Episodes
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Davy Rowe was back at square one … his business was gone!
So what next … especially when the advice from his brother was … "You know,
realistically mate ... you've got to forgive the guys that cheated you"
Was he really ready for that?
The first step toward accepting any change, occurred when he went with his
brother to a “men’s retreat” for a weekend in the USA. The realisation of
who he was, and what he wanted to be, was uncovered…along with an interest
in “plant medicines” as a way to help his self discovery.
Next was a trip to Costa Rica, where Davy experienced the mind influencing
and soul discovery effects of ayahuasca. It changed everything. -
"Drive the van off the road Davy … and the pain will stop"
These words came from a voice in the mind of Davy Rowe one morning, as he
was travelling down the freeway in Perth. It took him many years to share
this experience with anyone … but it formed a catalytic moment for drive
and purpose in his life from the moment he ‘heard’ them.
He had arrived in Perth from the UK in 1990 with a wife, two young kids,
and a determination to build a business from scratch. The business was
beginning to grow when he heard this message, and he was able to use it as
motivation for success.
He went on to establish Vortech, a successful air-conditioning installation
company — it was the biggest in Perth — and Davy was busy. Busy with work,
busy with family, busy raising his kids.
Then his world collapsed when a trusted contractor refused to pay nearly $1
million in work Vortech had completed. -
Episodes manquant?
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The inspired decision at a young age to study French in school, has lead
Rachael West on a path of living and working in France on multiple
occasions.
These visits were experiences that have shaped her thinking, allowed her to
take study opportunities that have fuelled her passions and ultimately
allowed her to be immersed in the French culture.
But, these are not the only interesting experiences she has had … there’s
also “Clown School”. Being part of this intensive program of performance,
has positively influence her understanding of how humans perform in front
of crowds. She has taken this knowledge into her work as a “speaker coach”. -
Frank Scatchard has led an interesting and varied life.
During his visit to The Island, Frank shared with us some really
interesting details from his original career as an industrial “kiln
operator”. Yep, it’s not every day you meet someone that has operated an
industrial kiln at dangerous temp’s of over 1000 degrees…and has lived to
talk about it.
But whilst that was a significant part of his early working life, there was
a drive for the freedom to work for himself. So, after some careful
planning and creative working arrangements with employers, Frank was able
to build up from scratch … his own lawn-mowing business.
This freedom of working for himself allowed him to embrace one of his
passions … music … and become involved in community radio. After a couple
of goes at it, Frank eventually did a course in radio announcing and then
began a commitment to hosting a regular show on 6HFM … RockAria. -
As a developing child, Larissa Muir’s son was being excluded from aspects
of the community and faced challenges in his initial years of education.
Through clinical support and a medical process of discovery, he was
initially diagnosed with ADHD, and eventually this led to a recognition of
autism.
But, what do you do when you realise that the way he thinks … is the way
you think and view the world. For Larissa, this was a revelation and
allowed her to also be diagnosed with both conditions. As a professionally
successful adult in her mid 30’s, she was now in a position to realise why
her intuition and behaviour was shaped the way it was. But, it also
presented a dilemma … how would people acknowledge her when she shared with
them this important information. -
When faced with the emotional pressure of a long term relationship break-up
it would seem natural to find the security of a safe space, in the company
of loved ones and looking for stability in your life.
But for Alexis Naylor, when this happened she chose something quite
different. She decided to embark on an adventurous life of living on the
road and travelling around the country. With her re-fashioned ex-ambulance
named “Van…essa”, Alexis was able to spread her wings, re-capture her
independence and take control of her own destiny.
Being a successful musician, Alexis spent the next two and half years
travelling around Australia, booking into studio’s to satisfy her creative
expression and just playing gigs wherever she could. -
After only 3 and half years knowing each other, Seb and Rhys chose to leave
the professional comfort of Not for Profit organisations working in the
disability sector, to create a business for themselves. They had a vision
to create an entity that would continue to allow people with disability to
exercise their independence through personal choice and control. And they
did this in classic “bootstrapping” style … by believing in themselves.
The NDIS has created an interesting marketplace in the Australian
disability landscape and the opportunity for independent, customer focused
contract providers to create an impact, is strong. -
Yvette Thomas and her husband had well established, long term careers. But
they were forced to make a considered decision, during the worldwide
pandemic, to seek a new life … and future.
This involved a move to regional Western Australia to operate a tourist
accomodation … a project that lasted for 2 years and 9 months. However the
intensity of running a 24/7 operation created physical and mental burnout
which led to the need for both of them to take a break. The only way to
deal with this was to take 3 months for “complete rest and recovery”.
After this time of contemplation, Yvette began a process of discovery to
determine …”what’s next?”
