UPDATE
UPDATE is our monthly in-house supporters newsletter – an inspirational communication from the G-Team sharing news about upcoming mags, new developments, Street Sponsorship, financial progress, and more.
It’s posted (free of charge) to all friends, supporters and Street Sponsors, and is now also available for download from our website. If you would like to support Grapevine, and receive your own personal copy of UPDATE, simply CLICK HERE to learn how you can make a donation.
LESSONS FROM GEESE
John Cooney, May 2010
There's much we can learn from nature … about life and death, architecture, or whether it'll rain tomorrow … about solar energy, finding north in the bush, or south from the stars. Or how about the fact you can't get an apple from an orange tree …?
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AN OLD, OLD STORY THAT WON’T GO AWAY
John Cooney, April 2010
High up in the stunningly beautiful Bavarian Alps (southern Germany) is a little alpine village called Oberammergau, famous for its wood carvings and the glorious frescos that adorn the walls of the old houses. Once every 10 years, almost half the population (more than 2000 citizens) take part in a remarkable spectacle of pageantry and devotion. And, in just a few weeks time, my wife and I will be there to see it for ourselves …
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CARRY ON NURSE!
John Cooney, March 2010
I never planned to be an editor. It just happened. And I’m not entirely sure how. I mean, I could’ve been an accountant. That’s what my dad was, and that’s what I assumed I would be when I left school. I could’ve been a youth worker or a minister, and I actually tried both of those for a few years. I could’ve been an author or a jazz musician or a wildlife photographer, and I’d still like to be, I think, one day, maybe.
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THANKS MATE!
Mike Cooney, February 2010
Do you ever have times when nothing ever seems to go right? When your cunning plans end up turning to custard? When no matter how hard you try, how loud you pray or how much you swear under your breath, things still don't work out the way you want?
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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
John Cooney, December 2009
With Christmas in the air and a one-hour slot on Christmas Day radio to fill, I sat down yesterday to record some quick interviews with a bunch of my grandkids. These youngsters have grown up with stories about Jesus, and I felt sure I’d get some useful comments about the 2000-year-old Bethlehem Event. But no such luck! Faced with a microphone, these kids mostly just giggled — and promptly forgot what they should’ve known! Here’s the abbreviated transcript …
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MILLSTONES vs. MILESTONES
John Cooney, November 2009
It’s late in the evening – nearly midnight, in fact – and I’m sitting here in my office thinking about milestones. You see, by the time you get to read this my wife and I will have celebrated a big one: our 40th Wedding Anniversary! And, I don’t mind telling you, it’s hard to believe. Seems like only yesterday that Robyn and I got married. We don’t feel ready for such an important milestone. We don’t feel old enough! And we’re struggling to recall where those 40 years have gone …
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THE HUMBLE POPLAR
Mike Cooney, October 2009
By the time I had a chance to check our back paddock, the cows had gone, and all but five of my beloved trees were thankfully, still standing. The few that didn't make it were lying in the grass, the bases snapped like twigs, bark stripped off them and not a leaf to be seen …
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WINTER REPORT CARD
John Cooney, September 2009
Remember the school reports you used to get when you were a child? Remember those once-or-twice-a-year score cards on which teachers used to grade your progress (or lack of it)? Remember taking them home to your parents, knowing (if the results weren’t good) that you would face the music? Well, here’s what Grapevine’s school report for the past few months might look like …
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UPDATE:
I’M GLAD I’M A PEOPLE – AREN’T YOU?
John Cooney, August 2009
One of the things I love most about travel is the people I meet. We humans, in my opinion, are fascinating. And no matter where I am — here at home, across the ditch in Oz, up north in Fiji or Asia, or on the far side of the world in Europe or Africa, the UK or Canada, the Middle East or Russia — I find myself endlessly captivated by our surprising similarities and our striking differences: skin-colours and facial features, clothing and hair-styles, customs and cultures, languages and accents, histories and traditions, relationships and convictions, values and faith …
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UPDATE:
FIELDAY FUN!
