Reflections of our year

​As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the experiences, lessons, and achievements that shaped our year. We have all grown through challenges, celebrated progress, and learned from one another along the way. As one chapter ends a new chapter begins, A new year brings fresh energy and new possibilities. This year is about moving forward together, trying new things, achieving goal’s and making steady progress.
 
Today’s blog topic is reflecting on 2025 and my goals for 2026.
This year was amazing, I did so many cool things and had a great year. I attended my programs at Umbrella where I do crafts, blogging, media and social groups. I have grown a lot of confidence and I enjoy making a toast for my friends. I also learnt how to do a podcast which was so much fun, and Daz was a nice guy who helped me with it. I love going on holidays with my family and this year I went to America, Canada, Japan and on a Disney cruise. Holidays make me happy and I love spending time with my mum and dad and exploring new places. I went to Disneyland this year which is my favourite place in the world. Next year I will continue coming to Umbrella, seeing my friends and working hard and doing a good job. I will start a new employment program which I'm excited for to learn new things. I'm going to keep doing dancing on Wednesday's and learn new moves. I hope new Disney movies come out so I can watch them at the movies with Krystle and Steph. Next year I will be going on holidays, not sure where yet but they will be good. I hope I can go to China because I haven't been there before and Disneyland is there that I would like to visit. I also would love to go to Disneyland Paris, as I haven't been there yet.
This is Claire signing off, see you next year! 
 
2025 what a whirlwind of a year, I tried new things, travelled to new places, had breakdowns, gained great people, and lost people.
In January 2025, I wrote my main goals and 12 mini little goals for each month.
I started a mini goal of a photo a day also so I would end up with 365 photos to look back on.  But I stopped doing it. I might do it again next year, I also did a self portraits once a month to give myself a bit more confidence in photos, but sadly my mind ended that one once I saw a photo I didn’t like.
I did a 5k foam run which was great, I did with two of my friends, we earned  a medal no matter what  we placed.
I went on family trips and trips with friends, I went to Coffs Harbour, Hamilton Island and China. Next year I’ve already booked a trip with my friend to Cairns in February and looking forward to it.
 
I’ve also picked up the hobby “gold detecting”. Sounds boring, but when the detector beeps, it’s the thrill of digging something up.  Next year one of my main goals is whenever I find money, I’m going to save for a Maine Coon cat, who I have already named. Probably will take me ages but it’s something I’ll look forward to. 
I’m not sure if I accomplished any of my goals this year, but I gave them all a go, sometimes life throws hurdles and set you back, but as long as you try, that’s all that matters.
I had two car incidents, neither were my fault and I was without a car for a bit. But luckily no one was hurt and my dad was able to be my taxi driver. 
I’ve started writing my goals for 2026 and what I want to achieve. 
I want to try and write in a journal called a common place journal which is where you write positive quotes and movies that moved you. I’m going to try and research about topics I’m interested in and write it in the journal,  for example a theme per month, but a topic within that theme per week.
Also, I might do a horror movie themed monthly, for example January could be Australia horror for Australia Day, February could be couple murderers for Valentine’s Day. 
But I guess no one really knows what 2026 will bring, but, it’s always good to have goals to look forward to and try to aim to achieve them.
Well I hope everyone has a great Holiday, thank you for always reading our blogs each week,  
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year
 From Haley. 
 
