Not mine! It's so beautiful though. I was given these words of advice at a really rough time and I have passed them on and they have helped other people. My best friends in the whole entire world gave me a necklace with this saying on it. I never go anywhere without it.
Reason, Season and Lifetime
..
People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
..
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
or to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
...
Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
...
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
...
When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
the season eventually ends.
...
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being part of my life.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Fighting a Weighty Issue.
Fighting a weighty issue.
A new report by the Baker Institute has identified Australia as the fattest nation. The report, Australia’s Future Fat Bomb, stated that 26 per cent of the population was considered overweight, overtaking the United States of America with 25 per cent. This has created grave concerns, as the 2006 Brisbane Obesity Summit predicted obesity in Australia would overtake the USA in a decade, it’s been done in three years.
The report also revealed that the Federal Government spent $58.2 billion on obesity in 2008, which is almost triple ($21m) what was spent by the government in 2005. These figures are not only from the support needed to be provided by worker productivity, health system and carer costs, there is also a huge impact on financial hardship on an individual level.
This has put pressure on the Commonwealth to find new ways to educate people about keeping active and eating healthier. One of the ways the Government is looking to pursue a healthier nation is by starting with the younger generation.
Alarmingly, the most recent study into childhood obesity, the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, has found that six per cent of children aged two to 16 were classified as obese, with 17pc of children overweight. An earlier survey, conducted in 1995, showed that 4.6pc of two to 17 year-olds were obese and a further 15.3pc were considered to be overweight.
The 2007 report highlight that food supply and eating habits of Australians, as well as technological advances in the fields of video games and the internet, were considered as key contributing factors in the rise in childhood obesity.
“At this point I want to say the Federal Government does have a plan, and that is to have a plan,” Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett told the parliament in his August, 2008 address “…We need action, not just words, strategies and plans, and we need it fast,”
“We live in an obesogenic environment, and…at all levels of government, and especially at the federal level, we have a responsibility to tackle it.”
As of May 2009, the government had listed in a report Weighing up Australia:Obesity in Australia recommendations passed down from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing. This investigation had derived from the release of the figures shown in the National Health Survey 2007-08 released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australia’s Future Fat Bomb earlier this year.
The government’s Australian Better Health Initiative has been brought in to help promote a healthier Australia. This initiative will cost the government $872.1m over the next six years, with $162m dedicated to childhood obesity.
One area funding will be increased is included in the continuation of community-based programs that educate children and their parents about healthy eating and regular physical exercise.
This is important when you consider the health problems that can develop if childhood obesity is not readdressed. The Baker Institute report, for example, highlighted the concern of childhood obesity developing into problems as adulthood is reached. Among its concerns include an increased health issues such as risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as orthopaedic complications, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
The World Health Organisation also mentioned possible psychosocial problems including depression and poor body image which, they said, could follow the bullying and teasing of children considered to be “too fat” by their peers
As a possible solution to increasing physical activity in school aged children, the Federal Government is looking to expand its Active After School Communities (AASC), which was created in 2005 through the Australia Sports Commission to creates opportunities for primary school children to have access to sport and other physical activity.
The program, which is free community-based, also encourages involvement in physical activity by carers, parents, and even volunteers from the community. To date, more than 900 schools and 150,000 children participate in the sessions which take place after school from 3pm to 5pm.
An interim report of the evaluation of the Australian Sports Commission’s Active After-school Communities program 2005–2007 showed that more than 80 pc of parents of participating children felt that the program boosted interest in physical activity, with these children becoming more active and watching less television. They also felt it boosted body image and self confidence, agreeing that not only the program has helped produce healthier, fitter, more active kids, it attracts kids who aren’t skilful or confident enough to be involved in other sports and then gets them to be involved outside of school.
Speaking with Sports Commission representative, Belinda Zipevski, the Commission feels that the AASC has been successful with creating an opportunity for children to access physical activity.
Ms Zipevski is the AASC Regional Coordinator of the Blacktown area and feels the program has opened up doors for children’s participation in sport.
“It has been successful…in getting the program out there. The program reached 150,000 children with the first lot of funding in 2005,” said Ms Zipevski.
She said that there had been such instances where a child in the program had liked playing a particular sport whilst doing the program and had signed up for their local team following it. It has also been a means for children to try other sports they may not have had the chance of trying.