Mike Cooney, July 2009
The glares from my wife said it all, as we stood in the rain on 'E' Street at the 2009 Agricultural Fieldays® at Mystery Creek. Our kids were gleefully bounding from puddle to puddle, now soaking wet and blissfully unaware of the silent argument I was having with their mother. Our annual family outing was beginning to turn to custard …
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UPDATE:
BEATING THE BUDGET BLUES
John Cooney, June 2009
Don’t know how you felt when you woke up last Friday morning, but I woke up feeling a bit overwhelmed. Which is not how I usually wake up. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and raring to go. But on Friday morning I didn’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything. I felt vaguely bothered. Strangely burdened. A bit overwhelmed, like I say. And I think I know why …
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UPDATE:
A GIFT TO HIS COUNTRY
John Cooney, May 2009
One of the most awesome edifices I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing is the famous, unfinished cathedral of Antoni Gaudi: LA SAGRADA FAMILIA (Spanish for ‘The Holy Family’). Architect Gaudi was clearly one of Barcelona’s favourite sons. His colourful, push-the-limits, fairytale creations are on-show all over this lovely city on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. And his grand finale, the Sagrada Familia, has become the region’s best-recognised symbol …
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UPDATE:
EBONY & IVORY
John Cooney, April 2009
Every now and then you’ve got to live dangerously. Every now and then you’ve got to cross the line, step out of your comfort zone, and go somewhere or do something you’ve never gone or done before. Every now and then you’ve got to risk all. Some people go sky-diving … or do a bungee-jump … or ride camels through deserts … or swim with sharks. But, not that long ago, my wife and I did something far more daring … far more dangerous …
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UPDATE:
STRESS RELIEF
Mike Cooney, March 2009
I'm not sure where I first heard the claim - but I DO remember just recently, refusing to believe it. I remember thinking that comments like that were for the weak-minded or the highly-strung – not me, Mr 'Laidback' Mike! And I remember promising myself that I would cruise through the experience and come out the other side without adding a single grey hair to my beard …
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UPDATE:
A NEW YEAR DISAPPOINTMENT
John Cooney, February 2009
I don’t know about you, but I’m mostly excited about 2009: four brand new Grapevines in the early-planning stages, with endless opportunities to “give families a lift”. And I hate starting a newsletter on a ‘down’ note. But Grapevine’s Happy-New-Year was tinged with disappointment. Our annual Christmas Appeal took an unexpected ‘hit’ — leaving us $26,000 short of our target. And, if you’ll let me, I need to share the problem with some friends …
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ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS MEMORY
John Cooney, December 2008
Christmastime is upon us again. And, I don’t know what you think, but I like it, I really do. Yeah, it’s the Silly Season. And yeah, it’s corny and crass and commercialised-to-death. But there’s still something about this time of year that makes me feel good …
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UPDATE:
ON HOLY GROUND in a Redwood Forest
John Cooney, October 2008
Two and a bit weeks ago, on our way back to Godzone from northern North America, my wife and I experienced something unique and unforgettable. We spent a couple of hours in the dark, quiet depths of a Redwood forest, in Muir Woods, just out of San Francisco …
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UPDATE:
A SNIFF OF SPRING
Mike Cooney, September 2008
I don't know about you, but we've had one of the wettest winters I can remember. The paddocks below our house had been underwater for months, and after the umpteenth rainy weekend in a row, I'd just about had enough! My kids were going stir crazy, the DVD player was worn out and the thought of spending another couple of days stuck inside again was a little underwhelming! But I guess like most things, winter doesn't last forever. And if we're prepared to hang in there (do we have a choice?), spring is just around the corner …
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UPDATE:
WINTER WORK-OUT
John Cooney, July 2008
I don’t know how your body behaves during chilly wet winters, but mine goes all sluggish and slow – more sluggish and slow than usual. And Grapevine behaves much the same. Our donations go all sluggish, our progress slows right down, and it’s harder to keep things moving …
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UPDATE:
MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, GRANDAUGHTERS & DREAMS
John Cooney, May 2008
I started writing this a week ago. On Mother’s Day, actually. Another special once-a-year Sunday had come and gone. Another frenzy of gift-buying, card-writing and breakfast-inbedding. And, as is my custom every year, I had happily joined the celebration …
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UPDATE:
A MYSTERY CALLED MUSIC
John Cooney, April 2008
I don’t know what you did over Easter weekend just gone, but I spent a few hours talking to some truly fascinating people. I was on radio, taking part in a special Good Friday programme on NewtalkZB. And during my session in the studio (from 3 to 6pm that afternoon) I got to interview some musicians. And it was an unforgettable experience…
Mark & Brenda Laurent interview:
Barry McGuire interview:
Andre Rieu interview:
READ MORE … (pdf reader required)
UPDATE:
ONE MILLION UNLUCKY HOMES?
