Nate Hamon: Community Philosophy

01/11/2024

Go you good things!

And that pianist! Bit of a babe don’t you reckon? I should ask her to marry me.

At the start of this month, 11 students sat their A.M.E.B. (Australian Music Examinations Board) examinations. 🎻

Students have received lessons for 12 months in preparation for these rigorous, comprehensive exams. They are examined on repertoire, scales and technical work, general knowledge and aural skills.

Thank you to our piano accompanist, Maria Hamon who rehearsed with our students and played for their exams 😊

28/10/2024

Maria threw her hands up in exasperation. "The facts speak for themselves."

Luis shook his head. "No, Maria. They don’t."

Maria blinked, turning toward him. "Don’t what?"

"The facts don’t speak for themselves. Facts just lay there, waiting to be noticed." Luis leaned forward, his voice low but impassioned. "If a lie comes along and it’s big and brash and makes a loud noise - especially if it scares people - then that’s what gets noticed instead, while the facts just lay there, limp and cold. You have to speak on behalf of the facts."

Maria put down her fork, glancing at Luis with a mix of pride and frustration. "Well, some people do speak up," she replied, her voice steady, "but it’s just too easy to look away, pretend they don't."

Ramon shook his head, rolling a ball of masa dough in his hand as if mulling over her words. "Look, maybe it’s hard for you to hear, Maria, but people are scared. And I don’t know, maybe that fear isn’t always... smart. But it’s there. And Andrews speaks to that fear, gives people a sense of control."

Maria snorted. "Control? By spreading hate-filled lies?"

Luis looked at Ramon, a glint of challenge in his eyes. "Fear can be real, but what people do with it? That’s on them. And Jack Andrews isn’t giving people control. He’s giving them excuses."

26/10/2024

Thank you to all who bought raffle tickets in support of Beenleigh High P&C. We’re raising money for the new performing arts centre.

Special thanks to Cathy Neyland who saw Bec and I short handed tonight and helped sell tickets!

Thank you for hosting Club Beenleigh

26/10/2024

Fundraising today for an irrigation system for the Beenleigh Community Garden. Come and grab a sausage from Bethania Bunnings.

09/10/2024

This photo popped up as a memory in my FB feed.

It was the last day of one of my classes (for those who don't know I used to own and operate a vocational training provider).

I walked into class to find my students all there, wearing "Nate's Mates T-shirts that they had printed themselves. They gave me a unique "Coach" top and I'm not shy of saying I teared up a little.

The memory reminded me of the importance of education and how it really is a remedy for many of life's ills. It can also help communities to prosper.

Education is the foundation of strong, thriving communities.

- Crime Reduction: It helps reduce crime by offering opportunities for personal growth and employment, steering people away from negative paths.

- Economic Growth: Educated citizens support and create local businesses and contribute to a prosperous local economy.

- Cooperation: With knowledge comes understanding, promoting harmony and reducing tensions in neighbourhoods.

- Civic Engagement: From teaching financial literacy to conflict resolution, education equips individuals to become active, thoughtful members of their town.

By making investments in education, we invest in a more resilient, connected, safer, progressive community for everyone.

08/10/2024

Local government needs to value placemaking more while giving large control of it to the people rather than attempting to contrive it themselves.

People can tell the difference between a place made organically by artists and progressive thinkers. Place-making is not hard and doesn't need to be costly when you give general control of it over to the people who live and work in an area rather than enforcing stifling, asinine rules.

02/10/2024

The Paradox of Power

Dante knew her well. But how? They only had one night together. In physical embrace did he reach into her mind? Did he have that power?

Again, she was conflicted. She felt impressed and even a little grateful but also violated. Did she open her thoughts to him unwittingly? Had she been inebriated by his power and consequently lost her inhibitions?

Power is an attractant for many. She knew that. She thought she was immune to it but maybe she was wrong. Maybe that’s why she was standing where she was. It was a force that could both mesmerise and corrupt, she realised.

Power, she thought, is indeed an aphrodisiac. It has a magnetic allure, drawing individuals into its irresistible orbit. The idea of wielding influence, of having control over others, can be intoxicating. Cyndi contemplated how power often became synonymous with allure and attraction, an almost primal instinct within humanity.

As she contemplated further, her thoughts darkened. Power was not only carnally seductive, but it could also be used as a tool to manipulate others into committing heinous acts that they might normally abhor by desensitising them to their own sense of right and wrong. The pages of time were stained with bloody stories of power abuse and the devastating consequences that followed.
Many war crimes had been committed by people who were genuinely good people when not under the spell of power.

And yet, she countered, power was also a provider. She looked around at the gorgeous world she was standing within to help confirm that thought.

Power could shape destinies and influence change. She'd seen how it could rally the masses, stirring collective spirits toward a common goal, uniting people in ways nothing else could. Power was, in essence, not only an aphrodisiac for the flesh but also for the human spirit, igniting passions and fanning the flames of progress.

