Guest blog by SSE Fellow Tracey Allen, Founder of Red Cockatoo, a professional arts development social enterprise working with Aboriginal communities. Tracey is also a Tutor on the SSE Sydney 5 Program.
I was travelling home to the Blue Mountains by train from Sydney city. It was the end of an amazing time in a place called Papunya; in the Northern Territory, central desert region west of Alice Springs. Things are pretty quiet out there so I was slowly adjusting back to the pace of the city by catching a peak hour train back home.
I felt a little bit guilty that my backpack (filled with beautiful Aboriginal art) and a few dusty clothes was taking up a whole seat but I wasn’t prepared to leave it anywhere else. Luckily the man who sat down opposite me was carrying four new fluffy pillows that took up another whole seat, so I felt better. The man opposite me asked where I was coming from and I launched into my adventures in the Northern Territory. Stories that included eating Goanna and Witchetty grubs for the first time.
We talked more and it turns out he works with Aboriginal community also (in child protection) and had convinced his employers to give him 1 day a week to work on a “social enterprise” which would raise money for the same young people his employer was providing services to.
“Great model for a social enterprise” I said and went on further to talk about the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
Then a woman from across the aisle says “Did you just say the School for Social Entrepreneurs” I said yes and then we realise that here with us is a student from Sydney 5 who has only just started her program. She was so inspiring as she gave us a bit of a pitch and filled us in on her vision to work with people with a disability. So wonderful and….I am lucky enough to be her tutor for Sydney 5. What a great first meeting.
After a terrific social enterprise type discussion another woman on the seat behind me pops her head up and says “I want to do something like what you are all taking about – I’m an accountant but I want to do something more inspiring!” How fun….I wondered if she would be signing up for Sydney 6….and I knew she felt strongly because she just sat up so quickly and excitedly… “it was a little moment of magic.”
Social entrepreneurs united in a train carriage!
As I stopped to wonder why I hadn’t unpacked something warm to wear as I left the train in Katoomba (lucky it was an unusually warm night). I shook my head in disbelief….how amazing to meet such interesting, inspiring people on my train trip home…..thank you all for being there!
Tracey Allen
Red Cockatoo Australia
What a great experience Tracey, thanks so much for sharing it. I bet there were many more inspired listening to your conversation too!
It was truly a cool experience. The woman behind worked as an accountant for Wesley Mission. It was only our 2nd day on the course and we started with a 3 day intensive, and I was writing furiously on my computer. I had a outpouring of ideas for my project that hadn’t happened for a while, so I was very excited and probably a bit loopy too …. it was strange and wonderful and very overwhelming time! When I got home I burst into tears with my husband and cried something like “this mob are going to take me over the edge!” And I am definitely out of my comfort zone and so learning fast.
Great blog Tracey!