This morning I decided to catch the City Cat into the city (Brisbane) instead of driving my car or catching a taxi. I thought I’d catch up on writing some new material for the website while I was en-route. Upon arriving at the Brett’s Wharf terminal, I sat opposite a lone man who asked me for the time.

Turns out, I had just met Jim. Jim was on his way to meet a friend at South Bank and attend a Persian concert. A Persian concert? “Yes, and they are even using original instruments”, as I settled on the bench seat, I thought to myself “interesting man, shall I just sit here with my sunglasses on and pretend I’m busy….” In the spirit of inquiry and sensing this man had some wisdom to offer, I engaged in some light chit chat. I suspected he may have been a lecturer at a university, perhaps in music or humanities. As Jim’s story goes, in his younger days, he decided something along the lines of “work is not for me” and wasn’t going to buy into the hustle and bustle of a chaotic work life. He said something like “I think maybe people come into this world and then we fill our lives with ‘stuff’ to make it all seem worthwhile. But what about just sitting and being still in the mind. People don’t do that often enough”.

Now he had my attention. I actually agreed with him. How do we live a purposeful life? We have our jobs and our families and our friends and our communities, but what happens on the inside when we are just left to contemplate our own bodies and thoughts? In my experience most people never do. Or they are too afraid of social reprimand to admit the desire or quite simply it all seems a bit coo-coo anyway.

Jim and I chatted about this topic for awhile, until our river ride turned up. We chatted about meditation, yoga, business, the corporate world, astrology, art and dreams. I shared with him some of what I’d learnt and experienced in approaching leadership and business from a far more holistic and systemic perspective and how rewarding it’s been. For me, it’s not in the knowing that I feel energised, it’s in the seeking to know more and be more, that really gets me out of bed in the morning.

By now the City Cat had arrived and we got on board. Jim was carrying a laptop (I thought this was odd, as he was going to a concert?!). Turns out Jim had just found a ladies laptop after she had inadvertently boarded the previous floating vessel, leaving it behind on the bench.

Meet Joanna.

Joanna was frightfully relieved to collect her beloved laptop when she met us at the Apollo Road terminal and re-boarded our ride to continue the journey into the city. A sweet lady, wearing a white blouse and some beautiful jewels and bright pink lippy! Joanna was in Brisbane working to deliver more Ophthalmology (eye health) services to rural and remote parts of Australia. Amazing lady. She had flown up from Sydney the night before. Turns out that five years ago, Joanna had spent Easter in Birdsville and we know the same people! Talk about six degrees of separation, I think it’s actually about one!

So here I was sitting on a City Cat in the middle of the Brisbane River, with two people I met 10 minutes ago, engaged in purposeful and meaningful conversation! One represented a link to my heritage and spoke of the struggles in delivering services to rural and remote areas of Australia when State and Federal boundaries are at play (yes this is an issue – State and Federal egos and getting reelected should not be more important than the delivery of infrastructure and services) and on the other side of me was someone who represented the ‘inner work’, the stuff that if we had more of in this world – the landscape, I hypothesis, would be much different.

So there I was – inspired, motivated and feeling compelled to make progress in whatever capacity was useful.

30 minutes ago I could have put my sunglasses on, my iPod in and bowed by head while I played with my iFamily on my iPhone or my iPad engaging in iConversation with Facebook or Twitter!

Since I was about 11, I’ve had moments in my life that I’d say have been like a fork in the road. I can just about recount all of them, where I was, who was there, what was said or happened, and all together they form a chronology of the journey that has been to date. Who knows whether I’ll look back on today in weeks or years to come and add it to the list.

Whatever the case, I’m glad I actually forgot my iPod and someone asked me for the time!

Be grateful for those who cross your path, we are all teachers and students of the same class.
~ Karen

KBS was recently engaged to produce a series of images for the internal walls of their Brisbane Head Office.

A cross section of images were chosen to showcase Australia’s Channel Country – the region from which their pasture fed organic beef and lamb is sourced.

The images were produced with a full colour reverse applied laytex digital print, backed up in white vinyl on 6mm clear acrylic. They were installed with plastic spacers so the image would sit off the wall.

Nothing makes the heart warm more than seeing a job like this – one of such ‘Outback’ beauty – come alive on the walls of a Brisbane city office!

KBS was engaged to develop conference branding and design the e-promotions kit which included an electronic brochure, website header, e-newsletter template, and video presentation.

The brief for the branding was to visually depict the essence of the conference.

Research and Brand Strategy

Having experienced this realm of leadership work, KBS was able to fully engage with the program content and search for creative pathways and enlightenment.

KBS explored Thai culture and art – from music and dance to images of flames and dragons and the symbolism behind the words Passion, Purpose and Potency in Thai culture.