“[The AASC] opens the kids up to try more than just traditional sports and allows more from smaller sports [for example] fencing, golf, ”
She feels that the program also gives opportunities for the children involved to increase a healthier lifestyle and that continual support and funding by the government would be beneficial.
This feeling is also shared amongst the delivers and carers of many of the OOSH centres involved in the program.
Program deliverer Daniel Bush, first became involved in Active After School Communities three years ago. He is also the owner of Fit4Kids, whose coaches offer a wide selection of sport, from Oz tag, soccer and cricket to mixed and world games. Mr Bush said the AASC program had proven successful at encouraging child participation in physical activity, as well as communication and friendship.
He said the encouragement of a good coach and the participation of parents and carers in the program was key to keeping children interested.
“A good coach will have the child hooked after the first session,” he said.
OOSH Directors Peggy Taiaro and Debbie Powell both agree with this, and also both feel that the program is a small step towards decreasing childhood obesity.
Peggy Taiaro, Director of Vardys Road OOSH and Debbie Powell, Director of Norwest Christian School OOSH, have both had their respective centres involved in the program since 2007. They have found the program to be successful with their children pending the right amount of interest and encouragement. They have found some children reluctant to join in at first, but above all they have found the program to be a great initiative to help children become more active.
Mrs Taiaro says that obesity isn’t so much of a problem at her centre but can see the program being a positive influence in helping to decrease it.
“Here at Vardys our children don’t have a real problem with obesity, but [for] those [schools] who do…it shows they can to be active.”
Debbie Powell agrees but feels that the AASC is only one component to the resolution.
“In some ways, the children are more active” says Mrs Powell, “But I still think that its the parents that also need to be educate in what they feed there children and the portions that they should be eating.”
The issue of obesity is one that resonates and is one that has amounted pressure on the government to come up with ways of educating and preventing this issue from becoming worse. As the issue is one that is constantly updating and changing, it will be one open to further examination for years to come.
A new report by the Baker Institute has identified Australia as the fattest nation. The report, Australia’s Future Fat Bomb, stated that 26 per cent of the population was considered overweight, overtaking the United States of America with 25 per cent. This has created grave concerns, as the 2006 Brisbane Obesity Summit predicted obesity in Australia would overtake the USA in a decade, it’s been done in three years.
The report also revealed that the Federal Government spent $58.2 billion on obesity in 2008, which is almost triple ($21m) what was spent by the government in 2005. These figures are not only from the support needed to be provided by worker productivity, health system and carer costs, there is also a huge impact on financial hardship on an individual level.
This has put pressure on the Commonwealth to find new ways to educate people about keeping active and eating healthier. One of the ways the Government is looking to pursue a healthier nation is by starting with the younger generation.
Alarmingly, the most recent study into childhood obesity, the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, has found that six per cent of children aged two to 16 were classified as obese, with 17pc of children overweight. An earlier survey, conducted in 1995, showed that 4.6pc of two to 17 year-olds were obese and a further 15.3pc were considered to be overweight.
The 2007 report highlight that food supply and eating habits of Australians, as well as technological advances in the fields of video games and the internet, were considered as key contributing factors in the rise in childhood obesity.
“At this point I want to say the Federal Government does have a plan, and that is to have a plan,” Tasmanian Senator Guy Barnett told the parliament in his August, 2008 address “…We need action, not just words, strategies and plans, and we need it fast,”
“We live in an obesogenic environment, and…at all levels of government, and especially at the federal level, we have a responsibility to tackle it.”
As of May 2009, the government had listed in a report Weighing up Australia:Obesity in Australia recommendations passed down from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing. This investigation had derived from the release of the figures shown in the National Health Survey 2007-08 released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australia’s Future Fat Bomb earlier this year.
The government’s Australian Better Health Initiative has been brought in to help promote a healthier Australia. This initiative will cost the government $872.1m over the next six years, with $162m dedicated to childhood obesity.
One area funding will be increased is included in the continuation of community-based programs that educate children and their parents about healthy eating and regular physical exercise.
