Magic Minute Another Language Broadens Your Mind By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Why don’t you speak English?” and “Go back where you come from!” was the awful way newcomers were treated in 1960s Australia. Working in an Italian glass factory as a poorly educated 14-year-old opened my eyes to the truth. I eagerly soaked […]
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Magic Minute A Student Teacher’s Heroism By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Our young student teacher had just settled her class of preschoolers down for a nice story in the shelter shed of the Donald Primary School when an enraged bull appeared before us, snorting drooling and pawing the ground. We little preppies screamed in
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Magic Minute True Self Worth By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE //Someone once asked me: “What makes you a Master speaking coach?” So I said, “At 14 I was already out there fending for myself, poorly educated and very insecure. By my early 30s I’d wheedled my way into the role of camping tour leader in
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Magic Minute Lost And Found By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Abandoned by his mother when he was three and disowned by a gambling father, 15-year-old James just wandered the streets a lost, lonely soul. But he found happiness in the company of old Effie Maloney. “She makes me feel special,” James said. For all
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Magic Minute Young Girl’s Leap Of Courage By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // The mere thought of deep water had traumatized 7-year-old Angie for years, so with the school swimming finals now upon them she was terrified! Sensitive to this anxiety her swimming teacher put her in charge of the name lists so she could
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Magic Minute A Dream Come True By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Don’t let go!” 10-year-old Sienna yelled as I ran alongside her bike holding on for dear life! I was soon tired out and had to take a breather, but Sienna wanted to keep going. ‘There’s got to be an easier way to do
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Magic Minute Loving Words By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “I really hate you!” 13-year-old Heather screamed at her mother and slammed her bedroom door. That night while she fitfully slept, her mother passed away. A grief- stricken Heather found this precious letter in her mother’s belongings: Dearest Heather, Mummy has been sick for a
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Magic Minute A Cat’s Nine Lives By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // When we saw the bloody mess of our 10-year-old cat’s face, Cherry, our hearts sank. “That’s some cat fight!” I thought. As she was able to move around and eat we made her a nice bed and nursed her as best we could.
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Magic Minute Jumping To Conclusions By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // I once met an old guy on a windswept pier holding a fishing line tied around a Coke bottle. His bluish gnarled hands matched his blotchy face. ‘Mmm” I thought, ‘alcohol abuse.’ “Caught anything?” I asked. “Nah, they won’t bite with an Easterly.” To
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Magic Minute “I Can’t! ” “Now I Can!!” By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // From Humble Village to high status as government official, this brave New Guinean woman now had to speak out… And she was terrified! Desperate for help, she flew to Melbourne to overcome her fear and go from “I can’t” to “I
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