Tag: new south wales

15 Years and Counting…

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking

As of the 1 March this year, I have been a member of Toastmasters International for 15 years.

In some ways, it seems a long time, in other ways not. In that time I have:

  • Been a member of 4 clubs, and am currently a member of Gledswood Toastmasters
  • Achieved the level of Distinguished Toastmaster
  • Won two Club and two Area International Speech Contests
  • Prepared, written, rehearsed and delivered well over 100 speeches
  • Competed in numerous contests
  • Served as President of 2 clubs
  • Served on a number of Executive committees
  • Built a new Toastmasters Club jointly with Rhys Tague, DTM
  • Served as a Club Coach of Gledswood Toastmasters jointly with Rhys Tague, DTM
  • Served as an Area Director

How has that all benefitted me? Let’s have a look at me prior to joining Toastmasters…

When I joined Toastmasters in 2008, I was 45 years of age. I am a born Introvert who used to get so nervous around people even into my 20’s that my hands would shake if I lifted a drink to my mouth during a conversation. True.

I used to talk around people I knew but if a stranger joined the conversation, I would clam up. True.

Prior to joining Toastmasters, my only instances of getting up in front of people related to Photography. I have been a photographic judge since 1995 and used to judge at 10-12 clubs a year from 1995 through to the early 2010. Even though I was incredibly nervous, my passion for photography, and wanting to help people, had me speaking in front of an audience, evaluating their images.

There were times when I was offered a glass of water etc whilst I was up judging that I declined because people would see the glass shaking due to nerves, so I would politely decline it, even if I was thirsty… True.

A couple of times, I was physically ill prior to judging and often would not eat dinner before I was judging sometimes as I was worried I might be ill. Also true.

Making 2-3 comments on an image is very different to getting up in front of people and delivering a rehearsed or impromptu speech.

The night before I did my Ice-Breaker speech at Campbelltown Toastmasters, I could not sleep, or eat on the day of the speech. Wendy White, DTM, President of the Club at the time and friend, reminded me that ‘Toastmasters is a mutually supportive environment’ and every member knows how you feel as they have been through it.

Some of my nerves did go and I delivered the speech and funnily enough, I didn’t burst into flames!

Joining and committing to the Toastmasters programme has helped me in the following ways:

  • Gained greater general confidence
  • Am able to control my nerves prior to and during speeches and photographic judging
  • Can do things in front of others without getting nervous
  • Can walk up to strangers and introduce myself
  • Has improved my networking skills
  • Has improved my business capabilities
  • I have no fear of public speaking now
  • I have no fear of taking up leadership roles
  • It has made me a better leader
  • It has made me a better listener
  • I can now evaluate better
  • My ability to ‘think on my feet’ (impromptu speaking) has improved
  • It improved my performance at job interviews (when I was an employee)
  • Has enabled me to write and deliver coherent speeches
  • Enabled me to compete and win speech contests (who would have ever thought?)
  • Has improved my general writing capabilities
  • Gave me the confidence to start writing Poems (over 500 now)
  • Opened up opportunities outside of Toastmasters for public speaking including, VIEW, Probus, Photographic clubs, a business conference and Emceeing 3 family weddings
  • Has enabled me to have a positive impact on people within and outside Toastmasters
  • Has helped me improve my speaking/leadership at my BNI (Business Network International) Referral chapter

Why do I stay?

I stay because of the following 4 reasons:

  • Continuing professional development: I can always improve
  • Paying it forward: I can help mentor those who are earlier on their journey
  • Relationships: I have made a lot of good friends in Toastmasters
  • Entertainment: We always have fun at our meetings

I would absolutely recommend joining Toastmasters International, even if you are only looking to improve your general confidence. In doing that, it will open the door to improving you and your performance in a number of ways.

Like everything worthwhile in life it requires discipline, commitment, being open to learning, being prepared to step outside your Comfort Zone and into your Growth Zone, and you can do this whilst having fun!

Here’s to your Toastmasters Journey!

Written by David Johnson

8 April 2023

For more information on Toastmasters International: http://www.toastmasters.org/

Peacefulness Returns

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry

Things That Attract My Eye – 4

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

Welcome to my 4th post on – “Things That Attract My Eye.”

We are certainly blessed where we currently live, up high but only a couple of minutes walk from the Nepean River in Camden NSW.

