The Fireside

When I started working at 3rd Space, it soon became evident that self-care would be an important component of managing the demands of my job. Some people meditate, others like to play sport or get professional coaching/debriefing but my type of relaxation is Thai foot massages.

In the wake of the tragic Bourke Street stabbings, a hero emerged. A homeless man who grabbed a shopping trolley and used it to try to deter the assailant, creating space between the offender and the police. He became known as “trolley man.” When I first saw the footage I was not in the least bit surprised that a homeless person put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. Later, when details emerged of his criminal activity, I barely raised an eyebrow.

3rd Space Activities Coordinator (and Westfield Local Hero!) Jules Ramsay reflects on our recent Valley history project in a special edition of The Fireside.

In recent weeks I’ve had the opportunity to talk to lots of people and organisations that are interested in homelessness and the work of 3rd Space. Almost universally, people ask me “what is the cure for homelessness?” The first answer to that is pretty simple….housing.

2017 was a big year for 3rd Space. There was a café opening, a rebrand and we started opening on weekends. Then there was that whole cancer thing and juggling full-time work with solo-parenting three kids and the washing machine of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 2018 has been a year of catching up and rediscovering the things that didn’t catch my eye properly in 2017. There was a point a few weeks ago where it all seemed overwhelming and I started to wonder if perhaps I had become stale.

It has been three years since I first took the helm as CEO of 3rd Space. I have been reflecting with a sense of sentimentality and wonder at the journey we have taken over that time; and in reflecting, I often come back to the people who visit with us, whom I have come to know well.

I’m sitting in 3rd Space Café searching for words to describe the weeks since our opening. I can’t be succinct, so I won’t try. It’s been a time of excitement, listening, bedding down, eating, listening, ironing out, talking, learning, listening, serving, talking, writing, listening and eating some more. A lot of listening.

As I write this we are coming off the back of a full moon. Around the world a range of research has been conducted to determine whether there is any truth to the theory that the full moon changes people’s behaviour or causes spikes in antisocial behaviour.

From the moment I got on the chemotherapy merry-go-round, I have been thinking about what it feels like to be me right now – compared to what it usually feels like. The further into the cycles of poisoning I go, the harder it is to remember what ‘normal’ looks like. Who I am today still holds the essence of who I was before…I think.

Lately I have been wondering what I could share that would mean something. After lots of inner musings about not wanting to share for the sake of sharing (and having a high level of discomfort with the possibility of return emails that say ‘I’m so sorry!), I have decided to disclose a part of my story, because it has parallels with those we work with at 139 Club.