This is important when you consider the health problems that can develop if childhood obesity is not readdressed. The Baker Institute report, for example, highlighted the concern of childhood obesity developing into problems as adulthood is reached. Among its concerns include an increased health issues such as risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as orthopaedic complications, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
The World Health Organisation also mentioned possible psychosocial problems including depression and poor body image which, they said, could follow the bullying and teasing of children considered to be “too fat” by their peers
As a possible solution to increasing physical activity in school aged children, the Federal Government is looking to expand its Active After School Communities (AASC), which was created in 2005 through the Australia Sports Commission to creates opportunities for primary school children to have access to sport and other physical activity.
The program, which is free community-based, also encourages involvement in physical activity by carers, parents, and even volunteers from the community. To date, more than 900 schools and 150,000 children participate in the sessions which take place after school from 3pm to 5pm.
An interim report of the evaluation of the Australian Sports Commission’s Active After-school Communities program 2005–2007 showed that more than 80 pc of parents of participating children felt that the program boosted interest in physical activity, with these children becoming more active and watching less television. They also felt it boosted body image and self confidence, agreeing that not only the program has helped produce healthier, fitter, more active kids, it attracts kids who aren’t skilful or confident enough to be involved in other sports and then gets them to be involved outside of school.
Speaking with Sports Commission representative, Belinda Zipevski, the Commission feels that the AASC has been successful with creating an opportunity for children to access physical activity.
Ms Zipevski is the AASC Regional Coordinator of the Blacktown area and feels the program has opened up doors for children’s participation in sport.
“It has been successful…in getting the program out there. The program reached 150,000 children with the first lot of funding in 2005,” said Ms Zipevski.
She said that there had been such instances where a child in the program had liked playing a particular sport whilst doing the program and had signed up for their local team following it. It has also been a means for children to try other sports they may not have had the chance of trying.
“[The AASC] opens the kids up to try more than just traditional sports and allows more from smaller sports [for example] fencing, golf, ”
She feels that the program also gives opportunities for the children involved to increase a healthier lifestyle and that continual support and funding by the government would be beneficial.
This feeling is also shared amongst the delivers and carers of many of the OOSH centres involved in the program.
Program deliverer Daniel Bush, first became involved in Active After School Communities three years ago. He is also the owner of Fit4Kids, whose coaches offer a wide selection of sport, from Oz tag, soccer and cricket to mixed and world games. Mr Bush said the AASC program had proven successful at encouraging child participation in physical activity, as well as communication and friendship.
He said the encouragement of a good coach and the participation of parents and carers in the program was key to keeping children interested.
“A good coach will have the child hooked after the first session,” he said.
OOSH Directors Peggy Taiaro and Debbie Powell both agree with this, and also both feel that the program is a small step towards decreasing childhood obesity.
Peggy Taiaro, Director of Vardys Road OOSH and Debbie Powell, Director of Norwest Christian School OOSH, have both had their respective centres involved in the program since 2007. They have found the program to be successful with their children pending the right amount of interest and encouragement. They have found some children reluctant to join in at first, but above all they have found the program to be a great initiative to help children become more active.
Mrs Taiaro says that obesity isn’t so much of a problem at her centre but can see the program being a positive influence in helping to decrease it.
“Here at Vardys our children don’t have a real problem with obesity, but [for] those [schools] who do…it shows they can to be active.”
Debbie Powell agrees but feels that the AASC is only one component to the resolution.
“In some ways, the children are more active” says Mrs Powell, “But I still think that its the parents that also need to be educate in what they feed there children and the portions that they should be eating.”
The issue of obesity is one that resonates and is one that has amounted pressure on the government to come up with ways of educating and preventing this issue from becoming worse. As the issue is one that is constantly updating and changing, it will be one open to further examination for years to come.
Story.
This is one of the *less* depressing stories I found on my disk. I went through a real dark stage when I was a bit younger when I was writing bits and pieces...and far out, it's really depressing to read back on...
-*-*-*-
Until Death Do Us Part.
I looked at my watch. I was running late.
Really late.
The sun had already begun to set behind me as I walked quickly along the path. I hadn’t even noticed the time until the librarian came over to me and informed me it was closing time. That’s what I get, for always becoming so engrossed in what I’m reading.
I took another glance at my watch. I knew he’d kill me. He was always worried about me walking home at dusk. I don’t know why he always fusses. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.
If only I could just cut across the park, I’d get home quicker, I thought to myself. Well, that’s what I thought was hiding behind the colossal stone walls which surrounded the perimeter of whatever was beside my usual walking path. I noticed a gate, and decided to cut through. It’d only be this once. And he didn’t have to know.
