Before I introduce my next human I would like to give a tiny insight into his life before his letter! He also wanted his photo before he lost his beautiful hair. Pauls life is too varied and interesting to even begin to put onto my little page. Our conversation went for a long time and I didn’t want his story telling to end. To touch lightly on his amazing life he was the promoter in 1972 of The White Company, was the organiser of the Aquarius Festival, he was in the original cast of Jesus Christ Superstar from 1972 for 9 months and was part of the absolute beginning of The Paddington Markets in Sydney when he lived in the church there on the site. He was there at the onset of saving the forest in Terania, he is a musician, a father, a grandfather and a man that loves and cares for his fellow humans, our country, our planet. My conversation with Paul went for a long time and I have taken a tiny bit of that for this post and as he said he can tell his story more succinctly in these videos https://vimeo.com/66868356. and the fight to save Terania http://youtu.be/NaSCBqC7MRE
Paul Joseph – “I was born in Newcastle and became politically active at a young age because of the anti-war. I’m a folk singer and I found my purpose to sing songs, join people together and it helped keep a peacefulness. At the result of a very intensive event where thousands of people were all raising their hands for peace, young people trying to end a war, the police formed a wedge and drove into the people, smashed them down. I’d been brought up to believe the police were on our side and I couldn’t believe this was happening. My mother had instilled in me, no war, peace etc so this was so disillusioning. She was born in 1915 and had seen the results of the first world war, the depression, the 2nd world war. Straight after the war there was the promise of peace and I took that seriously and I’ve honoured my mother my entire life by practicing peace. I moved to the bush, there was no dole and it led me to try and exist with other people. Long story and many places in the bush, a mansion in Bondi with a well to do fella with a left hand drive yellow mustang with a shop called The High Llama in Bondi Junction and off we went looking for Shangrilah. Travelling down back through the North Coast we found Mullumbimby, uncle Toms Pies. Magic country and we turn this corner and there is this massive jacaranda in full bloom with this big purple spray and this scarlet bouganvillia vine tangled inside thrusting up the middle of it. I’d never seen anything so beautiful, to a young mind, all that colour and beautifulness.”
This is Pauls letter to us all –
“Dear Family, Friends and Fellow Facebook Fan-aticals,
I wish to share a glimpse of my personal journey in recent times, to update my friends, near and far, with my news and best wishes. I have had several messages enquiring about my recent lack of revolutionary rantings, some even worried I may have stopped fanning the fire of discontent.
Let me assure you, the passion for a better politic – one that cares for people before profit, a healthy and happy environment for growth and care and compassion for all our integrated community – will always endure.
My distractions have been caused by a severe health crisis. I have been trying to heal a shoulder injury for several months and during the investigations it was discovered I have lung cancer. This set me on a path of many tests, scans and biopsies to determine a healing pathway.
I met with the oncologists at Lismore’s wonderful state of the art Cancer Clinic a couple of days ago. (Great gratitude especially to Mayor Jenny Dowell andJanelle Saffin for their vision and work to realise this facility and the services it offers we locals so close to home.)
Unfortunately for me, though, the plan now must be to alleviate symptoms and manage the end stage process. My cancer has refused to be contained and has spread to my lymph glands, brain and some bones, making treatment pretty much unviable. My challenge is now acceptance – not surrender – while remaining open to miracles, prayers and the kindness of love with my family and friends.
I have had a very blessed life and have every reason to celebrate. My 3 children and 2 beautiful granddaughters have only ever given me reason for joy and pride. I feel loved, supported and embraced by my extended family and my friends have afforded me a true sense of belonging within my beautiful Rainbow Region community. I have witnessed such a transformation of this region over the 45 years it has held my heart that there can be no doubt that we humans can make our world work the way we really want.
Meanwhile, there is a State election in just a couple of weeks that will be crucial in determining the future direction for our region and country. Change is absolutely essential and urgent. The conservative ideologues have fully revealed the ugliness they wish to impose by selling us out, digging us up and shipping off our hopes and dreams.
Stop them in their tracks, now. Maximise your ballot power and be sure to number every box (with your preferred choice first) and put the disgraceful LNP last.
Maybe an analogy too far, but the cancer that has invaded our society is not that unlike the disease that has chosen me. We can’t ignore it. We must change.
I now only have time for love and wish for happiness for all. We have to take responsibility for that and it is all well within our grasp. Let’s all be brave and welcome the change. I look forward to taking delight into the darkness. Love all round.”