John Cooney, March 2008
Every now and then, on our rock’n’roll journey with Grapevine, we’ve needed to slow down, pull over to the side of the road, check our maps, review where we’ve come from, and refocus on where we’re going. And as we’ve gone through that exercise again, just recently – taking stock, asking some hard questions – it’s been so clarifying that I’ve decided to write to you …
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UPDATE:
WILD PIGS & ELEPHANTS
Mike Cooney, February 2008
Ah-ha – I’d finally found the perfect compromise! For several days, my eldest son had been badgering me to explore our bush paddock with him. Not quite two acres, it’s a great place for adventure, with plenty of eels and possums to add to the mystery … perfect for a growing boy! Anyway, I’d managed so far to postpone our exploration, claiming I was too busy and promising to do it later. (Ever done the same?) But then, at last, I had a brainwave …
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UPDATE:
A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO HOME …
John Cooney, December 2007
It’s weird sometimes the way things turn out. I mean, when I was working on the last Grapevine – putting the finishing touches to our cover story, ‘SUDDENLY SINGLE: WHEN YOUR PARTNER’S GONE & YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN’ – I was thinking of other families, not mine. And I never imagined that one of my nearest and dearest was about to be “suddenly singled”.
But, sadly, that’s exactly what happened …
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UPDATE:
END THE YEAR WORKING BEE
John Cooney, November 2007
Got a load of firewood earlier this year. Got it dumped on my driveway. Got my two oldest grandkids to help stack it under the house. Got a few nicks and scratches in the process … plus a lot of laughs … plus a gentle reminder about the value of teamwork and the power of encouragement …
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UPDATE:
Once upon a night at THE MOVIES
John Cooney, September 2007
I’m not sure why, but I’m often the last one in my circle of friends to see a new movie. Maybe I like to wait until the fuss has died down. Or maybe I’m just badly organised. Yeah, that’s probably it. Anyway, a few weeks ago, on its final night at our local cinema, I went and saw AMAZING GRACE. And I’m so glad I did …
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UPDATE:
Now is the time to SEIZE THE DAY & make a difference!
John Cooney, August 2007
I had the opportunity last month to spend a couple of days in Ye Olde London. Hopped on a big red double-decker bus with my wife and did the touristy thing. We had the time of our lives. Great fun. But, while we were busy on all this good stuff, other people were busy doing bad stuff that we were blissfully unaware of (and only found out later): two terrorist car-bombs were being planted right there in those very same streets on that very same day!
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UPDATE:
Never underestimate the power of A GOOD IDEA!
John Cooney, July 2007
Once upon a time, long before Grapevine got launched on this unsuspecting world, an idea was planted in our minds. It was just the germ of an idea at first, a tiny seed that was sown, a very small pebble that was dropped into a big pond. But that germ of an idea wouldn’t go away. Instead, it grew on us, got bolder and brighter, and became one of the best ideas we’d ever stumbled on …
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UPDATE:
When you feel like giving up … KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE SHORE
John Cooney, June 2007
I was guest speaker at this conference recently. Talking to mums and dads about parenting. Offering some suggestions about what to do when kids, especially teenagers, go wild. Sharing insights and experiences from our family and other families I know. Encouraging any in my audience who felt battle-weary and beaten-down to hang in there …
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UPDATE:
AUTUMN CLEAN-UP
John Cooney, May 2007
I’m writing to ask for your special help this month. Grapevine’s overdue for an AUTUMN CLEAN-UP – we’ve got a lot of extra dollars to find – and this urgent call is going out to all our friends. But before I explain further, there’s something I need to say …
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UPDATE:
THE LEAST WE CAN DO
John Cooney, April 2007
When it comes to mothers and grandmothers, my kids and grandkids have got one of the best. She can cook up a full family feast at a moment’s notice, and do it faster than a speeding bullet. She can iron a week’s worth of everything in the time it takes me to press a shirt-collar. And she can be halfway round the supermarket before I’ve figured out which way the trundler’s supposed to go ...
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UPDATE:
WHERE HAS ALL THE FUN GONE?
John Cooney, March 2007
I found myself in Kenya last year. I’d gone to see Africa’s wildlife for myself. And, while on safari, I visited a Masai village or kraal. The Masai are tall nomadic tribespeople – famous for their red robes, beads and spears. They wander the vast grasslands with their goats and cattle, and live in simple huts made of mud and cow dung, protected from lions and other prowlers by tangled thorny barriers …
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