On inspection as I came closer to the gate, I noticed some gravestones on the other side. On the gate stood letters that read what matched my suspicions.
CITY CEMETERY.
Just this once, I thought, as I gripped the handle of my shoulder bag, and pushed open one of the iron-clad gates which guarded the cemetery. It shrieked shut, as I continued along the path. I slowly began to walk, observing some of the stones that lay nearby. Some of them riddled with age and decay, other’s just riddled with neglect. I noticed an enormous statue. It was an angel, cradling a harp and looking towards the sky.
Wow, a lot of people go to a fair bit of effort for their time after death, I thought to myself, in total awe. It must’ve cost a pretty penny too. Off the path to the right I saw a glimmer of a light flickering through the gravestones. As I got closer, I saw a man. He was kneeled in front of a grave stone it covered in candles and flowers. He just knelt there, his hand upon the stone and his head bowed solemnly.
I stopped for a moment, tilting my head thoughtfully to the side as I observed the man. I felt a twinge of sympathy creep across my mood. I then realised I was trying to get home in time before I ended up here myself, so I continued to walk home.
From then on, I had decided to take the short cut again. It got me home quicker. Evening after evening when I walked through, that same man knelt at the gravestone. I chanced a longer glance one evening. The man wouldn’t be any older than in his 60s. I gave him total credit for being that age and staying in a place like this at night. The person who had died must have been really special to him. He always had candles lit. Sometimes, he would hold a flower, other times he would just sit, head bowed, and silently wept.
As the months progressed, the same man sat there. But it suddenly stopped. One cold evening, I was walking through, and I didn’t see the candles lit. I didn’t see the man perched in front of the grave as I had every other night. I became concerned. I didn’t even know the guy, and I was concerned. Something must have been wrong for him to not be there.
I had the next morning off, and had told my beloved I was going for a walk. I came down to the cemetery, and walked through. I walked towards where I thought the graves were. I saw a casket being lowered into the ground, and I strolled over. As I did, the man looked at me, wondering as to why I was there.
I stood there, eying the stones. I decided to break the awkward silence.
‘I saw him every evening, sitting by this grave,’ I said, looking at the man. He looked at me, nodding solemnly. I just stood there, with my hands in my pocket, as he began to cover the casket with dirt. When he had finished, I continued to stand there. The epitaphs on the headstones caught my attention, and I felt tears forming in my eyes.
Until death do us part.
-*-*-*-
Until Death Do Us Part.
I looked at my watch. I was running late.
Really late.
The sun had already begun to set behind me as I walked quickly along the path. I hadn’t even noticed the time until the librarian came over to me and informed me it was closing time. That’s what I get, for always becoming so engrossed in what I’m reading.
I took another glance at my watch. I knew he’d kill me. He was always worried about me walking home at dusk. I don’t know why he always fusses. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.
If only I could just cut across the park, I’d get home quicker, I thought to myself. Well, that’s what I thought was hiding behind the colossal stone walls which surrounded the perimeter of whatever was beside my usual walking path. I noticed a gate, and decided to cut through. It’d only be this once. And he didn’t have to know.
On inspection as I came closer to the gate, I noticed some gravestones on the other side. On the gate stood letters that read what matched my suspicions.
CITY CEMETERY.
Just this once, I thought, as I gripped the handle of my shoulder bag, and pushed open one of the iron-clad gates which guarded the cemetery. It shrieked shut, as I continued along the path. I slowly began to walk, observing some of the stones that lay nearby. Some of them riddled with age and decay, other’s just riddled with neglect. I noticed an enormous statue. It was an angel, cradling a harp and looking towards the sky.
Wow, a lot of people go to a fair bit of effort for their time after death, I thought to myself, in total awe. It must’ve cost a pretty penny too. Off the path to the right I saw a glimmer of a light flickering through the gravestones. As I got closer, I saw a man. He was kneeled in front of a grave stone it covered in candles and flowers. He just knelt there, his hand upon the stone and his head bowed solemnly.
I stopped for a moment, tilting my head thoughtfully to the side as I observed the man. I felt a twinge of sympathy creep across my mood. I then realised I was trying to get home in time before I ended up here myself, so I continued to walk home.
