Hello friends,

Feeling very excited today as I’m beginning a 12-week creative journey through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron ,a classic and powerful guide that has helped many people reconnect with their creativity.

This journey is about more than just making art. It’s about listening more closely to that quiet creative voice within us ,whether it shows up through writing, painting, music, or any form of expression that brings our hearts to life.

I’m grateful to be doing this creative challenge alongside members of the community, and I’m excited to see where these next 12 weeks will lead.

Who else from this community is joining this creative process?

Because of this 12 week commitment, Linda and I will be pausing our Book Club meetings for a while so we dedicate time to this creative exploration. We appreciate everyone who has joined us in those conversations and we look forward to reconnecting again once this journey is complete. Thank you for understanding 🥹

Creativity has a way of opening doors we didn’t even know were there. I’m stepping into this experience with curiosity, gratitude, and an open heart.

Have you ever taken time to intentionally nurture your creativity?

I have started already doing one of the exercises of the challenge which is writing my morning pages in my journal. Pretty much what we need to do is not to forget to just write down everything. Thoughts, dreams, drawings ideas, lists, joys, plans, everything. Simply just write it down. I had to giggle with what I wrote in some of my morning pages, so glad that we don’t have to share our thoughts with others! 😉

Let the fun begin! 🤩

Wishing everyone a beautiful and inspiring week ahead. 🤩

Much love

Irene 💜

Hello friends,

No matter how busy it is and between the hustle and bustle , we love celebrating all the beautiful moments of life whenever we can at the hospital.

Yesterday our team came together to surprise our wonderful colleague Sam with a baby shower as she prepares to begin her maternity leave. 🍼💕

She was completely surprised and so touched by the gesture. Seeing her smile and gratitude reminded us all how meaningful these moments can be.

Everyone had to bring a plate of food and I had the pleasure of baking Sam’s favorite cake which was a gluten free chocolate sponge cake with a fresh cream and strawberries filling and a pink vanilla buttercream frosting outside. I also made cupcakes.🧁 🍓

Working in a hospital can often be busy, demanding, and emotionally intense. That’s why taking time to celebrate life’s joyful milestones with our work family is so important. These small gatherings remind us that behind the uniforms and the long shifts, we are a team that cares deeply for one another.

Moments like this bring warmth, laughter, and connection into our workplace. They remind us that while we spend our days caring for others, it’s just as important to care for each other too.

Wishing Sam a beautiful maternity leave and so many precious moments with her growing family. 💗🌸

Have you ever surprised someone with a celebration like this? 💞🌸

Sometimes the most meaningful medicine is simply kindness, support, and celebrating life together.

With love ❤️

Irene 💜

( Sam and me )

( Sam was so grateful 🥹)

Happy Australia Day 🇦🇺🦘

Up early this morning to witness the Australia Day Oz Run 2026 , people of all ages coming together before sunrise to beat the heat and celebrate in movement at the waterfront.

There was such a beautiful sense of community in the air , bodies moving, smiles shared, and connection felt. A reminder of how powerful it is when we gather with purpose and care for our wellbeing.

Grateful for this land, these moments, and the spirit of community that brings us together.

I hope you all had a great weekend so far and those who had bad weather are safe and sound.

Wishing you all a blessed week ahead 💜

Irene 💜

Today, I want to honour Lucy Bernas a remarkable woman and dear friend from our community here on Substack, whose courage continues to inspire me every day.

After facing cancer and enduring more than 30 surgeries, Lucy is now cancer free. Yet her journey doesn’t end there, she continues with regular procedures at Mayo Clinic as part of her fight for life and her beautification journey as Lucy calls it. Actually, as I’m writing this Lucy is on her journey towards Mayo clinic for her scheduled procedures this week. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and hope, and I felt compelled to share it today.

Some people walk through unimaginable battles and come out the other side shining with even more light. My dear friend is one of those rare souls. Her fight with cancer led her through more than 30 surgeries, countless hospital stays, and endless moments of uncertainty. And yet, today, she is cancer free. While her journey continues with ongoing treatments and quarterly procedures at Mayo Clinic, what defines her is not just survival, but her remarkable strength, courage, and spirit that inspire everyone around her. Sharing her story is my way of honouring the extraordinary person she is and the hope she carries for us all.

Lucy Bernas is a wife to Ralph, mom to Bryan, and a grandma to three beautiful grandchildren. She is the second child of 10 children and was born in the Philippines. She married her childhood pen pal and migrated to the United States in 1979.

