{"id":3968,"date":"2025-06-20T14:16:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T04:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?page_id=3968"},"modified":"2026-02-11T15:07:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T04:07:19","slug":"faces-of-melba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/about-us\/faces-of-melba\/","title":{"rendered":"Faces of Melba"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Faces of Melba<\/h1>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n
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“I love going bowling and swimming.”<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

May 8, 2026<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

Meet Josephine: a lover of bowling swimming and tapestry. Read more to learn about her love of flying business class!<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n Read More<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“I am a Geelong supporter\u00a0(laughs)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0true\u00a0fact,\u00a0not fun fact\u201d<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

February 17, 2026<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

Meet Don: a lover of cats, The Cats and…fishing, a passion he discovered with his uncle back when he was younger. \nA quick-witted joker with a big personality and a love of life\u2019s simple pleasures. From music and games to meaningful connections and fond memories, Don brings humour and character wherever he goes.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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“I like to dance, but I don’t have much time to do it, especially when I’m DJing”<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

December 15, 2025<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

By day, John is an active member of our Community Connections crew. By night, he can be found DJing and sometimes MCing at Melba events \u2013 so it probably won’t surprise you to learn that John is considered a Melba celebrity! We recently caught up with him to learn a little more about his love for music \u2013 and what he loves to cook. <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n \"“People\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“People assume that because I have a disability I\u2019m not interested in sex. That\u2019s just wrong”<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

July 3, 2025<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

Joel, a proud non-binary person with disability, has spent much of their life growing into and owning their identity, finding confidence and belonging through Melba\u2019s Arthur Creative. They are telling their story to speak out about the importance of visibility, respect, and recognising that people with disability deserve the same rights to intimacy, love and identity as anyone else.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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\r\n \"“No\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“No one should make you feel ashamed for who you are. That’s not OK”<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

July 2, 2025<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

At 30, Olivia* embraced her identity as a bisexual woman, a journey made more complex by her family’s lack of understanding. While her friends accept and support her, her family struggles to see her as an adult with agency, dreams, and the right to love. As we celebrate Pride Month, Olivia hopes her story will inspire others to live authentically and be seen for who they truly are.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n Read More<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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“I have a fantastic relationship with my cerebral palsy”<\/h3>\r\n \r\n

April 11, 2025<\/h4>\r\n \r\n

Melinda Smith is a powerhouse of creativity and self-expression, constantly pushing boundaries through her work as a dancer, writer, artist and mentor. With passion and purpose, she uses movement and technology to challenge perceptions of disability and inspire others to embrace their own potential.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

\r\n Read More<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n
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