 
This year my reflection was seeing Nate Hill and Peter Reggie Bowman in our Hellow Media and asking them questions about the music they make and I asked them what made them play with paint and being part of Southern Sons and I really enjoyed seeing them and my highlight was getting a hug from them both.  I’m so grateful they could come in and give us their time and what I’m looking forward for next year is taking part in the the Reach Employment program. I’m looking forward to work in a cafe with my friends. I would like to say a big thank you to Cindy and all her amazing staff for all of their support and help through out the year. Ash
 
Dear readers, this week’s topic is a reflection on 2025. 
Let me start by telling you about my reflection back on this year, for me, on the second of April I joined and started a new program called Hellow Media and that experience has been so fun because I have met some amazing new people who I have became close friends with and have learnt new skills like using the camera, clapper, helping set up all the Hellow Media equipment and learning to step out of my comfort zone and how to interview people. The first person I got to interview was George from the Rosebud RSL and then a few months later head chef Michael from the RSL came. A few weeks after interviewing head chef Michael, we went down to the RSL for lunch as a treat for such an amazing interview and then George and head chef Michael  invited me as guest to tour the entire bistro and I was even allowed to go into the kitchen. After the tour ended, I was offered a job at the Rosebud RSL to work in the kitchen with all the chefs and when I got offered my job I said yes please!! I accepted my job and now I can appreciatively say that I love my job. 
Secondly, don’t get me started on how amazing the Hellow Media red carpet event was as it was so much fun and everyone looked so good in their outfits.  
Dinner with friends all year has been so fun and I really enjoyed doing cooking and making new recipes.
I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings for me and I can’t wait to hear from you my all readers, 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the Readers 
Written By Charlotte.
 
 
My memory of 2025 and my excitement for 2026.
I have been with Umbrella Support for almost five years and my life is good and rewarding.
I am writing my story today starting at January this year and all of my fun activities and memories. I attend groups with my beautiful friends and we have lots of stories to tell and hand craft to do. 
I have one day where I go bowling with my friends and sometimes I get a strike which makes me so happy. 
I am having a fantastic year with the most positive, beautiful people in my life, they will be my friends forever. I am so excited moving into 2026 and the adventures I will have.
I will see my friends again after this Christmas break and start with new activities and making more friends where we can share our lives together. 
It is now time to wish all of my family and friends the happiest Christmas and safe New Year. 
This is merry merry ho ho ho Beth signing off until next year.     
 
All good things come to an end... 
Though in the case of blogging, it's a short Christmas break and we will start up again in 2026. It's just the end of another year for us all and it's exciting to hear/read everyone's last blog for 2025.
 
This year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, which is funny because I have never actually been on a real rollercoaster and I'm not about to add that to any bucket list. Regardless, I have enjoyed 2025 for the most part and it's had many highlights. All very exciting and joyous though in this blog I would very much like to focus on my goals for 2026. Quick question for you, our lovely readers; do you have any goals for 2026? 
 
I have had going to The Lion King Musical on my bucket list for 22 years, It has been a dream of mine and I have waited very patiently for The Lion King Musical to come back to Australia. I'm so happy to share that in 2026 I will be flying to Sydney to finally tick it off my bucket list and make a dream of mine a reality. To say I am excited is a understatement, it's going to be amazing and I get to go with some really awesome people. I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity, I can't explain the feelings I feel thinking about the fact after so many years I get to do this!
 
I'm sure I will have so much more to share over the next year, it's really exciting to have another year of blogging to look forward to. I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday whatever you choose to do and how you choose to celebrate the holidays. 
Thank you for your time and loyalty this year dear readers. 
Your friend always,
Shan.
 
January I’m going away for the holidays we are going to the mountain.
Monday I am making my animation, it is such good fun.
Tuesday I love making the stop motion animation and I do the speech session on a zoom meeting. 
Wednesday we making filming and it was good fun.
Thursday I will come back for Umbrella Support I like you guys and , I have a lot of good fun.
Fridays I have Umbrella Support again!
On the weekend we are making of the film for the movie.
Me and mum are going to the concert to see Polaris and Ice Nine Kills and I see my OT regularly. 
 This is Korey signing off and Merry Christmas everyone, Happy New Year. 
 