Lucy was an active nurse for 21 years until she got sick in 2014. Before coming down with her illness she would volunteer twice a year for medical missions because her love of serving and helping others. She now resides in North Dakota.

Lucy and Ralph (photo credit Lucy)

In 2014, what Lucy thought was a sinus infection turned out to be Stage 3 sinus cancer. Doctors from her home in North Dakota told Lucy her treatment would include radiation, chemotherapy, and surge and that it would forever alter her face. Four surgeries later Lucy was left with a tracheostomy and feeding tube, and she could no longer eat or speak. A particularly difficult diagnosis given the fact Lucy loves socialising and is a generous host and loves cooking for a whole army of people. In 2015 Lucy went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, for a second opinion and began a long and difficult process of reconstruction of her face.Lucy didn't let that defeat her.

After 30 surgeries and counting, Lucy continues what she calls her beautification journey and she has a Substack account where she often writes and shares her poetry, the account is , for those who want to follow her or perhaps share it with someone who needs a message of hope.

As she continues to heal, Lucy has proven to be a healer herself as she allows the strength and love of Jesus and God and her faith to shine through her. Lucy is always willing to share, lend a helping hand or encourage anyone who needs it, is full of energy and enthusiasm and enjoys going hiking and riding her bike at her free time.

Lucy is such an inspirational person with a heart of gold, I knew that the minute I started reading her posts that she was a truly special person. I’m so grateful that our paths crossed when I discovered her at the network, and I think most of you also met her the same way. I had the pleasure of meeting her last year in person when there was a community meetup in Sydney, Australia, check below photo from our group meeting.

One of our friends from this community did a wonderful job editing a book with Lucy’s poems. The book is called “Spiritual Warrior”, and you can find it on

http://TheBookPatch.com

Maybe her story will inspire you, as it has inspired me, to never lose hope and to hold tight to the beauty of life.

Lucy’s life is a beautiful reminder that miracles do happen, and faith can carry us further than fear ever could.

Where in your own life might you lean more into hope instead of fear?

With gratitude 🙏

Irene 💜

Love this photo, Lucy always shares beautiful nature and sunset photos, her passion as she always says …

Me and Lucy the minute we met in person at the Sydney airport the first time. This explains the big smiles. So grateful that we got to spend a few days together sharing a hotel room. We made memories to last a lifetime :)

RU OK? Day is an annual event in Australia, celebrated on the second Thursday of September, to promote mental health awareness and encourage conversations about well-being. It reminds us to check in on others by asking, "Are you okay?" . A simple conversation can make a big difference.

Ask R U OK? Any Day.

Whether it's your friend, family member, colleague, partner, or teammate, the people you care about go through life's ups and downs every day.

That's why we're encouraging people across Australia and the world to check in and ask someone, 'are you OK?'.

Not just today, but ANY day. Because a conversation could change a life.

R U OK ?

Much love 💛🌻

Irene 💜

Today I want to share something special , a photo with the portrait of our incredible team at the hospital.

We were all proud to have our photo taken this week so we can add them at the wall of fame as we call it. Can you see me ?

We have the portrait photos of our entire ward team , doctors, nurses, administrators,social worker and cleaners, displayed on the wall because every single person plays a vital role in the care we provide. No one is left out, as it takes all of us working together to create a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment for our patients.

Each day, we stand side by side, supporting one another and striving toward the same goal: delivering the highest standard of care.

This photo represents not just individuals, but a united team committed to making a difference.

Because in health care, it’s not one person , it’s all of us.

What does teamwork mean to you in your own workplace or community?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Much love 💜

Irene 💜

Started my day bright and early, before the sunrise volunteering at our local community park run 🌅🏃‍♀️.

What a wonderful morning with such a big, energetic group coming together!

Events like this remind me how important it is for our health body, mind, and spirit ,to get involved, stay active, and connect with others.

Volunteering not only gives back to the community, but also fills your own cup in the most rewarding way.

Have you ever done any volunteering before? I’d love to hear your experiences!

I have always loved volunteering for various organizations and recently taken up volunteering for the park run of our local community .

It is absolutely my belief that volunteering should be done simply for the pleasure of helping out and for the benefits that are gained from doing so. Volunteering at parkrun is an equal form of participation, where the act of volunteering itself is the reward.

Volunteers are fundamental to the delivery of all events, and carry out roles such as setting up the event, marshaling, timekeeping, scanning, handing out finish tokens or tail walking, to name just a few.
Some very important guiding principles to help out for volunteering are:

• Volunteer for the love of it

• Treat everyone as a friend

• Be kind and respectful

• Unite as a team

• Be reliable, responsible and attentive

• Be helpful and enthusiastic

• Do your best

• Respect the principles

Volunteering at parkrun is a hugely positive experience, and is a form of participation that is inclusive, respected and accessible to everyone.