Relatively close to the river (and closer in parts than others), there is a two-way concrete bicycle path that is shared by cyclists, walkers and joggers.

It is along this path that I have taken the following iPhone images.

I hope you enjoy them!

Written by David Johnson

24 February 2023

Familiar Places – New Discoveries

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Photography

Last weekend, we visited my Wife’s Parent’s place. They live 25km (15 miles) South East of Goulburn which is approximately 1 3/4 hours drive/166km (103 miles) away from where we live. Quialigo is located in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.

We have had many visits there over the past 25 plus years and I always find a subject of photographic interest there. This time, even though I had my DSLR with me, I only shot with my phone camera.

I wasn’t out photographing very long and indeed, only went outside because I needed some fresh air as my eyes were starting to close, after lunch, as I did not get a good night’s sleep the previous night.

Mum and Dad have numerous trees on their 100 acre property, however, my attention was drawn to a section of tree that had toppled over.

It was only when you walked up close that the magnificent colours, patterns and detail came to light.

Here is what I saw.

The colours of the Australian Bush never cease to amaze me.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

9 January 2023

Books, Books, Books – Argyle Emporium

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Books

Last Sunday-week, Susan and I made a planned stop on the way to visiting her parents, who live 25 kilometres/15.5 miles outside of Goulburn. Goulburn is about one and three-quarter hours drive from our home.

The planned stop was at the Argyle Emporium, which is located opposite the railway line in Goulburn in an old Police Station. The Argyle Emporium has been a second-hand bookshop for 21 years and houses approximately 500,000 books. ‘Book Heaven’ for book-lovers!

This time we only spent just over an hour there and the good news for other book-lovers is that upon leaving there, I left 499, 496 books at the bookshop…. 🙂

The following ones I the books I purchased:

I love books on the Visual Arts that delve into how Artist expresses what they are feeling by using tools and techniques. This one features the thoughts of 20 famous artists. I love this book!

The second book I purchased is a collection that I have been wanting in my Poetry collection for some time but just hadn’t found the right one. Over 1,000 pages of Wordsworth delight!

The third book purchased that day was also Poetry. I enjoy buying collections of poetry. It is true that sometimes the collections overlap with other collections of poetry however, this hasn’t happened too much so far… This collection breaks up the poetry into subjects and includes over 90 Poets. The book was printed in 1957.

The last book purchased that day is from another ‘like’ of mine, and that is ‘tools and techniques that inspire creative writing’. I find them a fascinating read and, by the looks of this book, I won’t be disappointed.

4 more books from from the treasure-trove second-hand bookshop known as the Argyle Emporium, Goulburn, NSW. Australia. Some of the rooms are pictured below.

I can hardly wait until our next visit! 🙂

Written by David Johnson

17 August 2022

A Trip To The Country – Part 3 – Millthorpe

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

We have ventured up to Millthorpe a number of times since 1995 as it is the home of one of our great friend’s ‘the Dixons’, in fact Susan and Diane have been great friends since their school days.

This time, we were up there for the Wedding of their eldest son. I’m going to leave the wedding to another post, in fact, I will wait till the official Wedding photos arrive.

Millthorpe is a historical village classified by the National Trust and was originally called, ‘Spring Grove.’ More details about the name change and further detail about the town can be found in the link below.

Even though we have been going up there for a many years it is really only in the last two or three visits that I have actually been able to walk around the Town. Mostly, we have been up there for Family celebrations of one type or another.

A rather strange thing happened this time…My DSLR did not come out of the bag. Instead, armed with a small sketchbook, three pigment liners and just my phone camera, I took the chance to do some rough sketches and took many reference photos.

Millthorpe’s buildings are older ones and have a lot of character and I seem to love sketching and painting architecture. I’ve come back with quite a few ideas for sketches/paintings and the camera phone is good enough for reference photos for the moment.

As with any town there are a few Churches as well. I can see myself tackling these types of buildings as well.

I didn’t get a chance to go into the Museum this time around but was delighted to see some Art forms and industrial machinery on the outside.

The weather this time was beautiful and sunny on the Friday and Monday, however, Saturday and Sunday were very cold with single digit temperatures in Celsius.

Usually, we stay with the Dixons, however this time they had a full house so we stayed at a local Air BnB, ‘Millthorpe on Morley.’ It was the first time staying via Air BnB and it was extremely comfortable and very friendly.