Following this path of discovery, the Tiger was returned as a useful connection to the program content.

Tiger

The tiger symbol is associated with power, passion, ferocity and sensuality. In addition to this, it represents beauty and speed, cruelty and wrath and its appearance in dream is usually a sign of new power or passion that has awakened within an individual.

Universally, the tiger is a symbol of power and strength and can also be a power of destruction and violence.

Design Application
Using the illustration of a tiger – the branding depicts a strong and powerful being with “untapped resources” bound inside with potential to escape into the space of the world. The tiger represents a metaphor for the individual and collective journey that will be undertaken during and post conference participation.

Front cover of the e-brochure

Two-column page layout with highlight text

Website Header

KBS also produced a short five minute video which enabled Rebekah O’Rourke, Managing Director of The Global Leadership Practice and Bruce Irvine, Director, The Grubb Institute, UK to share their thoughts and insights around the conference.

Passion Purpose Potency Introduction Video by KBS from Karen Brook on Vimeo.

For more information or to register for the conference visit:

http://www.tglp.com.au/passion-purpose-potency-conference/

The brand strategy and visual development of the material is based on the Bunyip being a mythical creature that can be visually depicted in many ways shapes
and forms. The characterisation of ‘what’ and ‘who’ The Bunyip is, is left to the eye of
the beholder.

A creative and modern visual interpretation has allowed  “Bunyip Sounvenirs”
to engage the imagination of consumers while being a symbol of business and
professionalism in the Noth Burnett Regional Council.

The tag line “Watch Out! Bunyips About.” was also developed.

The brand will mainly be used across souvenir products in packaging and point of sale materials.

Having spent the best part of the last 10 years between Birdsville in far western Queensland and then Charleville (not-as-far) western Queensland, I had become accustomed to planning everything in advance.

Now that I’m spending most of time in Brisbane, I feel like a kid in a lolly shop! I can do things as part of normal daily life, that were once reserved for holidays or work trips to the city.

My top 5 perks:

1. Going out for coffee after dinner
Pretty much didn’t exist, unless I would ‘go out’ on my back verandah with a fresh brew of Merlo.

2. Buying fresh fruit and seafood whenever I like
In Birdsville, there’s only a food truck every 2 – 3 weeks, in Charleville I had a day or two to get it while it was fresh after which I’d wait for next week’s truck.

3. Collecting my dry-cleaning the next day
A 7-10 day wait while it gets sent 800km away to be cleaned and then returned to me.

4. Going to the theatre or the art gallery
And it not costing me $1000 in return flights and accommodation.

5. Going shopping on a Saturday afternoon is a novelty
The shops in Charleville shut around 12pm. It was ok though, as the whole town would then go and support the horse races or football game, whatever was on.

On the flip side, there are definitely things I’m missing:

1. Silence
I haven’t heard the chirp of a bird or watched the beauty of a sunset in 6 weeks, but I do know what a construction site sounds like!

2. No traffic
What a waste of my time when I sit in traffic for 30 minutes to go 6km.

3. Everyone knows everyone
Now I find myself saying hello to people in the lift or smiling as I pass people on the footpath, and I think they think I’m a little weird!

4. Free easy parking
Very little is free or easy!

5. Convenience
Everything is so close! If I needed something I could duck out and grab it quickly or just order it online. There’s so many more options in the city!

Whether you’re spending your weekend chasing cows on a property somewhere in western Queensland, fishing on a reef in north Queensland or sipping cocktails in the middle of New Farm, have a wonderful time and enjoy the best of what life has to offer!

KB

It’s been a really massive start to the year, and over the last few weeks I have been appointed to the board of the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network; relocated from Charleville to Brisbane the day before the floods; spoken at a Queensland Leadership workshop breakfast in Brisbane on the topic of “Leadership and Betrayal”; gained my GFPT pilots license and started Bikram Yoga (those who have tried this mentally and physically challenging practice, will understand where I am coming from!). Tonight i’m spending my time at a Social Leadership Australia art show in Brisbane city.

The start to 2012 has been like a whirlwind but I have so much clarity and purpose and most importantly passion for the task at hand, that it hasn’t been overwhelming at all!

Last Thursday I did a interview with ABC Western Queensland. It’s poignant to share as I think it sums up what has been happening and where the future is headed for me and KBS! Thanks to Helen for inviting me to share.

Karen Brook speaks with Helen Shields on ABC Radio, Western Queensland

On another note, I am advertising for a graphic designer to join the team. To view the position details click here.

Happy Thursday!

KB

By now, one week later, everyday hero’s like this have been enabled all across western Queensland and northern New South Wales as flood waters recede and rise.