There is so much to gain from volunteering:

• Knowledge

• Social connections

• Improved physical and mental health

• Skills

• Confidence

• Motivation

• A sense of belonging

  Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!💜

  Much love 💜

  Irene 💜

  

  

  

  

2025 NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.

The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality. Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week is celebrated by local community events taking place across Australia.

This week we celebrated NAIDOC Week on our ward with heartfelt moments and a lot of fun.

We wanted to make sure our patients felt the spirit of the week, so we organised some special activities including a BBQ, painting and a damper baking contests. Our patients were the judges, and yes, I took part too! Proud to say my damper came in 3rd place.

In Australia, damper is a type of bread traditionally made from flour, water, and salt, and cooked in the ashes of a campfire. It's often called bush bread or seedcake and has a long history as a staple food for stockmen, drovers, and travellers in the Australian outback. The name is thought to come from the way it was cooked in the "damped" coals of a fire or from the Lancashire dialect meaning "something that damps the appetite". Damper can also be made with various additions like butter, milk, or even beer, and can be cooked in a camp oven or wrapped around a stick and held over the flames.

We also got the chance to have a go at doing some paintings. Aboriginal art refers to the spiritual and symbolic art practiced by Aboriginal peoples of Australia. While artistic styles vary from region to region, indigenous art has been shaped by common factors such as the environment and historical events shared between different tribes.

It was such a beautiful way to honour culture, connection, and community.

Much love💜

Irene💜

By popular request, here's video number three. All made possible through some of the amazing people from around the world.

What we all have in common is that we met through the "Time Has Come" community on Substack. This is a beautiful reminder that no matter where in the world we are, we're never too far to raise a glass together.

Friendship knows no borders. Social media can truly bring hearts closer.

Thank you to everyone who participated in making the fun videos. 🫶💜✨

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead! 🫶💜

Much love 💜

Irene💜

I had an incredible time making memories with friends from around the world! Meeting in person after connecting through the Substack community was a dream come true.

One of the highlights was our visit to Madame Tussauds, where we had a blast and snapped tons of fun photos! 🎉📸

We had an incredible time exploring Madame Tussauds with these amazing friends from all corners of the globe! 🥳

From seeing the wax figures of some of our favourite celebrities to sharing laughs over silly poses, this day was one for the books! 📸❤️

Can’t wait for our next adventure together!

Which wax figure do you like the best?

Let me know in the comments! 👇

Wishing you all a fabulous day!🫶💜✨

Much love Irene xx

King Charles, The Duke, The Duchess and me,

Michael Jackson with me, Bev and Lucy,

My favourite is E.T.

Bruce Willis and me,

Queen Elizabeth, Lucy and me,

HUGH JACKMAN and me,

Brand Pitt and myself

Michael Jackson, Melina and Ann,

Olivia Newton John and me,

The call is for you Mr Einstein!

Spiderman and Lucy!

I helped Superman lift a helicopter lol.

Wonder woman with Chrissy!

Leonard Di Caprio & me again!

Marilyn Monroe with me and Lucy!

Teresa with Einstein!

Best photo and pose ever, love you Christine:)

Sandra and Audrey Hepburn are enjoying their breakfast.

Love this photo of Ann!!!

Melina is living her best life!!!

We made fun memories together to last a lifetime 🤩

Much love, Irene :)

🌟 Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌟

National Volunteer Week is currently underway, running from May 19 to May 25, 2025. This is celebrated in Australia in May so all the volunteers feel that they are heard , seen and appreciated for the remarkable work that they do.

The theme for this year is "Connecting Communities"

This week, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to making a difference in our communities.

I am truly grateful for my amazing team who come together to prepare nutritious meals and snacks for the homeless and underprivileged people in my community. We have been doing this for many decades and everyone’s hard work and compassion inspire me daily!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteers, not just in my community, but across the nation and around the world.

As always I have a question 🙋‍♀️

Do you do any volunteer work for your community?

If yes please share details in the comments, I would love to hear your answers!

Together, we can create a change and help those in need. 🫶💜✨

Much love

Irene 💜

Congratulations to our over 60 published poets! 🌟✨

I am so proud of each and every one of us as we celebrate an incredible milestone together.