From then on, I had decided to take the short cut again. It got me home quicker. Evening after evening when I walked through, that same man knelt at the gravestone. I chanced a longer glance one evening. The man wouldn’t be any older than in his 60s. I gave him total credit for being that age and staying in a place like this at night. The person who had died must have been really special to him. He always had candles lit. Sometimes, he would hold a flower, other times he would just sit, head bowed, and silently wept.
As the months progressed, the same man sat there. But it suddenly stopped. One cold evening, I was walking through, and I didn’t see the candles lit. I didn’t see the man perched in front of the grave as I had every other night. I became concerned. I didn’t even know the guy, and I was concerned. Something must have been wrong for him to not be there.
I had the next morning off, and had told my beloved I was going for a walk. I came down to the cemetery, and walked through. I walked towards where I thought the graves were. I saw a casket being lowered into the ground, and I strolled over. As I did, the man looked at me, wondering as to why I was there.
I stood there, eying the stones. I decided to break the awkward silence.
‘I saw him every evening, sitting by this grave,’ I said, looking at the man. He looked at me, nodding solemnly. I just stood there, with my hands in my pocket, as he began to cover the casket with dirt. When he had finished, I continued to stand there. The epitaphs on the headstones caught my attention, and I felt tears forming in my eyes.
Until death do us part.
First ever article - "Swans Too Strong For Cats"
I found a magical disk in my drawer...and I found this. I completely LOLed at it. I wrote this in my first year out of high school while I was studying News Media at TAFE and it was published on the Red and White Online website. Thank goodness my writing has gotten better....and I am seriously not as biased in my writing now. There are pictures that go with it...but this thing won't let me copy them...
-*-*-*-
Swans Too Strong for Cats
Sarah M
10th Jul, 2005
The forecasted rain held off on Saturday night and the Swans ran onto the field with the chance to earn a place in the top four.
THE GAME
During the first quarter, there was an immense amount of running from the players, with intensity and strong defensive pressure from the Swans.
Within the first minute of the game, the first goal came from a free kick awarded to Geelong's Cameron Thurley. However, Sydney evened the score minutes later through a goal from Nick Davis.
These were the only two goals scored in the first quarter, with the goals-to-behinds of the quarter 2:5. After a low-scoring first quarter, the Swans came out and dominated the game.
The intensity and the pressure the players placed on their opposition was outstanding.

Unlike the first quarter, the second quarter saw the swans score a surprising nine goals straight.
The teamwork of the players was fluent and precise. Barry Hall was held goalless last week, but when he slotted through his first goal it sparked the nine goal streak. The next two came from Ryan O’Keefe within thirty seconds of each other.
Then Brett Kirk kicked his goal from around the body, and Jarred Crouch goaled after a relay of passes from his team mates.
Three more majors came from Hall, one of which was set up by Amon Buchanan, who was diving into the contests and put his body on the line on numerous occasions. And the ninth goal came from Goodes.
The second quarter had seen a much more fluent game of football. The Swans were well on top, and the team worked together well to keep the Cats to only 2 goals going into the half-time break.
The goals for Geelong came within the last two minutes of the quarter, from Kingsley and Thurley. With the Swans up by 40 points, Sydney fans were wondering if there was any chance the Cats could claw their way back in the second half?
The Cats managed to close the margin to twenty-two points during the third quarter, but that was about as close as they came within the last half of the game.
This quarter saw numerous turnovers between the two teams, both the Cats and the Swans scoring three goals a-piece in the quarter. The best of the Swans’ goals came from a Barry Hall juggled-mark. The Swans' defence was strong in this quarter, with numerous spoils coming from Tadhg and Leo in the backline.

The goal scorers for Geelong in this quarter were David Haynes, whose goal came from a paid advantage from a free kick, Chapman and Thurley.
The third Swans’ goal was a minor sensation.
Right on the three-quarter-time siren, Ablett was holding the ball in his hands, ready to have a shot at goal.
With a thumping kick, he booted it towards the posts.
The ball bounced and went through the goal, leaving a confusion of Geelong defenders wondering how the ball was missed by everyone.
Going into three-quarter time, the Swans were up by 41 points.
The final quarter saw the Swans consolidate their lead, adding 3.3 with goals from O’Loughlin, Davis and O’Keefe.
