President Jenny asked PE Tania to welcome guests Nathan, Rhiannon and Brodie, as well as John Norris and Janice Barker.

Announcements

Jenny May called for Paul Harris nominations.

Reminded of District Assembly Saturday (exciting speaker Nick Farr Jones.)

PP Martin:  Terrific finale in library for WATW.  550 people involved - not all in the library.  Total number of steps would take one person 2.17 times around the world, totalling 144 million plus steps.  More than twice around the world!  PP Prof Martin Silink handed out the many prizes that were earned.  Wonderful occasion.  Target next year is 12,000 steps each, each day!

Sergeant Adrienne

Von Norris Birthday fine paid by PE Margaret (ie, PP John delegating that task to his little sister!)

But John did organise a birthday cake that was brought out right on cue and led the hip hip for the hoorays for the birthday song for Janice.

Harry was hit with a double jeopardy birthday fine.  He consulted the legal expert on our table as to the legality of this but was informed that his defence probably wouldn't hold.  (Advice was that DJ only applies to murder.)  So he paid his dollar.

Phil for being hirsute.  John Palmer for hair.  Ron Tweedie for doing an excellent setup but alas not for excess hair.

President Jenny's Boast:  Cuba is behind us for food but no phone sense.  No wifi.  No money changers.  Hoping for 4 million tourists next year.  Swimming with the dolphins in Jamaica - Wow!  Got lots of fish and ate them raw (the dolphins that is).  John Norris fined Jenny for riding in big iron convertibles around Cuba.

Tania:  Martin for a wonderful WATW.  Forgot to put in her steps.  When asked who else forgot, a few other hands slowly went up.

Guest Speaker

Adrienne introduced our guest speaker.  Nathan has had an illustrious career.  A Riverview old boy.

Adrienne cheerfully told us that her brother also has Downs syndrome, and she was excited to hear what Nathan had to tell us about his journey.

Nathan:  Thankfully my parents opted to take me home having been given three choices of "what to do with Nathan".  Nathan modestly pointed out that his name means devilishly handsome and full of potential!  "My life is awesome like Jerry Maguire - but not messed up yet".

I am living my dream. Because family built in no limits for me.  I modelled David Hasselhoff in Surf Rescue.  The Hasselhoff motivation paid off with a gig on Surf Rescue being photographed cuddled into by two beautiful ladies.

Nathan's life started "born with a label."  He encountered A lot of prejudice from heads of schools.  Lots of preconceived notions about Down syndrome limited peoples' hopes and expectations.  This fixed mindset was no laughing matter. This is the biggest problem he found with society.  "I was a bit of a nerd in my teens."

Changed the fixed mindsets by going through mainstream education to tertiary level, having been rejected by school after school with a series of reasons and excuses that would have been laughable had they not been directed against such an optimist.  Although realist enough to know that if he was to make it in the race of life he had to keep going until he got a "yes".

Photos on tour in LA, Paris and London.

Nathan told us of his many guiding principles for success. Among them were to "Have a Growth Vision" to counter the stereotyping.

I wanted to work with celebrities. He picked Nova FM as the station to work on - "if Neil Armstrong could get himself on the moon then Nathan could get into Nova."  Photos with all the celebrities.

Studied movie-making and humanities subjects around that pursuit.  "My class produced two award movies."  Now puts out blog reviews and gets paid to see movies.

Advised to "find what you love doing and are passionate about in life". Thought that was a good idea so he went about doing it.  Studied language through watching movie subtitles.

Parents got him believing in his potential. What excites and inspires you, stirs your passion.  Recently became a social entrepreneur and this has became an obsession.  

His personal brand is NB.  The full Latin saying is "nota bene".  It exhorts the audience to pay attention, "I have something important to say."  Mark Wohlberg is a copier of my "look" and he has millions of Facebook followers!

Nathan has Presented in many countries. He has been a  Finalist in junior human rights award, the young Aust of the year competition, excellence in employment awards, and others.

Relationships in life are what make us secure.  It's time for you to start exploring your passions in life.  Realise your potential.  Talk about the good things you are doing.  Take control and make choices to achieve your goals.  53 years since Martin Luther King said: "I have a dream that this nation will rise up and live to its credo of 'all men are created equal."

Nathan's support circle meets regularly at his house.

There were tears and applause after Nathan's talk.

Questions

Adrienne asked: how do you deal with adversity?  A:  Don't take their s..t. Don't let the b.....dis win. Stare them down.  Who cares about their opinion. Care about yourself.  Down Syndrome people are still people.  Believe in yourself.  My parents had faith in me.  In that I was very Lucky.  Understand the person before you judge them.  And believe that all men are created equal.

A clearly excited Von Norris told Nathan: You inspire me and are the icing on my cake.

Vote of Thanks

Ron Tweediie:  Thanks for giving us an insight and the challenges you put out to us.

Concluding Remarks

Jackie a guest on Friday 6 the May to support the Cancer Council.  Board meeting on Thurs night at the club.  Club assembly next week.  Thanks to all our visitors.