Rebecca Slavin, Sally Conning and Emma Grabham describe the moments when everything changed.
Three women with very different stories … each of them recalls a moment when their lives pivoted. Rebecca Slavin, Emma Grabham and Sally Conning were on a panel chaired by Bass Coast's Deputy Mayor, Leticia Laing at the Bass Coast celebration of International Women’s Day.
Rebecca Slavin founded the Muffin Lady 3996. She was Bass Coast's Young Citizen of the Year in 2016. “I decided to just do it …”
By Rebecca Slavin
I started an apprenticeship at the Whistlestop Bakery. I didn’t finish the first year because I met ice and was addicted for four years. I spent 15 months in rehab in Western Australia and returned to Bass Coast with a dream of helping others.
I started running my mum’s café in Inverloch, then the pandemic started. Ten years on, I rediscovered my passion for baking. I created an Instagram page and it took off. And so The Muffin Lady 3996 was born.
I never expect messages at 12am or people wanting a particular shade of pink. Apparently these things matter. In a weird way, I made them matter. Because of my customers I could be more creative.
I had a vision of owning my own coffee van. I decided to just do it. My next goal is to open my own café in Wonthaggi.
I’ve faced many challenges in my life. I’ve overcome them thanks to my own resilience and being part of a village.
By Rebecca Slavin
I started an apprenticeship at the Whistlestop Bakery. I didn’t finish the first year because I met ice and was addicted for four years. I spent 15 months in rehab in Western Australia and returned to Bass Coast with a dream of helping others.
I started running my mum’s café in Inverloch, then the pandemic started. Ten years on, I rediscovered my passion for baking. I created an Instagram page and it took off. And so The Muffin Lady 3996 was born.
I never expect messages at 12am or people wanting a particular shade of pink. Apparently these things matter. In a weird way, I made them matter. Because of my customers I could be more creative.
I had a vision of owning my own coffee van. I decided to just do it. My next goal is to open my own café in Wonthaggi.
I’ve faced many challenges in my life. I’ve overcome them thanks to my own resilience and being part of a village.
Emma Grabham is Manager of Community Nursing Services forBass Coast Health.
“What have I signed up for?”
By Emma Grabham
I remember the day vividly as one of the first days in our organisation’s response to COVID-19. I thought, ‘’What have I signed up for – a new position at the start of a pandemic?’’ Little did I, or anyone, know we would be still here in this position today and how much COVID would impact our everyday lives professionally and personally.
At work the constant guideline changes, the restrictions, the PPE (personal protective equipment), the isolation, the long, long hours, the staffing shortages, the emails, the phone calls – all over and above our primary role to provide care for our community.
It’s been a long hard road. You can see the toll it’s taken on our profession.
So how do we keep going despite all that COVID has thrown at us?
BCH placed a big emphasis on wellbeing and it was a light bulb moment for me to think what my boundaries were and what I needed to do to be the best I can for myself, my daughter, my family, my team and the organisation.
For me it’s a solo walk with my dogs in the morning to catch the sunrise. No music, no podcast, just me and my dogs and the sound that morning brings.
Our job is to provide care all day every day. Add a pandemic plus everyday life and family to the mix and it can get exhausting. We must stop and take time for ourselves.
Bass Coast Health has taught me that good leadership comes from the top. Women in leadership, particularly my leaders at BCH, inspire us to do the very best we can. They make it okay for us to stumble, they allow us to say ‘’we need help’’.
This has enabled us as an organisation to navigate our teams throughout this pandemic.
By Emma Grabham
I remember the day vividly as one of the first days in our organisation’s response to COVID-19. I thought, ‘’What have I signed up for – a new position at the start of a pandemic?’’ Little did I, or anyone, know we would be still here in this position today and how much COVID would impact our everyday lives professionally and personally.
At work the constant guideline changes, the restrictions, the PPE (personal protective equipment), the isolation, the long, long hours, the staffing shortages, the emails, the phone calls – all over and above our primary role to provide care for our community.
It’s been a long hard road. You can see the toll it’s taken on our profession.
So how do we keep going despite all that COVID has thrown at us?
BCH placed a big emphasis on wellbeing and it was a light bulb moment for me to think what my boundaries were and what I needed to do to be the best I can for myself, my daughter, my family, my team and the organisation.
For me it’s a solo walk with my dogs in the morning to catch the sunrise. No music, no podcast, just me and my dogs and the sound that morning brings.
Our job is to provide care all day every day. Add a pandemic plus everyday life and family to the mix and it can get exhausting. We must stop and take time for ourselves.
Bass Coast Health has taught me that good leadership comes from the top. Women in leadership, particularly my leaders at BCH, inspire us to do the very best we can. They make it okay for us to stumble, they allow us to say ‘’we need help’’.
This has enabled us as an organisation to navigate our teams throughout this pandemic.
Sally Conning is a transgender woman, LGBTQI+ elder and self-described crazy chick. “I determined I was going to be me.”
By Sally Conning
I came to Wonthaggi in 2006, went to TAFE to study and worked in the disability field for six and a half years. I ended up working in a service station. I worked as a guy till I retired. I had to take two Nurofen to put on my work shirt.
I came to town with a secret. Since I was five I had a need to dress in girls’ clothing. I went through two marriages, I’ve got two kids, 40 and 37. I’m nearly 71. And that need and that secret I kept right through until I got to the point where I couldn’t hold it. I determined I was going to be me.
I quietly went to Melbourne and met other people like me. I started hormone replacement therapy 11 years ago. I have to have estrogen to be me. I legally changed my name.
I retired on the 18th of June 2016 and I became Sally. And I am much happier.
Bass Coast – Wonthaggi – has a degree of acceptance that you might not find in all small towns. I rarely get stared at. If I am, I walk up to them and have it out. I need to do that for the 16-17-year-old kids who are struggling. They see this crazy old chick who tells them it’s all right to be themselves.
I feel a need to put myself out there for the LGBTQI+ community. I’ve yelled at councillors over the marriage equality debate. I’m a loudmouth with a cause.
By Sally Conning
I came to Wonthaggi in 2006, went to TAFE to study and worked in the disability field for six and a half years. I ended up working in a service station. I worked as a guy till I retired. I had to take two Nurofen to put on my work shirt.
I came to town with a secret. Since I was five I had a need to dress in girls’ clothing. I went through two marriages, I’ve got two kids, 40 and 37. I’m nearly 71. And that need and that secret I kept right through until I got to the point where I couldn’t hold it. I determined I was going to be me.
I quietly went to Melbourne and met other people like me. I started hormone replacement therapy 11 years ago. I have to have estrogen to be me. I legally changed my name.
I retired on the 18th of June 2016 and I became Sally. And I am much happier.
Bass Coast – Wonthaggi – has a degree of acceptance that you might not find in all small towns. I rarely get stared at. If I am, I walk up to them and have it out. I need to do that for the 16-17-year-old kids who are struggling. They see this crazy old chick who tells them it’s all right to be themselves.
I feel a need to put myself out there for the LGBTQI+ community. I’ve yelled at councillors over the marriage equality debate. I’m a loudmouth with a cause.