Hello July - maybe not a mid winter's tale, but a wonderful story about courage and overcoming adversity awaits us this month!

What an interesting presentation on AI was enjoyed in June and not just all about Chat GPT! Thanks again Dr Samantha Horsemen for presenting on this business and life-changing topic.

Our July luncheon is approaching and will take place on the last Friday of this month. We are excited to welcome Som Tamang and Kirsty Nancarrow, who will share the inspiring story behind the book "Himalayan Dreams: The Story of Som Tamang." This remarkable tale recounts how a former child slave overcame incredible odds to protect a generation in Nepal. Som's journey embodies the strength of the human spirit, the power of hope, and his dedication to saving girls in Nepal from trafficking and child marriage. Be moved by his story of overcoming extreme poverty, child slavery, a tiger attack, a critical head injury, civil war, and devastating earthquakes to create a brighter future through education and employment in the Himalayan trekking industry.

Kirsty Nancarrow first interviewed Som for ABC News in 2015 after the deadly Nepal earthquake on Anzac Day. Som, who now lives in Cairns, runs the humanitarian organization Friends of Himalayan Children, the female-focused trekking company Take on Nepal, and the fair-trade shop Himalayan Dreams. Kirsty was struck by his calm demeanor and compassion, which led her to write his biography after spending a month teaching journalism in his village, Batase, 18 months after the 2015 earthquakes destroyed the school and children's hostel. Kirsty witnessed the profound impact of Som's work and felt compelled to share his story.

In "Himalayan Dreams: The Story of Som Tamang," you'll also hear about Kirsty's experiences, the stories of other volunteers, and several young women whose lives have been transformed by Som's efforts. Kirsty will discuss what inspired her to write Som's biography and the impact of his work in Nepal. Som will share his journey from poverty and child slavery to becoming the first person in his village to earn a degree, and his ongoing mission to improve the future for children in Batase through Friends of Himalayan Children and Take on Nepal.

Kirsty Nancarrow is an award-winning former ABC journalist who grew up in Sydney, spent 10 years in Alice Springs, 2 years in London, and has called Cairns home since 2010. She is now a media trainer and the Co-Director of eMotion Video Training & Production. Kirsty recently launched her first book, "Himalayan Dreams: The Story of Som Tamang," which she decided to write after a life-changing visit to Nepal following the 2015 earthquakes. Som, a child slave in Nepal, has dedicated his life to protecting girls in his village from sex trafficking and early marriage through his Cairns-based organizations, Friends of Himalayan Children and Take on Nepal. Since 2003, Som has lived in Cairns and has been honored with the Pride of Australia and Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Awards.

Once again, this will be a most captivating, not-to-be-missed lunch providing you with both personal & professional development around resilience, mental health and as always, some great networking and we look forward to seeing you there.