Community info session: Health and Wealth - a matter of perspective

Health and Wealth: Having both is great but having neither can be just as good

We often refer to our health when it's lacking or deteriorating but our very special guest on Thursday, 29th June will show you how living with physical challenges doesn't mean you can't be healthy, wealthy and successful. Lindy Hou OAM is a paralympic gold medalist suffers from a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. She began losing her sight in the mid-1980s and is now almost totally blind. However, Ms Lou rediscovered her love of cycling when she lost her sight, going on to earn numerous cycling medals and an OAM. Lindy's approach to life is guaranteed to make you smile.

You'll also love the chance to hear from Peter Granleese. Peter has served for over 20 years in legal and management roles for organisations including Guide Dogs Associations in ACT, NSW and Nationally and the Royal Life Saving Association (life member). He's also a strong campaigner and advocate for better community services.

Finally you can also meet the team from St Vincent de Paul's Home Energy Efficiency Program with tips on getting warm for as little as possible.

This might just be the most fun of all our presentations. On 22nd of June we explore and discuss the immeasurable value of friendship and having fun socialising as we enter an age where we have time on our hands, but we don’t always know how to spend it. We all go through hard times and face struggles and the family at Capital Region Community Services won’t let you go through them alone. You’ll be delighted to hear from the ACT’s very own Local Hero Dr Shamaruh Mirza, scientist and co-founder of SiTara’s Story – an organisation aimed at giving women of diverse backgrounds a safe space to talk about stigmatised and challenging topics without fear or judgement.

Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to meet two women who have survived, excelled and found a way uplift others, where most people would have given up. Set in the intimate surrounds of the Belconnen Community Theatre you can listen to the separate but equally inspiring journeys of Dr Shamaruh Mirza and Beth Lefevre

Lindy Hou OAM

Lindy Hou (OAM) worked in the Information Computer Technology (ICT) industry where she transitioned from being fully sighted to legally blind over a 15-year career.

In the final 11 years of this career Lindy worked as a consultant with many large corporations and government departments to implement and convert accounting systems. Lindy has extensive knowledge of various adaptive technologies which would enable people with impaired vision to be as valuable as those fully sighted.

As a motivational speaker, Lindy promotes diversity and inclusion for people with all abilities. Her career and Paralympic success have shown that with the right attitude, we can maximize the ability of all.

Just some of her achievements include: gold in sprints and bronze in 1km time trial for Australia at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, silver in the 3000m pursuit and bronze in the 1km time trial at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Lindy set the One Hour World Record in 2005 covering 42.93 kilometers. She was the 2004 Para cyclist of the year and was honored with the Order of Australia medal in 2005.

Lindy has also worked with Accessible Art for various institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, and the Museum of Australian Democracy

Peter Granleese

Peter Granleese was born with a visual disability but has never stopped actively participating in business, commerce, community services, charities and more.

Currently the President of the Canberra Blind Society and a willing confidant and mentor to anyone seeking advice, Peter is also often a voice for underrepresented groups commenting on public policies, such as the NDIS.

He's also been riding in the Hartley Cycle Challenge as part of the Pedal Power Fitability team for 15 years and it is the highlight of his cycling year.

Peter took up cycling late in life, after retiring from the public service. “Fitability was having a come and try day and I decided to have a go” he recalls “Now it is my main form of exercise, because it is important to keep fit as you get older,” he said.

Peter has served as President of Blind Citizens Australia (ACT Branch) and as a member of the ACT Disability Advisory Council providing advice to the ACT Government on disability issues. He has more than 20 years of various management and legal roles in government areas including policy, legislation, compliance, and client service.

But there's more...let's stay warm this winter!

To wrap up this amazing series you will be joined by St Vincent De Paul’s ‘Energy Efficiency’ experts. It's all about finding tips and tricks to keep your home as warm as possible while trying to keep the costs down.

The Home Energy Efficiency Program supports over 700 lower-income households in the ACT a year with practical ways to reduce their energy bills and modifying homes to become more energy efficient.