Throughout her life, Cyndi had witnessed the power of ordinary individuals transcending their limitations to become extraordinary agents of transformation. It was a reminder that, under the right circumstances, power could inspire the most remarkable acts of kindness, selflessness, and heroism.

Dwelling on the complexities of the world, Cyndi couldn't dismiss the idea that power, when harnessed wisely, could serve as a counterbalance to the darker aspects of human nature. It was a tool capable of dismantling oppression, fostering social change, and bridging the gaps of inequality.

In the depths of her introspection, Cyndi recognised that power was a duality – a force that could either consume or liberate. Her journey had thrust her into a world where the very essence of power was tested, and as she ventured further into the unknown, she would need to grapple with this enigmatic force and decide whether to embrace its transformative potential or shield herself from its seductive allure.

Nate Hamon (AKA Anthem Fox)
The Devil's Arcadia

27/09/2024

Media multiplies its income through the division of the people.

I know I'm generalising but you know what type of media I mean. Or maybe you don't. Maybe you think that your favourite opinion host speaking from behind a "news" desk is actually a legitimate journalist. When you listen to them, how do you feel? Angry? Hateful of the "other"?

Detoxifying ourselves from the drugs of fear and hate has never been harder, but never more important.

To understand our Western world's current agitated political state we must admit that we have allowed rhetoric to weaponise our very natures. Our beliefs and ideologies have been targeted and bolstered with narration that repeats over and over "You are right! They are wrong!"

Once we are absolutely adamant and immovable in our beliefs, not only do we pride ourselves on being "enlightened" but we consider all who disagree as ignoramuses or even the enemy.

Once an enemy has been created we are more accepting of any rumour and wacked-out, bonkers conspiracy that comes our way concerning them.

Rhetoric is powerful. Rhetoric is persuasion and it can deny cognition its rightful role. Rhetoric is making something seem so attractive that facts become hideous and not to be gazed upon.

In the world of politics and media with political agenda, words and terms are often stolen and twisted or created out of thin air and then weaponised to divide.

These rhetorical weapons get repeatedly fed to the consumer until they are so full that they spew out all over social media - often as outrage memes that go viral and add to the dumbing down of the people, making us more susceptible to being leashed and led around like obedient pets.

26/09/2024

A Thought About Political Disagreement for Those Who Aren't Simply Trolls & Contrarians

When we feel stressed, the brain goes into survival mode. Oxygen and glucose are redirected from the thinking part of our brain, which we use to think logically (the prefrontal cortex), to the more primal amygdala. That’s when we get that "fight-or-flight" response.

Sometimes, that stress is brought on by political debate and disagreement.

The hypothalamus sends a memo to our adrenal glands, and “boom”, cortisol and adrenaline start coursing through the veins, prepping us for battle - or retreat.

When we’re behind a keyboard, “flight” is less common because we feel safe and secure, so we “fight” - albeit from a distance.
In the heat of the moment, empathy and perspective go out the window.

People are people, and as such, we love to identify with groups. Once we’re part of a "tribe," anyone not in it can start to look like the enemy.

The more personal our views, the easier it is to feel threatened when someone disagrees.

Our brains start to see an "us versus them" situation, but it isn’t always as clear-cut as that feels. We moralise issues, even trivial issues, framing them as right or wrong, black or white.

But imagine if we could stop seeing every disagreement as a threat to our identity. We might feel hardwired to get defensive, but what if we could zoom out, breathe a little deeper and give our prefrontal cortex a chance to kick back in?

I like good, robust debate as much as the next person. Maybe even more than the everyday person. Bring it on. However, something I’m trying to learn and teach myself is this:

- A deep breath before posting is a great way to signal to the brain that we’re not really in danger and don’t need to get amped up and ready to fight.

- Active listening (or reading) can help us see that the other person relates from a different place and perspective. We can ask ourselves, “I wonder what I would see if I stood where they are?”

- Not every difference needs to be resolved. So, know when to say, “Yeah, we’ve hit a wall. Why keep banging into it?”

24/09/2024

“Too many people design their life around what they hope comes next but, I mean... okay, remember when Mum or I would say things like, 'Put your seatbelt on or you'll get in trouble with the policeman?'"

"Yeah. That made me scared of the police."

"Right! And that’s why we were wrong to say that. You shouldn't have been putting on a seatbelt because you were scared of the police. You shouldn't do the right thing for fear of getting caught doing the wrong thing. You shouldn't live your life honourably for fear of eternal wrath or to please an omnipotent being. We need to be our own life accountants."

"But don't you think that without a fear of God many would throw away their virtues and just give into temptations?"

"Maybe. But were those people ever truly righteous in the first place? What's that scripture about seeing a man's heart? Virtue can be faked, and we see it even among the most outwardly pious, so-called spiritual leaders. They'll point to the heavens with one hand while reaching into your wallet with the other. They are more concerned with their mansions on earth than mansions in heaven. They parade false virtuousness anyway so a lack of belief in a god won't make a whole lot of difference to those people - the snakes and grifters.

