Magic Minute The Italian Islanders By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // When I first heard the term ‘Italian Islanders’ I thought, “Italian what?” But later discovered there is such a proud body of Italians who live on a picturesque volcanic archipelago in the Terranean Sea north of Sicily who consider their Aeolian Islands some of […]
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Magic Minute A Brave Act Of Kindness By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // It was the piteous cries that disturbed 8-year-old Margaret the most. She knew that little Tommy with his white hair and dark glasses had some sort of sickness, but strapping him out the front each day because he couldn’t do his homework
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Magic Minute Nuggets In The Chicken Shed By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // When I was a mischievous 5-year-old I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in Edie Davidson’s chicken shed. ‘Could this really be true?’ I thought, and quickly undid the latch to get a closer look. And sure enough, there they were, a
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Magic Minute Getting You Right First By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // For decades my awful insecurities haunted me. Growing up in a tiny country house in the 1950s with no running water or electricity made it tough for my widowed mum trying to manage five unruly kids. At thirteen the sheer torment of maths
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Magic Minute Smiling Magic By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Barely 5 weeks old my tiny grandson Vincent gave his proud Granddad a wonderful captivating smile which filled me with joy. In contrast, I often come across a wizened old Chinese lady shuffling along with her walker on my Sunday walks. I’d say she’s in
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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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