Like many of us, Sue Liu wanted to help people she had never met following the devastating 2004 tsunami in South East Asia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Unlike many of us she took action.
Her self-published debut novel Accidental Aid Worker is the story of what happened next.
When the 2004 tsunami hit Sri Lanka, Sue was moved to act.
She had only recently returned from holidaying there a few months previously.
She started emailing friends for assistance, which lead to an overwhelming deluge of donations.
Wanting to be sure the donations reached the people they were intended for, Sue in a leap of faith, teamed up with a tour guide and a Catholic priest and found herself in Trincomalee.
A town beset by civil war and the heartbreaking aftermath of natural disaster.
Accidental Aid Worker is part-self-discovery, part travel memoir and a whole lot of adventure.
“I believe life is a series of next steps and pieces of a puzzle” Sue said.
“I certainly have had a full, interesting and quirky life”.
Humanitarian efforts, terrible natural disasters and terrible acts of terrorism become believably real through Sydney author Sue Liu’s independently published book.
Sue hopes her story will make readers laugh and cry, inspire a desire for travel and speak quietly to the compassion in us all.
“I couldn’t keep these stories to myself anymore” Sue said.
“I think my story will resonate with a lot of people ... I recommend reading with a box of tissues and a glass of wine.”
Craft a healthy brain for National Science Week 2016
NEURAL Knitworks is a collaborative art- science project for mind and brain health.
Whether you’re a whiz with yarn, or just discovering the joy of craft, now you can crochet wrap, knit or knot – and find out about neuroscience.
Neurons are electrically excitable cells of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
The billions of neurons in your body connect to each other in neural networks.
They receive signals from every sense, control movement, create memories, and form the neural basis of every thought.
Neural Knitworks invites you to create textile neurons that will contribute to an installation art exhibition.
Your creations will be joined with others to weave a sculptural knitted ‘neural network’.
No knitting experience is required and people of all ages can participate.
What happens at a Neural Knitwork?
Social connection crafts brain health.
Neural Knitworks events (think knit-ins) are based on the principle, that yarn craft, with its mental challenges, social connection, and mindfulness, helps keep our brains and minds sharp, engaged and healthy.
The library will be holding a series of Neural Knitwork events throughout June and July.
Contact the library to find out more on 6926 9700 or visit our events page www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/library for dates and times and to down load scientifically-informed knitting, crochet or knot patterns.
If you’d like to contribute to Wagga Wagga’s Neural Knitworks installation for National Science Week 2016 please drop your crafty neurons into the Wagga Wagga City Library.
We need an enormous number of handmade neurons to create our installation which will be on show at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery’s E-3 Space from August 15 to 21.
Donate your crafted neurons and help raise awareness of mind and brain health in the community.
