Together we thrive

(Louisa Jones) 415075_13

The Ocean Grove Voice is shining a light on local issues facing Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

Over the next 12 months, our ‘We are Geelong: together we thrive’ campaign will focus on the achievements and challenges facing local women, Indigenous people and the LQBTQIA+ community.

Our region encompasses a diverse population, including Indigenous Australians, LGBTQIA+ community members and women who are striving for equality. Despite their significance, their stories, concerns and achievements are often underrepresented in mainstream media.

Included in the campaign will be stories of resilience highlighting personal accounts of Indigenous locals, women and LGBTIQA+ members.

This week we feature Lily Shields (pictured) from Drysdale. Lily is a black belt in karate and has launched a free self-defence program for women in Greater Geelong.

We also want to hear from you about your individual experiences. If you have a story you would like to share, please get in touch via news@oceangrovevoice.com