child. “If I was back in Mityana, over a two hour drive from a hospital, it would have certainly been too late."

Trishelle met baby Hope 4 months after the move to Uganda. Alerted by locals, Trishelle arrived to find 25 children living in cages, with Hope being one of four babies. She was 8 weeks old when Trishelle found her, laying in her own filth, with a case worker doing nothin to assist. She soon discovered that Hope was born on the side of a busy high way, to a mentally ill woman who survived on scraps and her own filth. The Mother soon passed away after being hit by a car. Hope’s certificate reads, 'Mother unknown and Father unknown.’ Soon after, Trishelle came back to rescue Hope after she was kidnapped for child sacrifice in the marketplace. Whilst the practice is illegal, it is still heavily practiced in Uganda, said to bring fame and fortune to those who sacrifice children. IN 2017, Hope is 3 years old (seen in photograph). She speaks as fluently as a 7 year old child, and has hit every developmental milestone ahead of her time.

Trishelle met baby Hope 4 months after the move to Uganda. Alerted by locals, Trishelle arrived to find 25 children living in cages, with Hope being one of four babies. She was 8 weeks old when Trishelle found her, laying in her own filth, with a case worker doing nothin to assist. She soon discovered that Hope was born on the side of a busy high way, to a mentally ill woman who survived on scraps and her own filth. The Mother soon passed away after being hit by a car. Hope’s certificate reads, 'Mother unknown and Father unknown.’ Soon after, Trishelle came back to rescue Hope after she was kidnapped for child sacrifice in the marketplace. Whilst the practice is illegal, it is still heavily practiced in Uganda, said to bring fame and fortune to those who sacrifice children. IN 2017, Hope is 3 years old (seen in photograph). She speaks as fluently as a 7 year old child, and has hit every developmental milestone ahead of her time.

Sonny

Sonny, 19, returned from Samoa last week after trialling for the Samoa Under 20's World Cup team. Sonny was selected from a large group of players across Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, New Zealand and Samoa. Sonny spent an average 20 hours a week in training in the lead up to the trials, bracing the wrath of ex-Cyclone Debbie to prepare for the trial. To trial in Samoa, Pettybourne deferred his university degree and left their jobs.

However, players were left to fend for themselves, with limited shelter availability and a lack of food provided. A team of 35 players were selected for the Oceania Tournament, hosted on the Gold Coast. Players were told to listen on a local Samoan television station for their names, in order to solidify their place in the team. Sonny did not hear his name, and booked his flight home. However, the next day, coaches informed Sonny that he had made team, but announcers failed to read out the correct names.

He spent the next few months continuing his intense training in 40+ degree weather to secure his place. 

The Dawn Patrol

Story and imagery created for The Argus Magazine, published in 2017

Became Editor of The Argus Magazine 2018

 

Meet the Surfers Paradise Dawn Patrol; the heartbeat of our beach and surf culture. The Dawn Patrol was formed when lifesavers noticed a dangerous gap between when the red-and- yellow flags were packed down and when they went up. The volunteers begin each morning at 4:30am, when most of the Coast community are still asleep, and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from the Spit down to Miami. Greeting 6am beach walkers by name, the Dawn Patrol seek to connect with the coast community, keep a watchful eye on early-morning beach goers and raise awareness about the dangers of night swimming. Peter, a member of the Dawn Patrol for over 20 years, has just celebrated his 80th birthday. “Doing this; volunteering for our Gold Coast; it really has filled a hole in my life that I struggled to fill. It has been the highlight of my life. The people I have met, the sunrises I have seen and the stories that I have heard are just remarkable. To me, it will never get old.”

Whilst the Life Guard season has a slight pause during the winter seasons, the Dawn Patrol never rest. 365 days a year, every year, the volunteers arise at 4:30am in harsh conditions to connect and monitor the activity on the beach. Here, the volunteers pause to debrief the day, whilst the early morning Beach Tractor smooths the sand and the sun continues to hide behind the horizon. Having just had Cyclone Debbie pass the Queensland Coast, the air temperature had dropped to just 15 degrees at the seaway. The Dawn Patrol arrived rugged up in their winter uniforms, despite it being April.

