Geoff Ellis and I have been working on inspirational projects together pretty much since we met at a Yes campaign talk at Inverloch library in 2023.

Around about that time I had just taken over a Sunday afternoon community gathering in Corinella called Living Library from a local hero named, Joy Button and invited Geoff to create a regular segment called: 'Around The Shire with Geoff'. As a then, local government councillor and very well known and liked community leader, he did a great job showing amazing photos of his recent adventures and telling the stories that went with them.

When he told me about that his community Newsletter 'The Waterline News' that had gone out of print during that period-of-time-that-will-remain-nameless, I said I could give you a hand to bring it back. By day I consult to the Community Housing sector and help a technology company with their sales and marketing and was able to rebrand/recreate/launch a new free community magazine now known as 'The Waterline, Bass Coast' which is a celebration of Bass Coast Waterline town life from Lang Lang down to San Remo and up into the hinterland. Promoting businesses, raising awareness of important issues such as the need to take care of our fragile envrironment and supporting the Save Western Port Woodlands campaign, celebrating local heroes, council wins for local towns and much more.

At the same time we started our own radio show on South Coast FM on a Sunday morning called 'The Waterline' (with DIre Straits playing us in and out). That finished in April after my house burned down and we thought we would restart it once Geoff had packed up his Council bizo but we were told we were not required. After a moment of disappointment we bounced strait back up and are working on a The Waterline Podcast which is slated to start in early 2025.

I was lucky enough to be picked out of the lotto together with about 200 others to attend the Mayor's Farewell/Thank you held at Bernenneit last year and it was the most enjoyable and satifsying networking event I have ever attended. The space was great, there were lots of people I didn't know and some I did, there was food and alchohol (which I quite frankly, could have done without) and I spent about 2 hours moving around the room and introducing myself to people and making new connections.

I came home in a state I would describe as mild euphoria. It felt like the things had improved a little bit because there were now less strangers in the world. I decided then and there I would try and recreate that experience in my own networking events.

So here we are; launching our Connect Events to bring the good people of Bass Coast (and surrounds and visitors) together for the pure joy of connecting.

Events will run fortnightly / monthly and include a short activity or two to get people warmed up and support their ability to connect then the evening will be free wheeling connecting at your pace and in your time.

Please note: Connect Events are dry events and food will not be served to keep costs down.

We hope to see you at one of our events soon and please let me know if you have any questions.

Jen Rutherford

Creator & Facilitator

Connect Events

0438 682 597