Jamie Larson has always been one to travel afar from his native New Zealand, challenge himself and find new ways to connect with people.

At one significant moment, with only a ‘basic’ high school level of Spanish, he made a decision to relocate from England and go to Argentina. With little expectation and not much of a plan, on arrival he set about using his instincts for meeting people as a way of fitting in and looking for work. He had immediate success … but then the pandemic hit, and Argentina was completely locked down … and his world of opportunity vanished overnight.

Shannon Ziegelaar has had some grass roots experiences in the various levels of local and federal politics. This included supporting a close friend in the City of Perth Lord Mayoral elections and then being a volunteer for Kate Chaney as she entered federal parliament at the last federal election as a successful independent community candidate.
The collective views and values of a group of like minded community focused citizens, who were also inspired to think there was a better way for effective representation, has led to the formation of Voices of Moore.

Shannon tells her story of being part of the establishment of this group and how it has evolved into a movement that has engaged many aspects of their community, created some common aspirations and is now positioned to find the “ideal” candidate to represent them.

Davy Rowe was back at square one … his business was gone!

So what next … especially when the advice from his brother was … "You know, realistically mate ... you've got to forgive the guys that cheated you"

Was he really ready for that?

The first step toward accepting any change, occurred when he went with his brother to a “men’s retreat” for a weekend in the USA. The realisation of who he was, and what he wanted to be, was uncovered…along with an interest in “plant medicines” as a way to help his self discovery.

Next was a trip to Costa Rica, where Davy experienced the mind influencing and soul discovery effects of ayahuasca. It changed everything.

"Drive the van off the road Davy … and the pain will stop"

These words came from a voice in the mind of Davy Rowe one morning, as he was travelling down the freeway in Perth. It took him many years to share this experience with anyone … but it formed a catalytic moment for drive and purpose in his life from the moment he ‘heard’ them.

He had arrived in Perth from the UK in 1990 with a wife, two young kids, and a determination to build a business from scratch. The business was beginning to grow when he heard this message, and he was able to use it as motivation for success.

He went on to establish Vortech, a successful air-conditioning installation company — it was the biggest in Perth — and Davy was busy. Busy with work, busy with family, busy raising his kids.

Then his world collapsed when a trusted contractor refused to pay nearly $1 million in work Vortech had completed.

The inspired decision at a young age to study French in school, has lead Rachael West on a path of living and working in France on multiple occasions.

These visits were experiences that have shaped her thinking, allowed her to take study opportunities that have fuelled her passions and ultimately allowed her to be immersed in the French culture.

But, these are not the only interesting experiences she has had … there’s also “Clown School”. Being part of this intensive program of performance, has positively influence her understanding of how humans perform in front of crowds. She has taken this knowledge into her work as a “speaker coach”.

Frank Scatchard has led an interesting and varied life.

During his visit to The Island, Frank shared with us some really interesting details from his original career as an industrial “kiln operator”. Yep, it’s not every day you meet someone that has operated an industrial kiln at dangerous temp’s of over 1000 degrees…and has lived to talk about it.

But whilst that was a significant part of his early working life, there was a drive for the freedom to work for himself. So, after some careful planning and creative working arrangements with employers, Frank was able to build up from scratch … his own lawn-mowing business.

This freedom of working for himself allowed him to embrace one of his passions … music … and become involved in community radio. After a couple of goes at it, Frank eventually did a course in radio announcing and then began a commitment to hosting a regular show on 6HFM … RockAria.

As a developing child, Larissa Muir’s son was being excluded from aspects of the community and faced challenges in his initial years of education. Through clinical support and a medical process of discovery, he was initially diagnosed with ADHD, and eventually this led to a recognition of autism.

But, what do you do when you realise that the way he thinks … is the way you think and view the world. For Larissa, this was a revelation and allowed her to also be diagnosed with both conditions. As a professionally successful adult in her mid 30’s, she was now in a position to realise why her intuition and behaviour was shaped the way it was. But, it also presented a dilemma … how would people acknowledge her when she shared with them this important information.

When faced with the emotional pressure of a long term relationship break-up it would seem natural to find the security of a safe space, in the company of loved ones and looking for stability in your life.

But for Alexis Naylor, when this happened she chose something quite different. She decided to embark on an adventurous life of living on the road and travelling around the country. With her re-fashioned ex-ambulance named “Van…essa”, Alexis was able to spread her wings, re-capture her independence and take control of her own destiny.

Being a successful musician, Alexis spent the next two and half years travelling around Australia, booking into studio’s to satisfy her creative expression and just playing gigs wherever she could.

After only 3 and half years knowing each other, Seb and Rhys chose to leave the professional comfort of Not for Profit organisations working in the disability sector, to create a business for themselves. They had a vision to create an entity that would continue to allow people with disability to exercise their independence through personal choice and control. And they did this in classic “bootstrapping” style … by believing in themselves.

The NDIS has created an interesting marketplace in the Australian disability landscape and the opportunity for independent, customer focused contract providers to create an impact, is strong.

Yvette Thomas and her husband had well established, long term careers. But they were forced to make a considered decision, during the worldwide pandemic, to seek a new life … and future.

This involved a move to regional Western Australia to operate a tourist accomodation … a project that lasted for 2 years and 9 months. However the intensity of running a 24/7 operation created physical and mental burnout which led to the need for both of them to take a break. The only way to deal with this was to take 3 months for “complete rest and recovery”.

After this time of contemplation, Yvette began a process of discovery to determine …”what’s next?”

