This short by Riley put a kick back in my step. I was gonna get all long-winded, but fuck it, simply put, Riley makes cool shit. He makes it in his own way. He uses light better than any other filmmaker in this current little world he is in… A world that will most likely miss him when he steps up to his defining project.

Then there is Thom, I dont know Thom, I once text him to shoot, he didn’t write back. I admire him more than most in his situation, and im aware that money hard earnt shouldn’t be spent on phone credit. Crew bag on his style, crew bag his whole deal… For me, seeing a kid from the Sunny Coast having a dig, escaping the grind and having the hell time is a champ… Hats off.

Different is good. This film is good. Especially when you dont give a shit.

This painting will be up for auction today from 3pm at the Noosa Surf Club to help raise funds for Moy Sweetman and Tommy. I painted this last night specifically for today’s auction and it will be the first piece i’ve ever done that will be sold for more than a case a beer… Well, hopefully…

The sun is out, the beer will be ice cold… What more could you want? and its all for a great cause!

It is a thankfully rare occurrence in our lives to have a friend whose life is in jeopardy. Rarer still is being given the opportunity to save that life.
But one Sunshine Coast individual has been given that very chance.
His benefactor is Moy Sweetman, a person who couldn’t be more deserving of a helping hand. Moy has spent years raising funds through her charity, Frangipani Dreams, to benefit the sick and needy of Australia and overseas. Frangipani Dreams is an unbiased charity donating much needed support for all manner of people, from the mentally and physically handicapped to indigenous communities, orphanages and those going through numerous times of hardship.
But Moy herself has been through some incredibly hard times. Over 15 years ago, Moy suffered total renal failure. Her kidneys ceased working, causing her to need immediate blood dialysis and organ transplant. She was lucky and, after a relatively short period of dialysis, she was given the life-saving operation, a deceased donor providing the kidney that would allow her to live again.
But, as is the expected outcome of kidney transplants, after a little over a decade, her transplanted organ began to fail and she was forced back into the four-times-weekly debilitating routine of dialysis.
Despite all of this, her fervour for charity and the selfless helping of others has not depleted in the slightest. Through it all, she has raised funds and awareness, spent countless hours selling raffle tickets and each year produced almost 2,000 Christmas hampers for those undergoing turbulent times.
But Moy’s condition is in its eleventh hour. Dialysis is not a permanent solution and her body is beginning to fail.
Her hopes have been answered by an anonymous donor, an individual who sees not just Moy’s life as above and beyond worth assisting but also the organ donation as a means to help the hundreds, if not thousands, of others Moy’s charity work will benefit. Added to this, he views his donation as a way to raise awareness; the awareness that we can all make a difference, that, with the simple tick of a box, we can elect to be a deceased donor, that live donation is a very real possibility and of exceeding benefit, and that the government’s lack of funding for live donation is a travesty which must be addressed.
25% of all people who choose to become live donors are unable to due to financial insecurity, and yet live donation is up to 60% more successful and beneficial to the recipient. Dialysis costs the government $60,000 per person, per annum, and yet the cost of funding a live donation is not only greatly less, but also means that the recipient is far more able to rejoin the workforce, pay taxes and contribute to society.
Moy’s donor does not want to receive praise, renown or a cheque in the mail. He does not want to be recognised for his actions. All he wishes is that the life of a wonderful individual continues and that the incredible work she does endures. But added to this, he hopes that his and Moy’s story raises awareness in the community and across the nation that organ donation is not only accomplishable and vital to many individuals, but also sorely in need of government recognition and assistance.
A charity event is being held this weekend, Sunday, 27th November, from 3pm to 6pm at Noosa Surf Club to raise the money needed to fund the operation and rehabilitation. Please come along and lend your support, enter the raffle for an original Julian Wilson bid on numerous items, including exquisite, exclusive framed photographs by Geoff Fanning and donate money to this very worthy cause with any extra donations being contributed to furthering the admirable work of Moy and Frangipani Dreams.

Chasing the Curve. A portrait of the sea. A collection of Trent Mitchell’s finest ocean images. If you have someone close who lives for the ocean, stick one of these in their christmas stocking. You can get a copy here