Reflecting on this year, I am still so excited that I work at the tip and all the things that I have found and collected. At the moment I have a pair of walkie-talkies that I plan to use with dad, especially if I run out of fuel when I'm out on my lawn mower.
I went to the Airshow in Avalon when the accident happened.
Terrible, but I look forward to going to it again. I wish they flew over head like they used too,oh well.
I am super proud of building my racing mower, as I collected pieces and parts from the tip. I have a good understanding of what goes where and how to do it. Also I am rebuilding a gaming computer.
I have great social outlets in my life and love going to Kilcunda. I have made great friends at work and Umbrella and look forward to seeing everyone after the Christmas break next year. I would like to organise an event with my friends where we go paint balling together. My good friend and I will be on one team and we will verse everyone else who are the bad guys, our mission is to take the bad guys down.
I would like to keep working at the tip and continue with my programs, I also want to continue with my project of building a computer.
This is Nick signing off, see you next time.
 
This year I joined Umbrella Support for Blogging and Media groups. They were kind to me when my mum passed away. They are a very friendly group and they gave me a party for my birthday.
I had a new job with Down Syndrome Australia and I met my friend named Alana. I designed an outfit for Cindy's dog Mavis It has the  Everyday People logo on it. My friends Brie and Michael did a market for DSA and I did another market this year with my friend which Brie found for me.
From Ben

​This year
This year I joined Umbrella Support for Blogging and Media groups. They were kind to me when my mum passed away. They are a very friendly group and they gave me a party for my birthday.
I had a new job with Down Syndrome Australia and I met my friend named Alana. I designed an outfit for Cindy's dog Mavis It has toe  Everyday People logo on it. My friends Brie and Michael did a market for DSA and I did another market this year with my friend which Brie found for me.
From Ben
 
Today is the last blogging day of 2025. The year went so quickly as it feels like just yesterday that I started the Just Write program. I remember feeling apprehensive at the beginning, but once I got started, I did really well. Now, I’m a blogging fanatic.
This year, I also found a new hobby. Mum suggested that I try journalling at home, so I went to the shop and bought a journal. Journalling is a great activity you can write about what you did, where you went, who you spent time with, and even what you ate for lunch or dinner. I recommend journalling to everyone in the Just Write program.
In April 2025, our support worker Jessy left Umbrella Support. I’m proud of myself because I recorded a goodbye video message for her. Talking on video can be easy for some people, but I feel awkward hearing my own voice. Even so, I did it and Cindy stood beside me, which helped me feel less anxious.
I also spent special time with Mum and Dad. We went to the city, Lorne, and the Pancake Parlour. It was amazing. That was in May.
I travelled to Indonesia this year, which I have to mention in my blog. I went to Bali for the first time, and it was amazing. Then I went to Surabaya to catch up with my cousins. We had a family dinner together. They are adults now and I remember seeing them when they were babies and kids. Now they are in university and working.
They hugged me, and I also saw my brother again. He hugged me too, as he is currently working in another country. We also travelled to Central Java and did a lot of outings. Even though it was very hot, I didn’t complain. After our outings, we spent time at the mall to beat the heat.
I am proud that I attended two parties this year, even though they were loud I still enjoyed them. One was my Grandmother’s 80th birthday party. Everyone was there, and there was karaoke, so anyone could sing or dance to the music. I was also happy to sit with all my cousins at the lunch party because I don’t get to hang out with them often. It was a happy celebration with all my family members.
The other party was the Christmas party with my support group. It was fun, and I really enjoyed opening gifts. I received cute items like a Pooh plush, Cinnamoroll stationery, fish ornaments, and Lego bricks. Thank you to whoever bought those gifts for me. We also played group games, and everyone supported each other.
Next year, I’m looking forward to doing Just Write again in January. This year, I only began in March. I’m also excited to return to the handmade programs. I will miss Umbrella Support, but I’ll be back in January. I’m not sure yet if I’ll be travelling next year as my parents haven’t mentioned anything yet. We will wait and see. 
Thank you for reading. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2026. I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer break.
This is Jacinda signing off. See you in 2026.