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From the Editor

When I watched The Wizard of Oz as a kid, I was always puzzled by the idea of ‘courage’. Such a strange word. To me it sounded like something you need to chew, like porridge. Eventually I figured out that courage meant to be brave, to take risks, to put yourself out there. And that’s what many of the stories in this edition demonstrate.
‘Courage’ comes from the Latin ‘cor’ meaning ‘heart’ and originally meant ‘to speak one’s mind by telling one’s heart.’
As we’ve moved through the ages, we’ve gone from simply speaking from the heart to taking action, be that on a personal or emotional level, or a wider social or global level.
There are many stories in these pages of local individuals who have stepped out boldly – bravely setting out across the sea, tackling vast distances on foot, competing at an elite level in their chosen field. All of this takes courage, not necessarily in ‘speaking one’s mind’ but in acting ‘from the heart’.
Passion is what drives the determination to succeed. It fuels our attempts to keep trying to better ourselves, to push out of our comfort zones, and to pick ourselves up when we fall.
Be it performing live or displaying our work in public, as many of our talented local creators do. Building a billy cart and racing hell for leather down the main street. Or taking a risk on a new venture for the betterment of the wider community.
But courage isn’t always about tangible achievements and accolades. You can find courage in something as simple, and as difficult, as making or accepting an apology, or in breaking with stereotypes, social norms and expectations that stifle our authentic selves.
I hope the stories in this edition inspire you to take a leap, make a change and live your best life.

Sally Schofield

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