Whilst the Life Guard season has a slight pause during the winter seasons, the Dawn Patrol never rest. 365 days a year, every year, the volunteers arise at 4:30am in harsh conditions to connect and monitor the activity on the beach. Here, the volunteers pause to debrief the day, whilst the early morning Beach Tractor smooths the sand and the sun continues to hide behind the horizon. Having just had Cyclone Debbie pass the Queensland Coast, the air temperature had dropped to just 15 degrees at the seaway. The Dawn Patrol arrived rugged up in their winter uniforms, despite it being April.

Peter spends about 500 hours a year volunteering for Surf Life Saving Australia, and has no intentions of slowing down. "It's a tough call to put your body and life on the line," Peter explains. The team begin their shift at 4:30am and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from Miami to the Southport Spit until the professional lifeguards begin at 8:00am. They send out two vehicles, patrolling the beach stretch in opposite directions, in order to have a wider eye on the beach swimmers. Whilst the Winter Sun slowly rises over the Cyclone Debbie storm clouds, the Dawn Patrol team meet beside the Jetskis to debrief, assess the situation and check in on each other's health to ensure each team mate is focused.

Peter spends about 500 hours a year volunteering for Surf Life Saving Australia, and has no intentions of slowing down. "It's a tough call to put your body and life on the line," Peter explains. The team begin their shift at 4:30am and cover a 16-kilometre stretch of beach from Miami to the Southport Spit until the professional lifeguards begin at 8:00am. They send out two vehicles, patrolling the beach stretch in opposite directions, in order to have a wider eye on the beach swimmers. Whilst the Winter Sun slowly rises over the Cyclone Debbie storm clouds, the Dawn Patrol team meet beside the Jetskis to debrief, assess the situation and check in on each other's health to ensure each team mate is focused.

"For me it's been the absolute highlight of my life, it truly has been. Every single day when I’m watching the sun rise, I am so thankful to be on that beach, to be doing what I do. Each sunrise is new and unique. It will never get old to me. It keeps me healthy, fit and active. As long as I can meet the requirements, I'll keep volunteering until I am no longer able. 80 is not the end. And I strongly encourage anyone who has retired to consider volunteering. It filled a hole in my life that I spent years trying to fill. It truly is the higlight of my life."

"For me it's been the absolute highlight of my life, it truly has been. Every single day when I’m watching the sun rise, I am so thankful to be on that beach, to be doing what I do. Each sunrise is new and unique. It will never get old to me. It keeps me healthy, fit and active. As long as I can meet the requirements, I'll keep volunteering until I am no longer able. 80 is not the end. And I strongly encourage anyone who has retired to consider volunteering. It filled a hole in my life that I spent years trying to fill. It truly is the higlight of my life."

Peter notes that one of his most memorable moments was a particular rescue on a stormy morning. “A jet ski was found without a rider so myself and my partner were requested out on the jet ski,” he says. "The life saving boat found the rider but the boat broke down and went into limp-mode. They drifted to the mouth of the Seaway but couldn't see because of the huge spume from the waves. There were about 200 people watching on the wall. The media were there too. My partner David Clarke and I were called and he set out on the jet ski to guide the boat in. But it was so rough and the boat was in such poor shape they put the rescued rider on the back of the jet ski. All you could see was David disappear into the mist at the Seaway entry and we all just held our collective breaths. He was gone for 20 minutes, it felt like an age." “Then suddenly, out of the spray he appeared, riding down these huge waves with the rider on his back. Everyone was cheering." It just epitomises the selflessness of this organisation. It’s such a tough call to put your body, your life, on the line like that. But time and time again I see these guys do it. “It’s an honour to walk the beach with them.”

Peter notes that one of his most memorable moments was a particular rescue on a stormy morning. “A jet ski was found without a rider so myself and my partner were requested out on the jet ski,” he says. "The life saving boat found the rider but the boat broke down and went into limp-mode. They drifted to the mouth of the Seaway but couldn't see because of the huge spume from the waves. There were about 200 people watching on the wall. The media were there too. My partner David Clarke and I were called and he set out on the jet ski to guide the boat in. But it was so rough and the boat was in such poor shape they put the rescued rider on the back of the jet ski. All you could see was David disappear into the mist at the Seaway entry and we all just held our collective breaths. He was gone for 20 minutes, it felt like an age."

“Then suddenly, out of the spray he appeared, riding down these huge waves with the rider on his back. Everyone was cheering." It just epitomises the selflessness of this organisation. It’s such a tough call to put your body, your life, on the line like that. But time and time again I see these guys do it. “It’s an honour to walk the beach with them.”