ABOVE AND BEYOND: STEVEN FROM BUNNINGS AT MT GRAVATT

Have you ever been so impressed with someone's customer service you felt compelled to write about it? I was last night. So let me start with thank you Steven from Bunnings at Mt Gravatt, who served us last night.

Now I will go back and explain why and how it was such good service. Slowly, slowly I have been working on the backyard. Three pallets of grass, a veggie patch that seeds have turned into seedling, fruit trees, pineapple plants, the list goes on. The yard is not only turning into a yard that will produce a lot of fruit and vegetables, it is (hopefully) a yard that is beautiful and relaxing.

My next goal is to build the paved area near the veggie patch, that is currently a muddy playground for Jarvis and his cubby. I have already dug out the area so next step is a small retaining wall. In theory I know how to build this, thank you google. But having never done this we will soon see if I am successful.

Off to Bunnings to get the wood. First trip, unsuccessful. Too long to fit inside our car. Three phone calls over the next few days and Susie and I went last night to get the wood and courtesy trailer. We get the wood, but not the trailer. I was not told once in the three phone calls to bring my drivers licence. Drive home, pick up Justin, Jarvis and licence. We figured we needed Justin's muscles to lift the wood.

We all go back to Bunnings, this time we got helped by Steven. Connect first trailer, load wood, test lights. Not working. Off load trailer, connect second trailer, lights not working. Steven runs back inside to get another cable. He actually did run and not dawdle.

Second cable, lights still not working, so it must be our car. Bummer, we cannot hire a trailer without working lights. So at 8pm at night we are all standing around the Bunnings carpark trying to figure out how to get the wood home, when Steven offers to drive the wood to our house in his ute!

So out of the goodness of his heart Steven loads up the wood into his ute and drops it off at our home, plus helps carry it to the house. Wow! How is that for amazing customer service?

I phoned Bunnings first thing this morning to tell them what amazing customer service we got from Steven last night, the woman on the phone was very 'what ever' about it. So not having Steven's last name or no way to contact him I am putting a huge thank you out there for him.

If you ever go into Bunnings at Mt Gravatt and get served by a young blond Steven tell him the crazy Lesbian lady with the red hair and Asian baby thanks him. Oh yeah that is another story for another time.

 The area that is to be paved.

 Beans are growing.

 Washing on the side.

 The yard is now completely grassed!

One of the boards of wood that caused so much grief.

ABOVE AND BEYOND: MATT LEASEGANG

Matt Leasegang, what do you say about a talented boy, with an infectious smile and an open and generous heart? Matt is a local Brisbane photographer who is helping to fight cancer one ride at a time. Anyone who knows me, and my family know it is a fight very close to my heart (Love you Dad).  I had the pleasure of interviewing Matt, and I would love to share this with everyone.

When did you first start riding a bike and what helped develop your passion?
The cycling began in 2011, A few of my friends Brad Marshall and Nicholas Granger had been hounding me to get a fixie (fixed gear/track bike) and I caved in and bought my first bike, a 1970’s vintage Hoffy. She’s a beautiful copper bike, I’ve taken it through hell and back and it’s never let me down. I love it. The passion for cycling took off after we setup a Sunday social ride and created a group “becausefixie”. Through the group, I met an array of interesting characters, namely one Kai McIntyre, the reason I’m now involved with the RTCC and the Vision Crusaders; His words were “Come do four charity rides with me, it’ll be fun”. I said “Yep, ok”. That’s how it all started.

Can you tell us why you started the RTCC, plus what RTCC is?

I guess I better start with what the RTCC is. The RTCC Stands for The Ride To Conquer Cancer. It is a charity ride that is 200km of cycling over 2 days, where you camp overnight with other people who have raised a minimum of $2,500 each!! The ride is run in 5 Locations in Australia and 1 in New Zealand, and originated in Canada and has a base in many countries in the world. Initially it was a way for me to have some fun, do a ride, raise some money and meet new people. My grandfather died of a Pulmonary carcinoma (Lung Cancer) and had emphysema and asbestosis from serving many years in the navy. After completing the Brisbane ride this year, my good friend and team leader Klaus Bartosch (1stAvailable.com) was diagnosed with Leukaemia, an ironic blow considering what he started.

Do you just ride for RTCC? Or do you ride with other groups?