This involved a simple Google search of “trauma informed education” and opened her world to new opportunities. The first step was to complete an online course called “The Trauma Informed certificate for Coaches and Healers”

Ali Horriyat established Compassiviste to unite individuals into collectives that can make real change to the world.

Following a self described “ mindset experience “ with a homeless person who shared food with him when he was “on the streets”, … Ali embraced a clear understanding of compassion, and most importantly, the actions of compassion that help others to make real change…from these thoughts came Compassiviste.

In 2016, businessman-turned-charity founder Ali Horriyat gave away his entire personal fortune of almost $100m. This was not just a meaningless distribution of cash to satisfy an ego charged desire for personal fulfilment, but it came from a real belief in a better way to shift the social impact dial.

He went to the extremes of experiencing homelessness, connecting with people who’s human values mattered more than their wealth and spent many hours, weeks, months and years capturing a manifesto of beliefs that were used to set the basis for his future life.

He is one of the great moral and social thinkers of our time.

Ryan Honschooten has been on Max’s Island before … when he has shared stories about his world renowned blind sailing expertise and his “later in life” interest in playing blind cricket that has also seen him travel the world with his ‘baggy green’ cap… most importantly to India, the current heartbeat of world cricket. Ryan is the epitome of the uniqueness that exists in all humans … and that is not to be defined by his life story, but be shaped and cultured by many individual stories of his life.

In this episode on Max’s Island, Ryan shares his passion for community radio and reflects on his many years of involvement in this world … and then experience of most recently, reengaging with this interest to the extent of becoming the Chairperson of 6HFM 107.3.

In Western Australia where Max’s Island is recorded, we are in the midst of another exciting Aussie Rules football season.

At the highest level of AFL, the local scene has featured the strong “on-field” improvement of the Fremantle Dockers and “Harley Hype” is gripping the West Coast Eagles fan base.

The local WA Football League also continues to generate incredible community support and be the important “feeder” system for the elite players.

But, it wasn’t that long ago when things were compromised by the pandemic and in WA, we experienced an isolation that actually allowed this local competition to continue and provide a real emotional outlet for many…at a time of collective community anxiety.

In today’s episode, we reflect on the two occasions Cameron Britt, CEO of the South Fremantle Football Club, visited the island to share his story about his journey in football, how he came to WA and the bizarre times of successfully running a football club during a pandemic.

Following a casual comment at work a few years ago, Dott Dacey and Odette Jordan discovered they both had a hidden desire to not only walk the Kokoda Trail but also absorb the spiritual experiences of those who had gone before them … especially those soldiers who had defended the Australian heritage in WWII.

They both challenged themselves to reach the physical and emotional heights of successfully walking Kokoda. Yet, this didn’t happen by chance, it came after a determined period of physical training, a focus on mental preparation and a commitment to support each other through the experience.

In her later teen years, Jayne Bryant was given a positive affirmation that she was good at singing and performing. It came from a comment made by her brother, to her dad, whilst they were on a family summer holiday.

From that moment she had the confidence to really focus on this passion and ultimately make the decision to postpone the completion of her University Science Degree and venture to Melbourne to undertake a one year course in music performance.

During that year in Melbourne her musical skills blossomed and she began to develop into a ‘real’ performer. On her arrival back to Perth, Jayne became immersed in her local music network and took the bold step to begin performing live. Whilst this lifestyle was challenging and ultimately not financially viable or fulfilling, an impressive body of work was created that culminated in an album of all her songs … called “Just as it Should” and released in 2008.

Being a lover of pets, and dogs in particular, is something familiar to many of us on Max’s Island. However, few of us go so far as to dedicate a big part of our lives to making sure ALL dogs have the best possible life.

Karen Rhodes was introduced to Homer at the Shenton Park Dogs Home many years ago and that relationship became deep and loving through a mutual bond between them. Homer was a big, strong masculine dog … but with a heart of gold and a loving disposition … and he became the companion Karen needed at the time. She could always depend on him.

Barry Mone is just like any dad … he’ll do anything for his children.

Since late 2017, when his son Charlie had just turned 8, Barry and his family have been on a crusade. Around this time, through a series of circumstances and even observations of others … including a lady who they met at the local park … Charlie was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) — an incurable and ultimately fatal condition caused by a lack of dystrophin protein.

Charlie had earlier in life been diagnosed with Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) … a common congenital developmental anomaly of the eye that causes a level of blindness, so when his “Duchenne” was diagnosed … life became more complicated.

As Charlie is the only “boy” in the world with both conditions.

Charlie Gunningham was a little uncertain about the long term future of his teaching career in the late 1990’s. But, like many changes in life, there was a sequence of events … some unplanned and generally not expected, that eventually catapulted his professional life from teaching to something totally different … the tech world of digital real estate.

This mixture of influential events included completing an MBA, connecting with an American “hedge fund” manager and entrepreneur who had found himself in Perth WA, investing in untried mapping technology … and even being on stage with his wife at a Dame Edna Everage show at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco WA.

And … all of this coming together just as the world wide tech bubble was about to burst.

Estelle Blackburn OAM, is an acclaimed journalist with a career that has included working for WA Newspapers, the ABC and as a media advisor for Carmen Lawrence, Western Australia’s first female State Premier.

However, for this Walkley Award winner, perhaps her greatest achievement has been the impact made on the lives two men, wrongly imprisoned for crimes committed by Eric Edger Cooke, WA’s last man hanged in Fremantle Prison.

A chance meeting with the brother of John Button, one of these falsely convicted men, sent Estelle on the passionate pursuit for truth and the quest to right the wrongs of these injustices. And this included giving up her full time job and selling an investment house to fund this journey.