Our journey began back in 2022 when we bravely stepped out of our comfort zones to participate in the poetry challenge, and now, our poems have been published in a beautiful poetry book,” The Path of Poetry: Discover the Writer Within” is available on Amazon! https://a.co/d/cU4YFF2

This accomplishment is a testament to our creativity, courage, and commitment to the art of poetry. Each poem reflects our unique voices and experiences, and I am truly honoured to be part of this talented community.

I couldn’t go without giving a shout out to for making this happen, thank you for working so hard to complete this amazing project! We appreciate it very much! 🙏

Let's all continue to support one another and share our love for poetry.

Here's to many more creative adventures ahead! 💜🌟✨📚✍️

Happy Monday everyone, let’s start our week on a positive note !

We wanted to do this video, for a while with some of our friends from around the world. What we all have in common? We all met through the wonderful "Time Has Come” community that Graham Wardle has created here on Substack a few years ago.

It doesn’t matter where we are in the world, we all find time to connect and lots of friendships have been made to last a lifetime over the years.

We have lots more friends of course who didn't make it in this video, but we will be sharing a part two very soon. If you want to be part of the next video, please send me a direct message with your short video.

I'm so grateful and blessed to connect and be part of this amazing community!

Cheers 🥂💜

This March, I'm stepping way out of my comfort zone for a good cause. I'M TAKING ON CANCER COUNCIL'S THE MARCH CHARGE......a month-long fitness challenge to raise funds for world-class cancer research, prevention programs, and support services. Every day in Australia over 444 people and around the world over 5250 people hear the words "you have cancer" I'm doing my part to change this by getting active and fundraising for people impacted by cancer. Sadly, cancer takes too many of us.

We've all been impacted by cancer in some way whether it's personally or we know someone who has. Keep the conversation going to raise awareness.

It's time to find a cure and raise vital funds for the Cancer Council.

I’m halfway there and have been smashing my kilometre’s goal and have been walking /running for this worthy cause every chance that I can, alone or with friends and family.

Let’s tell Cancer where to go!!!

The event that put Darwin on the map, while nearly wiping it off 50 years ago.

The Unsilent Night / After The Dawn. Cyclone Tracy was a destructive event without parallel in Australia's history. On Christmas Day 1974, it unleashed a direct hit on the city of Darwin. Over 70% of houses were destroyed. Darwin, for the time being ceased to exist as a city .

On December 25, 1974, while many Australians were gathered around their Christmas trees, exchanging gifts and enjoying festive meals, the city of Darwin faced a very different reality. Cyclone Tracy, a powerful Category 4 storm, descended upon the Northern Territory's capital, unleashing destruction that would change the city forever.

As the cyclone made landfall in the early hours of Christmas morning, its ferocious winds, which reached up to 250 kilometers per hour, tore through the city with a vengeance. In just a few short hours, what was once a vibrant community was reduced to ruins. Over 70% of Darwin's buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving thousands homeless and in shock.

The aftermath was heartbreaking. Families who had planned to celebrate the holiday found themselves searching for loved ones amidst the debris. The sounds of laughter and joy were replaced by the cries for help and the eerie silence that followed the storm. In total, 71 lives were lost, and many more were injured, and about 145 people were seriously injured because of the cyclone.marking this day as one of the darkest in the city’s history.

Four days earlier, on 21 December 1974, the BoM had issued an alert of the possible development of a tropical cyclone in the region and it was given the name Tracy. But most Darwinians paid little heed. Earlier that same month, Cyclone Selma had been predicted to be a potentially devastating weather event for Darwin, but she changed direction at the last minute and left little more than heavy rain in her wake. And so it was that on Christmas Eve, a perfect storm of complacency borne out of near misses, and the distraction of Christmas festivities, meant precious few were prepared for the thrashing that was to come. The wind and rain combined were enough to render about 80 per cent of the city's buildings destroyed or uninhabitable, their hapless occupants left cold, soaked and frightened.

While chaos and confusion reigned in Australia's Top End, the rest of the country awoke to a cheery Christmas Day, blissfully unaware of the struggles of their fellow Australians in the north. rest of Australia were informed of the devastation of the Darwin city until nine hours after the cyclone had struck.

As news began filtering out to the rest of the country, Australians responded in a force of collective compassion and generosity. The whole city was destroyed so they deemed the mass evacuation of residents necessary to prevent the spread of disease, and to solve the problem of housing and feeding the population while essential services were being restored.

In the days that followed, the resilience of the Darwin community began to shine through the devastation. Emergency services worked tirelessly to search for survivors and provide aid. Neighbors banded together to help one another, sharing what little they had. The Australian Government mobilized resources to assist in the recovery, leading to a national appeal that brought in donations from across the country.

