Page 19 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 9_2023
P. 19

A: “Emotional fitness is about more than
                                                                                understanding emotions; it’s about man-
                                                                                aging them effectively, building healthy
                                                                                relationships, and developing the strength
                                                                                to face life’s uncertainties.
                                                                                Sometimes, we don’t always get what we
                                                                                want and must accept ‘no’ for an answer.
                                                                                This is an important life lesson.

                                                                                “Experiential learning helps the boys
                                                                                explore their emotions in a safe environ-
                                                                                ment, guiding them in building positive
                                                                                mindsets, which are crucial for their jour-
                                                                                ney through adolescence and beyond.”

                                                                                Q: What inspired you to create the Angus
                                                                                Lowe experience?
                                                                                A: “It wasn’t so much inspiration as as-
                                                                                piration that ignited this journey. I found
                                                                                purpose in sculpting a generation of young
                                                                                men who could inspire others in their
                                                                                communities and worldwide. I always
                                                                                harboured a passion for helping children
                                                                                explore new, exciting facets of life.

                                                                                “In our modern world, one of the most
                                                                                essential things for young men to learn is
                                                                                understanding their true selves. My aim
                                                                                was to facilitate this process of self-dis-
                                                                                covery, fostering young men’s growth into
                                                                                the best versions of themselves.”

                                                                                Q: What were some of the key challeng-
                                                                                es you faced when launching this initia-
                                                                                tive, and how did you overcome them?
                                                                                A: “Launching an initiative like this is
                                                                                always fraught with challenges, which can
                                                                                only be surmounted with perseverance
                                                                                and determination. The logistics of the
                                                                                program were particularly demanding.
                                                                                We had to think through and plan nu-
                                                                                merous details, and even then, we always
                                                                                encountered something unforeseen to
                                                                                learn from. The safety concerns around
                                                                                exposing young men to Big 5 game areas
                                                                                were significant. However, thorough dis-
                                                                                cussions, showcasing our stringent safety
                                                                                protocols, and letting people get to know
                                                                                me and our safety plan helped allay these
                                                                                fears.

                                                                                Q: Your programmes have a distinctive
                                                                                focus on adventure-based learning. How
                                                                                did you arrive at this approach, and what
                                                                                has the feedback been like?
                                                                                A: “Adventure is the portal to self-discov-
                                                                                ery. It’s surprising how many young men
                                                                                don’t have the opportunity to embrace
                                                                                their adventurous side. Adventure ex-
                                                                                poses us to challenging and great times,
                                                                                fostering self-understanding and agility.
                                                                                “The feedback we’ve received has been
                                                                                overwhelmingly positive. The widespread
                                                                                support and enthusiasm for our pro-
                                                                                grammes genuinely heartens me.”
                                                                                Q: Your programmes also place a lot of
                                                                                emphasis on practical leadership train-
                                                                                ing. Can you explain the thinking behind
                                                                                this and share any success stories?


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