This morning I have been going through my skool notifications and messages and it occurred to me that I haven’t really posted anything about what motivated me to start a skool community and why I have joined this community. So here it is … My motivation didn’t come from a single spark — it came from a few long-running forces converging: 1. Years working the frontline of security and safety I have spent a lot of time as a Security Officer & Safety Representative in NT/WA environments. I have witnessed and experienced firsthand how ordinary people including myself have been caught off-guard by preventable risks — violence, theft, scams, unsafe homes, poor situational awareness. That built a conviction: that everyday families need practical tools, not theory. 2. A belief that preparation turns fear into confidence My philosophy — observation, detection, reporting and deterrence = preparedness, layered protection — has shaped my mission. I want to help ordinary households apply the same simple principles used in professional security: perimeter→exterior→interior→core, colour-coded responses, ThinkSafe-ActSafe-HomeSafe. In other words, don’t panic — prepare. 3. A gap in the Australian family-safety space The public messaging I have encountered was scattered: a bit of police advice here, a pamphlet there, some online-safety tips thrown in. You didn’t see a unified system that: - spoke to regular homes - covered home safety, home security, and online safety together - gave step-by-step room-by-room action plans That gap has pushed me into creating a full publishing line. 4. A personal drive to leave a legacy This is emotional, not commercial. I want my work to: - prevent loss of life - stop innocent people becoming victims - help families protect children, elders, and finances - be something that I can look back on with pride That sense of legacy sits underneath everything — particularly now that I’m in my 60s. 5. A desire to teach and train, not just observe

We had an active shooter event tonight in Australia, when at least 2 shooters opened fire on a Jewish festival at Australia's most famous beach. Currently 10 dead. Footage is coming through and this video shows someone doing exactly what we train and talked about on the recent Active Shooter zoom call. TAKE OUT the attacker, coming from outside their 10&2. Right now I don't have details of what happened next, but it's a reminder that what we teach is applicable. I'll post more over the coming days...

Today, I found a little surprise waiting for me on my car windscreen. A random note with a kind message. It came completely out of the blue, from a mystery neighbour, and honestly, it made my day. It also reminded me how powerful small, thoughtful gestures can be. Something as simple as a kind word, a note, or a smile has the ability to lift someone’s mood and make them feel seen. In a world that often feels rushed or disconnected, these tiny acts of kindness are like little sparks of light. Imagine if more of us took a few minutes to do something unexpectedly nice for someone else. No reason, no agenda, just because. I think we’d all be a little happier, and the world would feel a little softer. So here’s my thought for today. Reach out, say something kind, leave a note, pay a compliment. You never know whose day you might make, and sometimes, it’s the little things that matter most. Who else has experienced a random act of kindness that totally made their day? I’d love to hear your stories

When something shocking or tragic happens in the news, our immediate reaction is often to look away. Many people feel uneasy discussing events that are still fresh, especially when they involve violence, accidents, or crises. It can feel too soon, too raw, or too personal. But talking about these incidents, even while they’re still in the headlines, is not only okay, it can actually be really helpful. One of the most important reasons to discuss recent incidents is emotional processing. When something dramatic or frightening occurs, it can trigger feelings of fear, anger, sadness, or confusion. Holding those feelings in can make them fester. Speaking about them, whether with friends, family, colleagues, or in a guided environment like a support group, allows people to unpack their emotions in a safe way. Verbalising what we see and feel helps our brains process the event more fully, reducing anxiety and stress. Fresh news can leave many people feeling isolated. We may think, “I’m the only one feeling scared,” or “I shouldn’t react this way.” Discussing incidents openly reminds us that our reactions are human and normal. It fosters a sense of connection and solidarity. Even brief conversations about shared concerns can create an environment where people feel seen and supported, which is essential in times of uncertainty. Talking about incidents can also serve a practical purpose: it can help others learn and prepare. For example, discussing a recent accident or security breach may highlight safety lessons or preventive measures. While the conversation should never sensationalise trauma, sharing factual and thoughtful insights helps communities respond more effectively and can even prevent future harm. Society often teaches us to avoid talking about hard things until they “pass,” but this can create stigma around natural emotional reactions. By having conversations about incidents, even those tragedies very recently in the news, we normalise discussing difficult topics and validate the emotions that come with them. Over time, this strengthens emotional resilience and encourages healthier coping mechanisms.

Most of us grew up hearing “Don’t tattle.” And to be fair, it usually came from a very human place. When as a parent you’ve listened to ten arguments before lunch about who sat where or who touched whose Lego, you just want a break from the sibling broadcast. But kids don’t hear “stop tattling” the way we mean it. Where we’re saying, “Please stop reporting every tiny thing,” they often hear, “Adults don’t want to hear problems.” That’s the part that matters. Because kids don’t yet know which problems are small and which ones actually need an adult. They learn that from us through every little interaction, not just the big conversations. Instead of shutting things down with “Don’t tattle,” try something like: “Is this something I need to know?” It’s simple, and it teaches them three things at once: 1. Pause and think. 2. Decide if the issue is small or serious. 3. Know that you’re always open to hearing it. That last one is the most important. You want your child to grow up believing they can come to you, even if they’re not sure how big the issue is. That belief is one of their strongest safety tools. Now Let’s Talk About Secrets Parents often say, “This is our little secret,” about harmless things. A treat you got together, a surprise outing, a fun moment you don’t want turned into sibling drama. Totally normal. But here’s the part we don’t often think about. Kids don’t understand categories of secrets the way adults do. Adults think: “This is harmless, no big deal.” Kids think: “Sometimes I keep things from others if an adult asks me to.” That’s the exact behaviour predators leverage. Not by scaring the child, but by mimicking the same dynamic the child already knows. Shared secrecy, special attention, a sense of “this is just between us” Predators don’t create new behaviour, they exploit the patterns kids already understand. The Fix Is Simple. Surprises, Not Secrets A powerful rule you can put in place right away is: “In our family, we don’t keep secrets, only surprises.”