The pressure Sydney placed upon Geelong in this final term resulted in indecisiveness from the Cats, and the only goal the Cats got in the final term was from Bartell, who received a free kick in the last five minutes of the game.
THE PLAYERS

There were quite a few outstanding efforts among the players.
Hall and Goodes both had major impacts on the game.
Jude was giving it his all this week, diving into packs, and going in hard for tackles.
Amon Buchanan had a fantastic game, diving courageously onto the ball in the packs, and had several assists to the goal scoring effort.
Ryan O’Keefe had 23 possessions and an outstanding contribution both to the score and around the ground.
Brett Kirk had a good game also; even after suffering mild concussion he came back into the game in the second half with a big impact.
Sydney: 1.1, 10.3, 13.6, 16.9 (105) Geelong: 1.4, 3.5, 6.7, 7.9 (51)
Goals: Sydney: Hall 5, O'Keefe 3, Kirk, Davis 2, Crouch, Goodes, Ablett, O'Loughlin
Geelong: Thurley 3, Kingsley, Haynes, Chapman, Bartel
Best: Sydney: Goodes, Hall, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Kirk, Barry, Ablett
Geelong: Chapman, Kelly, Ablett, Thurley
Injuries: Sydney: Jolly (elbow)
Geelong: none
Changes: Sydney: none
Geelong: Rooke, Ling, King replaced in the starting side by Rahilly, Blake, Thurley.
Reports: none
Umpires: Allen, Morris, Ryan
Crowd: 28,185 at the SCG
words and pictures by Sarah M
-*-*-*-
Swans Too Strong for Cats
Sarah M
10th Jul, 2005
The forecasted rain held off on Saturday night and the Swans ran onto the field with the chance to earn a place in the top four.
THE GAME
During the first quarter, there was an immense amount of running from the players, with intensity and strong defensive pressure from the Swans.
Within the first minute of the game, the first goal came from a free kick awarded to Geelong's Cameron Thurley. However, Sydney evened the score minutes later through a goal from Nick Davis.
These were the only two goals scored in the first quarter, with the goals-to-behinds of the quarter 2:5. After a low-scoring first quarter, the Swans came out and dominated the game.
The intensity and the pressure the players placed on their opposition was outstanding.

Unlike the first quarter, the second quarter saw the swans score a surprising nine goals straight.
The teamwork of the players was fluent and precise. Barry Hall was held goalless last week, but when he slotted through his first goal it sparked the nine goal streak. The next two came from Ryan O’Keefe within thirty seconds of each other.
Then Brett Kirk kicked his goal from around the body, and Jarred Crouch goaled after a relay of passes from his team mates.
Three more majors came from Hall, one of which was set up by Amon Buchanan, who was diving into the contests and put his body on the line on numerous occasions. And the ninth goal came from Goodes.
The second quarter had seen a much more fluent game of football. The Swans were well on top, and the team worked together well to keep the Cats to only 2 goals going into the half-time break.
The goals for Geelong came within the last two minutes of the quarter, from Kingsley and Thurley. With the Swans up by 40 points, Sydney fans were wondering if there was any chance the Cats could claw their way back in the second half?
The Cats managed to close the margin to twenty-two points during the third quarter, but that was about as close as they came within the last half of the game.
This quarter saw numerous turnovers between the two teams, both the Cats and the Swans scoring three goals a-piece in the quarter. The best of the Swans’ goals came from a Barry Hall juggled-mark. The Swans' defence was strong in this quarter, with numerous spoils coming from Tadhg and Leo in the backline.

The goal scorers for Geelong in this quarter were David Haynes, whose goal came from a paid advantage from a free kick, Chapman and Thurley.
The third Swans’ goal was a minor sensation.
Right on the three-quarter-time siren, Ablett was holding the ball in his hands, ready to have a shot at goal.
With a thumping kick, he booted it towards the posts.
The ball bounced and went through the goal, leaving a confusion of Geelong defenders wondering how the ball was missed by everyone.
Going into three-quarter time, the Swans were up by 41 points.
The final quarter saw the Swans consolidate their lead, adding 3.3 with goals from O’Loughlin, Davis and O’Keefe.
The pressure Sydney placed upon Geelong in this final term resulted in indecisiveness from the Cats, and the only goal the Cats got in the final term was from Bartell, who received a free kick in the last five minutes of the game.
THE PLAYERS

There were quite a few outstanding efforts among the players.