And then you have the majority of people who are simply good people trying their best to do right. No religion or creed or sect or whatever has a monopoly on goodness. If there was some sort of grading system for goodness, I guarantee that the top of the class would be a diverse mix of Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics etc. and I guarantee you would find similar diversity at the bottom of the class."

Terra’s dad took a cautious sip of his peppermint tea. “I guess I lean into a feeling there’s something bigger out there. Call it God if you like. But I don’t believe in a god because I’m scared of not believing in a god. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah.”

“The best people are the ones who do good, who are good, mostly good I guess - I mean nobody is fully good – but they do good because being good is the right thing to do.”

“How many times can you say good in a sentence?”

Terra’s dad laughed. “Yeah yeah, but understand the point I’m trying to make; The best people are not being good simply because they are worried about being seen as being bad. The best people are the same in the shadows as they are in the light.”

18/09/2024

Hey locals! The Minion Trail is back! From now until next Tuesday.

Check out Exit 38 Tourism for more details.

While you’re at it stop in to support local
businesses and help show that our area can be a destination.

03/09/2024

“Do you consider yourself a nobody? What weight does that label even have? It’s a silly label. As silly as the label 'somebody'. Silly and non-adhesive.

First off, to be thought of as a nobody someone has to be thinking of you in the first place.

Second, being a so-called 'nobody' doesn’t make you irrelevant. We are all relevant to somebody else but unfortunately, we can lose sight of our most germane and important relationships when we chase the approval of people we don’t even know.”

Nate Hamon, "The Power of Contentment: And How to Find It."

Terra is finding it hard to accept that her middle-aged dad is not long for this earth. Together they plan for his funeral ceremony. All her dad wants is for the funeral attendees to dress colourfully, for his pallbearers to whistle along to a classic Monty Python song, and to share a recorded me...

02/09/2024

My mate Mark, who is a damned passionate warrior for animal conservation, is fundraising in the battiest of ways.

Let’s get behind him.

Bats are extremely important creatures to our ecosystem.

One of our fabulous members (and vice president) Mark is going to raise money for BATS QLD by shaving his head and beard off and waxing his body. (Ouch!)

When Saturday the 12th of October at a place to be confirmed before then. A video will also be posted to FB after the event.
So please donate to our group! It’s a very worthwhile cause and all money raised goes towards our bats. It will help with fuel vouchers for our rescues, essential supplements for our bats, equipment for rescues and fruit to feed the bats in care.

So let’s all get behind Mark and Bats QLD by donating and make it a great (and very probably a painful) fundraiser and raise as much money as we can. 😂

Donations can be made via PayPal here - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/batsqld

Or via direct debit-
Bats QLD
BSB # 034-182
Account # 228422

Please use reference ‘Go Mark’ so we can tally how much is raised!
All support is very much appreciated!

25/08/2024

From our P&C - A massive thank you to everyone who supported our Beenleigh State High P&C Paddock to Plate fundraiser. Including so many local businesses.

The hospitality staff were awesome and parents of kids involved - they did you proud.

It was another hugely successful event that was sold out in record time.

Community coming together - to support the future of our kids.

13/07/2024

Too often, artists are one of the last to be engaged, if at all, when town planning is discussed.

What the overly conservative-minded are avoiding is the truth that art is essential for the competitiveness and growth of the economy.

-Art fosters innovation and creativity.
-Art stimulates the imagination.
-Art challenges the status quo and conventional thinking.
-Art pushes boundaries and for the exploration of new ideas and possibilities.
-Art attracts people, bringing them closer to and into business precincts and premises.

Also, art is essential for building community by connecting society and bridging gaps that ideologies, politics and other elements have created.

Engaging with art is not really a solitary event. No art is made for one or even a small section of society. Arts and culture are among the few areas in society where people can come together and share experiences no matter how differently they see the world.

I'm sick of the argument that town centres and main streets are dying because of "this" or "that" reason when no attempt has been made to engage with and give some element of control to those who could really take the landscape and create something amazing.

How do you fix a broken town? You let the artists have a go. Not because they will take it back to its original state, but because they will take all the broken pieces and create a beautiful mosaic.

12/07/2024

Something that p's me off to no end is seeing candidates for a political party (or independent) who have done very little out and about in the community who are suddenly supporting every community group out there. "Look at me; I'm serving sausages to the needy."

Great! Where were you yesterday?

When you see this ask yourself, would this person be doing that if nobody saw them?

There's got to be a term for it.

Self-serving Samaritan?

06/07/2024

So happy for the Dinsdale family for putting on a sold out country music festival in our local town of Eagleby. We need more destination events especially ones that promote live music!

Yes, live music for the win!

Lasso Country Music Festival 2024