This past week, I delivered a Toastmasters speech titled Still Standing — a reflection on one of the most turbulent, confronting, yet strengthening years of my life.

At the heart of the speech was a line first written by 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche:
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
It’s a statement that has echoed across generations, and this year, it resonated with me more than ever.

In the speech, I talked openly about the demands of completing my TAE40122 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and how it has affected my business with fewer NDIS clients. I spoke about confusion around NDIS billing, the emotional strain of uncertainty, and the feeling of pushing forward even when everything felt uphill.

But I also talked about the bright spots — the moments that reminded me that strength doesn’t only come from hardship; it comes from people.

Click the above image to Go straight to the video on YouTube.

• Meeting Kirsten, and the friendship that grew from that connection.
• The joy and privilege of meeting Monique Tonna, Toastmasters Region 12 International Director, just one week earlier at the District 73 Conference.
• The realisation that Kirsten’s suburb in Sydney is near to Parramatta Toastmasters, the club Monique is from — a connection that clicked instantly for me.
• Getting to know Wayne better who reignited my interest in amateur radio, I wish I remembered to put him in the speech, but he was kind enough to film it for me on site at TOCC Toastmasters..
• The relief of having my DCIS pre-cancerous lump removed.
  • Celebrating my 60th birthday, despite everything this year has thrown at me.

One of the most difficult chapters was my forced resignation from Croydon Yarra Valley Toastmasters Club — a moment that reduced me to tears as I sent the letter. It felt like a door slamming shut.

What I didn’t yet know, because it happened the day after my speech, is this:
I was reinstated to CYV Toastmasters  and as of the time of this writing, looking forward to attending my first meeting back later this week .
A wrong was righted — and that resolution deserves its place in the story.

This Speech is in its rawest form, having only a few hours notice prior to my giving it. It Is my hope that may be a more refined version of this speech might be entered into the International speech contest next year.

After all of it — the setbacks, the challenges, the confusion, the health scares, the emotional toll — I’m still here.
Still working.
Still showing up.
Still serving my community.
Still standing.

If my speech reaches even one person who feels they are carrying too much right now, then sharing it was worth every moment. Resilience isn’t about being untouched — it’s about rising, even if you rise slowly.

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