Hall and Goodes both had major impacts on the game.
Jude was giving it his all this week, diving into packs, and going in hard for tackles.
Amon Buchanan had a fantastic game, diving courageously onto the ball in the packs, and had several assists to the goal scoring effort.
Ryan O’Keefe had 23 possessions and an outstanding contribution both to the score and around the ground.
Brett Kirk had a good game also; even after suffering mild concussion he came back into the game in the second half with a big impact.
Sydney: 1.1, 10.3, 13.6, 16.9 (105) Geelong: 1.4, 3.5, 6.7, 7.9 (51)
Goals: Sydney: Hall 5, O'Keefe 3, Kirk, Davis 2, Crouch, Goodes, Ablett, O'Loughlin
Geelong: Thurley 3, Kingsley, Haynes, Chapman, Bartel
Best: Sydney: Goodes, Hall, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Kirk, Barry, Ablett
Geelong: Chapman, Kelly, Ablett, Thurley
Injuries: Sydney: Jolly (elbow)
Geelong: none
Changes: Sydney: none
Geelong: Rooke, Ling, King replaced in the starting side by Rahilly, Blake, Thurley.
Reports: none
Umpires: Allen, Morris, Ryan
Crowd: 28,185 at the SCG
words and pictures by Sarah M
Poem.
I found this on an old disk I had...I don't know who wrote it, but I absolutely love it.
-*-*-*-
Into the world, Innocence was born,
Her father the sunset and her mother the dawn.
But as Innocence grew, her world began to change,
Things she had learnt were soon rearranged.
The feelings were overwhelming her mind,
How could the world be so cruel and not kind?
How could the world not love, but hate?
When did it all begin to disintegrate?
She got up the courage to ask her mother,
To get the truth from, there was no other.
'Why do we live, only to die?
To end up 6 feet under, oh mother tell me why?
Why is there so much hatred and war?
You'd think after time, it'd become a bore.
Why are there lies, regrets and despair?
Why does it seem there's no one left to care?
Where did it all go so wrong?
To let all these horrible things belong?'
To all these questions, her mother replied.
With a solemn glare, very dignified,
'Our destiny, our fate, is what drags us along,
Sometimes we cannot control the things that go wrong.
You just have to hang on, and go for the ride,
It is our time that we have to bide.
From the moment we live, to the moment we die,
There are things that will happen that no one can explain why.
But when we look back on these moments and see,
They were meant to happen what would life be?
Without all this pain, this hate, this despair and lies,
But my dear, you must begin to realise,
That these are not just the things we feel and see,
There's is more to life than all this negativity.
There is happiness, joy, love and delight,
From the sunrise in the morning, to the dead of night,'
Innocence looked at her mother, full of thought,
And realised there was no reason to be distraught.
She took in all these words, and began to grin,
Maybe this world wasn't so bad to be in.
-*-*-*-
Into the world, Innocence was born,
Her father the sunset and her mother the dawn.
But as Innocence grew, her world began to change,
Things she had learnt were soon rearranged.
The feelings were overwhelming her mind,
How could the world be so cruel and not kind?
How could the world not love, but hate?
When did it all begin to disintegrate?
She got up the courage to ask her mother,
To get the truth from, there was no other.
'Why do we live, only to die?
To end up 6 feet under, oh mother tell me why?
Why is there so much hatred and war?
You'd think after time, it'd become a bore.
Why are there lies, regrets and despair?
Why does it seem there's no one left to care?
Where did it all go so wrong?
To let all these horrible things belong?'
To all these questions, her mother replied.
With a solemn glare, very dignified,
'Our destiny, our fate, is what drags us along,
Sometimes we cannot control the things that go wrong.
You just have to hang on, and go for the ride,
It is our time that we have to bide.
From the moment we live, to the moment we die,
There are things that will happen that no one can explain why.
But when we look back on these moments and see,
They were meant to happen what would life be?
Without all this pain, this hate, this despair and lies,
But my dear, you must begin to realise,
That these are not just the things we feel and see,
There's is more to life than all this negativity.
There is happiness, joy, love and delight,
From the sunrise in the morning, to the dead of night,'
Innocence looked at her mother, full of thought,
And realised there was no reason to be distraught.
She took in all these words, and began to grin,
Maybe this world wasn't so bad to be in.
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