For many who lived through that fateful day, the memories remain vivid. My husband Jimmy was eight years old and becomes emotional as he thinks back to that night, 50 years ago. Before they left the house, the last thing he remembers was seeing the turkey floating and corner of the roof and ceiling starting to lift, the lightning was so bright, it lit everything up like daytime and everyone fled down the back steps of the house. Sensing the building was no longer safe, Jimmy’s father ushered the family outside and in the car. As soon as they got in the car, they all saw, the whole family home caved in and destroyed. Jimmy still remembers the sound of Survivors recall the terrifying sounds of the wind, the sight of their homes being obliterated, and the overwhelming sense of loss that enveloped the city. Yet, amid the tragedy, there was also a spirit of hope and determination to rebuild.

Today, as we reflect on the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, we honour those who lost their lives and acknowledge the strength of a community that faced unimaginable challenges. The scars of that day may still linger, but so too does the resilience that defines Darwin. The city has rebuilt and transformed, emerging stronger while keeping the memories of those affected alive.

As we look back on this pivotal moment in our history, let us remember the lessons learned and the bonds forged in the face of adversity. Darwin stands as a testament to the power of community, resilience and hope.

#darwin #australia #cyclonetracy

I wanted to take a moment to express firsthand my heartfelt thanks to for everything he has done in creating this incredible “Time Has Come” community. His vision and dedication have brought together such wonderful people, his inspiring leadership and genuine kindness have made a profound impact on all of us. It's rare to find someone who not only brings people together but also fosters an environment of support, love, and growth. I am grateful to be a part of this community .

I also wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all our amazing friends who travelled from around the world to join us in Sydney! Thank you Lucy, Patty, Juliann, Bev, Robyn, Karen, Zoe, Jill, Yvonne, Christine, Sandra and everyone else who joined us that night. Your presence at the event made it truly special, but the surprise gifts you presented to both me and our wonderful host, Graham, took it to another level.

The beautiful Taonga necklaces, crafted with love and adorned with special stones from New Zealand, are not just stunning pieces of art; they carry a deep meaning and connection that I will cherish forever.

Irene's Taonga (means Treasure) is the Pikorua or the Infinity Twist which represents eternal bond of love, friendship and loyalty between two people and cultures.

Graham's Taonga (means Treasure) is the Koru which symbolises the unfurling fern frond of the iconic silver fern. It represents new beginnings, growth and harmony.

They were made especially for us two, the Carver actually suggested the stone after Ann and Melanie showed him our photos.

The necklace represents loyalty between two people and cultures: because the toanga was given as a gift it is always finished off with a Hymn. It was wonderful to listen to our friends sing for us that night.

I will always wear my necklace with pride knowing it came from genuine NZ greenstone, and it is filled with eternal bond of love, and blessings.

Thank you, Ann, Melina, Teresa, Christine, Chrissy, Sandra, Natalie, for your thoughtfulness and for creating such a memorable experience. I feel so blessed to have friends like you in my life! I still giggle when I remember the look in your faces when at the presentation you thought you lost my necklace when you opened the empty box. It took you a hot minute to find it and your smiles returned back to your faces . I will have to share a sneak peek video one day :)

Here's to many more adventures together! 💜🌟✨

I hope you enjoyed part 1 of my tribute to the Sydney, Australia meeting. The first part was to thank all the wonderful people, part 2 is coming soon with photos from the beautiful and vibrant Sydney city 🌆

Many thanks also to our two friends who helped us record the videos in the rain, 😂🤣

#sydney #bloopers #videos #friends #funtimes

What inspired me to write a poem?

A few months ago I decided to get way out of my comfort zone and have a go at writing a poem for a challenge we had at the "Time Has Come ", community. In this challenge we were all invited to write a poem for a poetry book, which will be comprised of poems written by all the members of the community.

FRIENDSHIPS 💜

In the heart of the storm,

we stand strong,

Bound by a bond that's true and long.

Through trials and triumphs,

hand in hand ,

Friendships like a rock,

on which we stand.

My friends, my healthcare heroes brave,

In the hospital halls, you tirelessly pave.

With compassion and courage,

you heal and mend,

Our friendship's light, shining to no end.

Together we face the challenges ahead,

In unity and love, our spirits are fed.

To my friends, my healthcare team,

In gratitude and admiration, I deem.

Dedicated to the friends who uplift and inspire,

And to the healthcare workers,

whose hearts never tire.

In friendship's embrace, we find our might Forever grateful, in each other's light.

May the spirit of friendship always be with you and may you cherish the special connections that bring joy and warmth to your heart ♥️