I’m very lucky to say I’m involved with a group called the Vision Crusaders (www.VisionCrusaders.com). We’re doing this crazy thing called the “Grand Slam” and nationally we’ve raised over $300,000 for cancer research this year alone. Next year, we’re going to be bigger and better! 

Besides your obvious love of your bike and redheads, what are your other passions?
The main passion in my life? Photography. I love it. I will confess, I’ve been lazy the last 12-18 months and haven’t pushed my work or really engaged in pursuing it too actively though that’s about to change pretty rapidly over the next few months. I let cycling take over my life but now it’s time to pick the camera up and get back into it.

I’d like to make mention to a few of the following places if possible:
BlackMilkClothing.com – For all their support, continual updates to their 500K+ Followers on both Instagram and Facebook and for making us look bad-ass!
My Supportive Friends for donating so much money and for doing everything they could to ensure I got to the rides.
Kauri Sports – For the awesome Jersey design, we stand out in a crowd, and we couldn’t have done it without you!
and finally, to Klaus Bartosch, the man who started the Vision Crusaders and the reason I now ride! Kick Cancers ass! See you on the bike soon!

Matt can be found on his website: Matt Leasegang Photgraphy  

On his personal facebook page: MattLeasegang

His professional facebook page: MattLeasegang

Also to donate towards his next ride : RTTC

Please Note: Images are copyright of Pat Brunet

ABOVE AND BEYOND: MARYANNE OLIVER

Maryanne is a local multi-talented Brisbane artist. Maryanne is an amazing woman of great femininity and strength just like the women in her signature style, her "Mairzi girls".

Maryanne has started a project called the 100 Smiles. Her 100 day mission is to custom paint 100 shirts as a gift to 100 little girls to bring smiles and happiness. Not only is Maryanne painting 100 t-shirts with her original artwork,  she giving them away for free to 100 very lucky children. I say children, even though Maryanne says girls, she has made an exception and included one very lucky boy. Yes Jarvis is number 50!

Just a small sample of Maryanne's 100 Smiles Project

It has taken me a long time to write this introduction, how do you find words to describe someone who you admire so much?

I could go to her website and copy the words there:

"Maryanne draws inspiration from the colour and beauty of life ... from the desire to live this life like an illustrated adventure by creating female characters that bring happiness, colour and a playfulness to life! Art that inspires the desire to live life and your dreams exactly how you wish ... without fear, remaining positive, always being brave and never accepting the ordinary."

I could interview her:

First off, can you tell everyone a bit about yourself? 

I like to live a simple life and am no longer in any rush to do or be anything but myself doing and promoting what I love. I love my family, my friends, my possums, my cats and my records ;) I am very passionate about animals, protecting our wildlife and preservation of our land. Through my art I like to encourage others to promote what they love, be happy with who they are and be kind to themselves and others. I am on very simple mission through my art to bring happiness and inspire others to do the same. This can sometimes be mistaken as having your head in the clouds… reality is life is not easy for any of us however happiness is a state of mind and I will continue to promote this through what I do.

When did you start painting?

I’ve been painting my whole life, I used to paint or colour in everything and anything I could get my pens and paints on which was obviously to the delight of my mother haha!

Do you have any formal training?

I didn’t go to university to study art as we were too poor but that was never going to stop me being an artist.

Why did you start the 100 Smiles Project?

I don’t know how I actually start any of my projects, I just get these ideas and have to run with them to keep up sometimes. It started off at 30 shirts then went to 40 then 50 then I just thought “who am I kidding, let’s make it 100”

Kids have always supported and loved my art and never ask for anything in return so this is my gift to them. And the beauty of this project is that this is something money cannot buy as I no longer paint these shirts to sell due to the comparison in price of an original art piece. It has been amazing watching this project unfold, the levels of gratitude, happiness and the love that then carries on is the greatest reward for me. This project is simply about the art of giving, I call it the happiness tree.

What do you think you will do once the project is finished?

I do have some kids t-shirt painting classes in the pipeline in January and

also quite a bit to catch up on once I finish painting shirts so once I get through all that I am sure the next adventure will fall in to place and ill be ready to run with it again!

But none of this describes what amazing woman, and artist Maryanne is, and none of this covers her generous beautiful heart.

Maryanne website can be found here, and the link to her Facebook page here. 

Maryanne looking stunning in one of her t-shirts

Please note: Most of the words and images are Maryanne's