As I write this I am reminded of the power of mother nature. This time last year, Queensland was once again mopping up after the “Great flood of 2011″ and here we are again with the “Great flood of 2012″ – that isn’t even over yet.

As these events come and go, and as the clean up starts for some, the inundation has not yet begun for others. I am reminded of the capacity of the human spirit to endure mother nature at her liveliest. And ponder what it is about these events that brings out the everyday hero in us.

In times of crisis, as Aussies, we band together. We are a strong nation. A united nation, but all too often it takes something so strong and so beyond our control to remind us that what we have is worth fighting for – our families, our children, our towns, our schools, our local clubs, our pets, the list could go on and on.

I wish I could bottle this courage, this form of the human spirit that we see during times of disasters and crisis. The form that is willing and able to go above and beyond for the greater good of others, with little or no consideration for self. It’s what everyday heroes are made of and it’s within us all, always.

Maybe if we could buy it off eBay, or at the local corner store, or if there was a Facebook page or a iPhone app, we would be reminded that every day of our lives, we have the opportunity to be an everyday hero.

The thing about being an everyday hero you see, is that everyday, every act of kindness, goodwill or selflessness, in that moment in time, might just make a difference to someone forever.

Imagine our cities, our towns and our communities. It can be as simple as “hello, how are you today?”

So when the disasters are over and all seems ‘well’ in six months, twelve months, five years time… Let’s not forget about the everyday heroes of our floods, our cyclones, our bush fires and our droughts. Let’s not forget about the everyday heroes everywhere.

Let’s us be heroes. Every Day.

Below are a few photos I took during the “Great flood of 2008″. I wasn’t the best disaster photographer – my heart sank too much photographing the ‘everyday heroes’ when i could have been helping them. I used to struggle getting my pics to the newspapers by deadline because there would always be something else more important to be done. Now that i’ve witnessed a flood from the ‘outside’, I realise the importance of documenting the everyday heroes – so we can be reminded of their spirit and courage – always! Media need a “Every Ready” budget for times like these!

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service save a car from flood waters in Charleville during the 2008 flood.

The firies help move the local dress shop to higher ground!

Neighbours help shift personal belongings as Bradley's Gully in Charleville floods during 2008.

In 2010 I applied to participate in the 2010/2011 Queensland Leadership program run by Social Leadership Australia. I was lucky to gain a place in the program thanks to a rural scholarship from the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation. Queensland Leadership taught me to how to use my power and passion for the betterment of the whole.

Queensland Leadership helped me expose the role I was individually and collectively playing in the social issues surrounding me, particularly the social and political gap between rural and urban communities.

Now with this recognition, and acceptance that I may have been contributing to the gap, rather than closing it – I’m able to start working in different ways to stimulate long lasting change in an area that is gaining agenda on the national stage.

This is not always easy though! I am honoured with the opportunity to speak about my experience of “Leadership & Betrayal” at an upcoming breakfast workshop in Brisbane, as part of the 2011/2012 Queensland Leadership program.

Anyone is welcome to attend the breakfast, but RSVP is essential. Click here for more information or to RSVP.

Date: Thursday 9th February 2012, 7.30 – 9.30am, Christies Corporate Building, Brisbane.

Hope to see you there!
KB

I have spent the last few days out there, packing up and giving away my things. A momentous decision, and one that has required a big ‘leap of faith’.

In 2007 I moved to Charleville and in 2008 I bought my first house there. It was a renovator’s delight! A lovely 1970s, four bedroom home with a pool. If you were to ask my friends, they would say I bought the property for the pool – not the house, but I beg to differ! I’ve been slowly renovating ever since, and with it nearly finished, and looking quite swish – I am moving on and letting it all go!

Just after I bought my house in March 2008.

After commuting between Charleville and Brisbane for the last 18 months (that translates as never having fully unpacked any one suitcase at any particular time!), I have decided to settle in Brisbane.

Living and working across Western Queensland over the last five years, together with my upbringing in Birdsville, has been the best experience. It’s given me incredible opportunities, amazing insight and wonderful challenges. Most importantly it has given me the courage to embrace change and believe that everything really does happen for a reason.

I am eternally grateful for these experiences, as they have helped shape the person I am today.

A heartfelt thank-you.

KB

The Branding Strategy
The Charleville Neighbourhood Centre is a physical reflection of the
needs, wants and values of the community and district itself. The visual
interpretation of this statement reflects both the history and heritage
of the community and centre, combined with a modern and progressive
interpretation that leads the community through social change and into
the future.

Visual Output
The circular shape is a modern interpretation of the Aboriginal symbol
for “meeting place, campsite or waterhole”. The circular symbol is
held between two energetic figurines with energy moving upwards and
forwards into the future.