A friend of mine was on her way home from work yesterday and noticed a young woman crying. My friend went over to her and asked her if she was ok. (Well, obviously she wasn't, but you know, it was a conversation starter.) The friend asked a number of more immediate questions: Can you get home? Do you need anything? Can I do anything to help? 
After exhausting the more obvious, my friend just asked 'Would you like a hug?'.  
The crying woman smiled.

Generally I choose not to focus on the more high profile causes, but this one caught my attention this week. Well, it was hard to miss popping up a number of times in my Facebook newsfeed.

I dare say that most of us will, unfortunately, somehow be affected by cancer during our lifetime.  This week we saw the launch of a photographic exhibition in Chrissie Amphlett’s honour.  These photographs were taken by photographer Tony Mott during Chrissie’s time with the Divinyls. Tony recently gave all the photos he had to Chrissie’s husband, Charley Drayton, who with Tony's knowledge decided to use them in an exhibition to raise awareness about self examination for breast cancer run by the NSW Cancer Council’s I touch myself campaign.

This campaign particularly focuses on breast cancer and it is probably also worth noting that the National Breast Cancer Foundation also undertakes research specifically for this.  But, what I particularly like about the Cancer Council NSW's campaign is the way that Chrissie and her husband, with Tony Mott’s cooperation, creatively used what essentially cost them nothing in such a creative and generous way. It highlights for me how we can use things already at our fingertips which we might not have even considered.

Photographs and artwork is an excellent example, especially old photos, but they don’t have to be old. But using a theme would work really well, particularly if there is some way it can relate directly to your cause.  But again, the pictures don’t have to. They can be gathered from a single collection – great if you have access to a photographer or artist - or use the opportunity to invite submissions from people you know (or people you don’t know!). One of the junior-senior schools in my area has an annual art show where the students produce paintings and a number of more well known local artists and celebrities are invited to contribute a painting also.  None of the artworks have names on them and over the course of several hours guests bid for artwork they like (or suspect is done by a particular person). This exhibition has become an anticipated community event and I think it might be so popular now that they have limited entry to ticket purchases.

You never know, your small creative idea might just become something for your organisation you never imagined.

I touch myself project – exhibition
17th April – 10th May 2014
Blender Gallery; 16 Elizabeth St, Paddington, NSW

Cancer Council Australia

Here are a couple of people doing practical things to assist disadvantaged indigenous children.  At the moment Young and Free are collecting items that many of us take as a given - clothes, toiletries, nappies, shoes, sporting equipment, books, stationery, school bags, basic household items....use your creativity.  You could even make up a pack suitable for a child of a particular age - get together with some friends, pool resources and put some together.

My office decided to direct funds from this month's casual days to theMotor Neurone Disease Association.  MND is a degenerative desease of the nerve cells which control the muscles we use to function - breath, speak, move.  MND progresses quickly and is a death sentence, with survival after diagnosis averaging less than 3 years.  The MNDASA has various ways that it provides support to sufferers and carers.  You may also consider donation to research in this are via the MND Research Institute of Australia.

I remember being struck by whole towns and cities in the UK and Europe declaring themselves as Fair Trade, with plenty of publicity. I don't think it was that long ago when Fair Trade was unpublicised and more expensive in Australia. Is that still the case? Are there any cities or towns in Australia that have taken a public Fair Trade stance?

I wanted to pick up my 2011/2012 Entertainment Book this week and it reminded me that I could share the work of the Enfield Community Food Centre, where I got my Entertainment Book this year. They provide low cost groceries for people who struggle to afford them. The Centre needs financial support and a lot of the Centre's work is done by volunteers. The ECFC recently relocated from Enfield to Gepps Cross which has cost them a lot. I visited the centre just before they moved, and it's an amazing place, run by extraordinary people for extraordinary people.