Emily Pierce
It was a bustling Saturday night out in the usually quiet town of Federal, where a selected group of speakers were asked to share their stories about their brush with luck, and how it has played a role in their lives.
Fed Talks MC Mandy Nolan suggested that perhaps she was lucky to not have been murdered by any of the hitchhikers she picks up!
Ex-chef Jim Hearn told the audience candidly about his wins and losses with gambling, yet he was still able to take his girlfriend of the time to Sydney with $20 in his pocket.
Sheldon Lieberman from BigFish studios described his experience of a cystoscopy; where a camera is inserted in your urethra.
He demonstrated to the audience how his misfortune happened with bladder functions – blowing up a balloon and letting the air out slowly made some squirm.
Jack Long spoke about his experiences of luck in relation to seeing others less fortunate than himself, and counting his blessings, depending on the way you look at life.
Victor Marsh spoke about his memoir and the experiences he had as a young boy cross-dressing.
With no support from family or friends, luckily, he found a mentor who helped him through all the confusion and struggle over his sexual identity.
Mandy described herself as lucky having ‘got out’ of her home town of Wondai.
Meanwhile Danielle Purcell thought joining the military seemed like a good idea at the time; although after many years of dodging bombs in dangerous countries Danielle’s luck was wearing thin.
Her health was failing so she headed to India and after being paralysed from the neck down she thought she needed to get out of there before it was too late; so she bought a one way ticket to Australia.
Having struggled through a failed marriage and failed business, Kate Veitch spoke about her bad luck and starting afresh.
Travelling and securing a book deal were for her instances of very good luck and a personal lifesaver.
Bringing it home Sam Cutler took the topic further as he didn’t believe in the term “luck”.
Karma vs luck
He suggests that on a spiritual level, involving karma in your actions can positively or negatively affect your life, so luck has little to do with it.
He believes more in coincidences and investigating the possibility of what’s happened in peoples’ past lives.
The night was very well received, with co-organiser Alan Goldstein declaring: ‘We could’ve sold twice over’.
The next Fed Talks will be held in September.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