The view from the front verandah below (where I was able to sit and journal) on the Saturday morning was very beautiful.

As always, I look forward to our next visit to Millthorpe!

Written by David Johnson

18 April 2021

For more information about Millthorpe, visit:

Millthorpe, NSW

A Trip To The Country – Part 1 – Boorowa

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Last weekend, my Wife, Susan and Susan’s Mum were away for the weekend. We were attending one of our Godson’s Weddings (between us we have 7 Godsons and 6 are with the one Family) at Millthorpe, a small country town some 3 1/2 hours drive from us.

The Mother of the Groom went to school with my Wife so they have been Family Friends for many years.

On the way, we stopped at one of our favourite places, an even smaller town called Boorowa. Boorowa is rich in Irish history with the “Irish Woolfest’ in October each year being one of it’s premier attractions. Boorowa is also part of the ‘Hilltops Wine Region’ and so there are a number of wineries in the vicinity.

The original custodians of the land were the Wiradjuri people. Boorowa was originally spelt, ‘Burrowa’ and although no-one is exactly sure, that name may be a Wiradjuri word meaning, ‘Turkey.’

We have stopped for lunch a couple of times in the past by the side of the river, however, this time it was just for Afternoon Tea. A wonderful place to do this is the, ‘Arts and Crafts Magistrates Tea Rooms’ which are local in the old Boorowa Courthouse, a magnificently majestic building just outside the centre of the town. Amongst other things they serve a scrumptious Devonshire Tea and they have books for sale, the proceeds going to a local charity.

It is also the local Tourist Information Centre and they have Art and Craft made by members of the local community there.

There are a number of shops (that we are yet to investigate), however, one shop we did not want to miss out on was the charity bookshop. All proceeds go to local charities and as we are all book lovers it is a place we did not want to miss visiting. Some more ‘book treasure’ was uncovered but I will cover that in a separate post.

There is something about small Country towns that I love. They don’t have the ‘hustle and bustle’ of larger towns. The quieter streets tend to lend themselves greater to visions of a quieter time, perhaps when the Horse and Carriage was the main form of transport.

In my next post (Trip To The Country Part 2), I’ll be highlighting the ‘Book Treasure’ that was uncovered this trip.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

17 April 2021

For further information on Boorowa, please click on the following link.

Boorowa, NSW

More Book Treasure!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Books, Stories From Life

Last Sunday, we were down in Goulburn, NSW which is approximately one and three-quarter hours drive South of where we live. We were down there for a celebration Birthday Lunch at one of the local Chinese Restaurants. Four of our Family members have a Birthday within 6 days of each other.

We had a marvellous time and afterwards, my Wife Susan and I paid a visit to one of our favourite second-hand bookshops, the Argyle Emporium in Goulburn.

I have written about this bookshop before on this blog. Just a quick recap: it is situated in a rather stately, old Police Station and the owners have operated it for some 21 years and it holds some 500,000 books.

This time we were only in there for one and a half hours. Realistically, I could spend all day there. We just love these old second-hand bookshops. They have a certain quality about them.

So, what treasure did I find this time?

Three books, one on Haiku Poetry and two on Watercolour.

“Writing and Enjoying Haiku” was just sitting horizontal on top of some other books on the Poetry section and my eyes fell upon it straight away. It was as if it was there ‘just waiting for me to come along!’

I’ve enjoyed writing the occasional (Japanese) style Haiku Poem and the book talks about that style but also other styles as well. It looks a very interesting book.

With regards to the Watercolour books, ‘Painting Weathered Textures in Watercolor” and “Watercolour Fast & Loose”, they took a bit of finding as the Art section is massive at the Argyle Emporium.

Over time I’ve noticed that I think I ‘have moved on’ from some of the early books I had on Watercolour. They seem to general in nature and I am starting to find that I want to learn more about specific topics within the medium. I also want to learn to paint and sketch in a greater, relaxed style than I am currently doing.

All-in-all, it was another fruitful visit to the Argyle Emporium. We are in Goulburn fairly often as my Wife’s parents live about 25km (15.5 miles) SE of Goulburn but we don’t call into bookshop every visit (although I must admit it is tempting)!

If you are down that way, and are a book lover, make sure you visit the Argyle Emporium, you won’t be disappointed.

Written by David Johnson

30 March 2021