Welcome to aplaceof.info

Once it was possible simply to say that this was a family web site
for the Gray and Argall family...
then later the blended family of Ev Pettigrew and Dennis Argall.

Now it is host to many things. :-)

Here are two lists – of issues sites (below left) and family sites, further below:

Responsibility for content rests with me, Dennis Argall: dennisargall@bigpond.com

We spent some weeks in October-November 2005
in Ngukurr, southeast Arnhem Land – here's the blog.

How to build a 'nonkilling society' —
Flory's Fondation Chirezi, in Burundi and DR Congo, developing a program of universal significance [hosted here]

Young people organising to rebuild their own lives from war —
Fred's Acoke Rural Development Initiative
in Lira, northern Uganda [hosted here]

The mindless embrace of 'security'
— this is a link to writing in 2003 and 2004 about the commitment to war in Iraq and the 'war on terror'. We cannot make good, make security, out of our own violence. UPDATED to note the contrast to a new (in 2006) campaign in Burundi to build a 'non-killing society'... can we all learn from that?

Issues of global citizenship
Is it just too dumb
to consider it possible
to contribute to a better world?
... An essay written early in 2005

NABUUR.COM
A new initiative in global citizenship, linking 'neighbors' to communities in the developing world - the best place to start reading about this is in my conversation with the founder and CEO of NABUUR.COM, here. Can we do things people-to-people, rather than be dominated by organisations? Can we help communities in need find the resources and abilities among themselves to change their futures. The sanity of the developed world depends on this too. Too many people are remote from social purpose. The internet can lead people into isolation — or, end their powerlessness by providing new opportunities for local and global community involvement and reward.
Simon Normand's book
on the art of Ngukurr:
Stone Country to Saltwater.
Dennis designed this web site for Simon in November 2005. You can see some of Simon's contribution to the art work (murals, mosaic garden) of the Ngukurr school in our Ngukurr blog. Simon's book is of great significance historically as an enormous contribution to waitpela (non-indigenous Australian) understanding of the art and the country of the Roper River region in the Northern Territory - and its recognition of the immense strength of efforts in the region to preserve traditional culture and meaning of life.

Country Viewpoint
Contributions to this
ABC Radio National Bush Telegraph segment.


Tomerong papers
Local community — material relating to the village on the New South Wales (Australia) coast, where Ev and Dennis live.

TAYALA
The Australian Youth Against Landmines Association, established by Jono Greenacre in 2003.

INYAL
The International Youth Against Landmines Association, established by TAYALA in 2004.


OzBrainTumour [link]
the Australian internet brain tumour support group Dennis established in 2000

Brain Tumour support papers
I have wanted to assemble a complete and coherent guidance paper for Australians confronted by brain tumour diagnosis. I was asked for a book on this in 2002, but have not produced that, nor completed an online guide. My writing efforts, each with value, are here. The best explanation for 'no book' is that a comprehensive guidance document is an illusion, because dealing with brain tumour is something we all do differently. My strongest belief is in the need for the individual (sufferer, carer, lover, friend) to have control of their own circumstance, and appropriate power. We can all grow in facing life's great challenges — but not just by following a book. OzBrainTumour is a place of wondrous value in mutual human support and growth and sharing of information. The questions arising in discussion are in fields new to those who ask them. The answers (from many) allow those who draft the answers to achieve new insights ... and the rich pleasure of mutual support.


Ev with Nick and Sean and Brianna
Melbourne 2005: a birthday apple corer!


Dennis with Banjo and Bindi's assistant teacher Hazel
in Ngukurr 2005: in the classificatory kinship system
of this indigenous community Hazel is Bindi's sister
and thus also Hazel and I are apunini and biganini to each other.


Margaret in Malaysia in 1974... Liz story-musing, early morning 2002


Liz turns her hand (one of five?) to comic writing


A favourite photo, Nganmarriyanga 2003


Capturing pics of Bianca's fashion creations has been elusive!

Our hideaway near Bodalla

Brain tumour diagnosis compounds two primitive fears
– cancer and mental derangement
– which are notorious for the havoc they bring to individual and family.
Treatment quality varies around Australia. With recent new treatments
there has been some lift in doctor perspective
from deeply pessimistic palliative minimalism.
But the business of case managing the sufferer –
AND those around the sufferer – remains very poor
... in a situation where it is enormously important
to be informed and make wise choices
before time and wisdom are snatched away.

Manifestation of brain tumour
– with effects on all those around the sufferer –
are as varied as the totality of brain and personality functions.
We are demonstrating at OzBrainTumour
that mutual support and information
can be very constructive...
AND supportive of the work of health professionals.

Margaret's place
Dennis's late wife Margaret Gray (1949-2001)
was diagnosed with the most aggressive of brain tumours in 2000.
Margaret was not happy about the secrecy attending such matters and so we began a diary that became important to many.
It remains as it was in 2001.
Liz's Place
Liz's 'a place of stories' gave rise to the domain name aplaceof.info
Liz's techo skills had given the 'Margaret web site' a big start
and her 'place of stories' grew alongside that.
Liz's place of dreams
Some years on...
Liz as writer of comics, or illustrated literature:
when she is not a union organiser and folk musician and more.
Ev and Dennis's picture diary
Since 2003, Ev Pettigrew and Dennis Argall have used this photo diary to keep in touch with family spread over Australia and beyond. We are pleased that we have the warm and loving acceptance of our marriage and partnership across our new blended family.
WWOOF
We are WWOOF hosts...
I spoke about this in Country Viewpoint
and we have information for WWOOFers here.
Mount Eurobodalla
some old notes on our small farm further south – with some principles of sustainable farming and permaculture
Bianca's designs
we have placed here a little of Ev's daughter Bianca's fashion design - Bianca now has her own domain name for this future project
The Search for Chronic Wellness
Having spent much of the 1990s chronically unwell, health problems much complicated by treatments conventional and alternative, here are some papers Dennis wrote about how he got well.