This involved a simple Google search of “trauma informed education” and
opened her world to new opportunities. The first step was to complete an
online course called “The Trauma Informed certificate for Coaches and
Healers” -
Ali Horriyat established Compassiviste to unite individuals into
collectives that can make real change to the world.
Following a self described “ mindset experience “ with a homeless person
who shared food with him when he was “on the streets”, … Ali embraced a
clear understanding of compassion, and most importantly, the actions of
compassion that help others to make real change…from these thoughts came
Compassiviste. -
In 2016, businessman-turned-charity founder Ali Horriyat gave away his
entire personal fortune of almost $100m. This was not just a meaningless
distribution of cash to satisfy an ego charged desire for personal
fulfilment, but it came from a real belief in a better way to shift the
social impact dial.
He went to the extremes of experiencing homelessness, connecting with
people who’s human values mattered more than their wealth and spent many
hours, weeks, months and years capturing a manifesto of beliefs that were
used to set the basis for his future life.
He is one of the great moral and social thinkers of our time. -
Ryan Honschooten has been on Max’s Island before … when he has shared
stories about his world renowned blind sailing expertise and his “later in
life” interest in playing blind cricket that has also seen him travel the
world with his ‘baggy green’ cap… most importantly to India, the current
heartbeat of world cricket. Ryan is the epitome of the uniqueness that
exists in all humans … and that is not to be defined by his life story, but
be shaped and cultured by many individual stories of his life.
In this episode on Max’s Island, Ryan shares his passion for community
radio and reflects on his many years of involvement in this world … and
then experience of most recently, reengaging with this interest to the
extent of becoming the Chairperson of 6HFM 107.3. -
In Western Australia where Max’s Island is recorded, we are in the midst of
another exciting Aussie Rules football season.
At the highest level of AFL, the local scene has featured the strong
“on-field” improvement of the Fremantle Dockers and “Harley Hype” is
gripping the West Coast Eagles fan base.
The local WA Football League also continues to generate incredible
community support and be the important “feeder” system for the elite
players.
But, it wasn’t that long ago when things were compromised by the pandemic
and in WA, we experienced an isolation that actually allowed this local
competition to continue and provide a real emotional outlet for many…at a
time of collective community anxiety.
In today’s episode, we reflect on the two occasions Cameron Britt, CEO of
the South Fremantle Football Club, visited the island to share his story
about his journey in football, how he came to WA and the bizarre times of
successfully running a football club during a pandemic. -
Following a casual comment at work a few years ago, Dott Dacey and Odette
Jordan discovered they both had a hidden desire to not only walk the Kokoda
Trail but also absorb the spiritual experiences of those who had gone
before them … especially those soldiers who had defended the Australian
heritage in WWII.
They both challenged themselves to reach the physical and emotional heights
of successfully walking Kokoda. Yet, this didn’t happen by chance, it came
after a determined period of physical training, a focus on mental
preparation and a commitment to support each other through the experience. -
In her later teen years, Jayne Bryant was given a positive affirmation that she was good at singing and performing. It came from a comment made by her brother, to her dad, whilst they were on a family summer holiday.
From that moment she had the confidence to really focus on this passion and ultimately make the decision to postpone the completion of her University Science Degree and venture to Melbourne to undertake a one year course in music performance. Much to her mum’s displeasure.
During that year in Melbourne her musical skills blossomed and she began to develop into a ‘real’ performer. On her arrival back to Perth, Jayne became immersed in her local music network and took the bold step to begin performing live. Whilst this lifestyle was challenging and ultimately not financially viable or fulfilling, an impressive body of work was created that culminated in an album of all her songs … called “Just as it Should” and released in 2008. -
Being a lover of pets, and dogs in particular, is something familiar to
many of us on Max’s Island. However, few of us go so far as to dedicate a
big part of our lives to making sure ALL dogs have the best possible life.
Karen Rhodes was introduced to Homer at the Shenton Park Dogs Home many
years ago and that relationship became deep and loving through a mutual
bond between them. Homer was a big, strong masculine dog … but with a heart
of gold and a loving disposition … and he became the companion Karen needed
at the time. She could always depend on him. -
Barry Mone is just like any dad … he’ll do anything for his children.
Since late 2017, when his son Charlie had just turned 8, Barry and his
family have been on a crusade. Around this time, through a series of
circumstances and even observations of others … including a lady who they
met at the local park … Charlie was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) — an incurable and ultimately fatal condition caused by a
lack of dystrophin protein.
Charlie had earlier in life been diagnosed with Persistent hyperplastic
primary vitreous (PHPV) … a common congenital developmental anomaly of the
eye that causes a level of blindness, so when his “Duchenne” was diagnosed
… life became more complicated.
As Charlie is the only “boy” in the world with both conditions. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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” - Montre plus
