Yesterday 15 women and 2 dogs gathered at Coorabell Hall for Cranky Woman comedy - it was a blast. We cried. We raged. We laughed. We ate. We blamed. We shamed. We reclaimed! It’s better than therapy - the transformative power of truth telling from women who no longer give a rats about what anyone thinks!
Gras show on Friday 22nd at Coorabell Hall. Curry from 5. Show from 7.30! I will put tix in comments
I am really looking forward to hosting the Bangalow CWA’s biggest morning tea for the Cancer Council. We have some rippa cakes. Some delicious scones. Heaps of raffles. And we are going to have fun!
Let’s frock up! Moller Pavilion in Bangalow on Thursday 21 May -10am-12pm! See you there! $10 cash on the door
This is my mum. When I look at her face and mine I see sadness. Here we are a year on from my Dad’s death in a car accident. A year on from escaping violence. No one ever came to help. No counselling. No support services. Just neatly folding up trauma and putting in our pockets like a crumpled secret only we knew was there.
My mum would have been 27 here.
She was a widow. A DV survivor left in debt who had to navigate poverty.
She was fierce and fragile and so committed to making a better life for us.
She herself hadn’t finished school. Was pregnant and married at 19. A widow at 26.
Somehow in the hardship she developed the most beautiful compassion and became the safe place for anyone in our community who was marginalised. I sat under the kitchen table playing with my dolls and I heard their stories. Her healing was to show love and kindness to others. Its the foundation of a sense of social justice in me that feels cellular.
She worked as a hairdresser in a country town. Later when she was 36 and I left home she went to university and studied community development. Later again she met and married my beautiful step dad Bill. Who I love as my own Dad.
Today I reflect on her story and the many women who are doing it tough. You are the true heroes.
Happy Mother’s Day xxx
Cranky woman’s Comedy club – Coorabell Hall 22 May. It’s not just a show it’s a bloody uprising! #coorabellhall #byronwomen #difficultwoman #bangalowwomen #menopausecomedy
This week I attended the 104th Annual General Meeting of the CWA of New South Wales in Forster.
 It was so awe inspiring to see this grassroots group in action - discussing over 50 proposed motions presented to and voted on by the delegates to become Policy for CWA.
It was my first State Conference - i spoke in support of Nimbin’s motion to advocate to NSW government for a Richmond Koala Park - which passed!
Our Bangalow Branch also got two motions on the floor which Zoe Gameau and I spoke to. One was to advocate to NSW government to lead national reform to give children the same protection under the law from any form of physical assault as adults. This was in response to evidence that shows a link between physical punishment and the likelihood of experiencing DV as either a victim or a perpetrator. The other was for access to evidence based parenting programs for all. We are delighted that these are both now policy of the NSW CWA !
This is a trusted organisation- so policy positions can make a difference when it comes to making change at a political level.
It was just such a brilliant experience to meet women from all over the state. To listen to their stories. To hear the issues that impact them. And to hear what they were proposing to make a difference. When you’re speaking to a room of 800 women, you really need to know your stuff!
This is the work of the CWA / yes we make scones and tea and we knit / but we also are a persuasive voice to decision makers - Working collaboratively with the core mission advocating for women and children.
This is the Bangalow CWA - they make bloody good scones and tea!
On Thursday 21 May they are hosting a biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council at the Moller Pavilion.
I will be the MC / there’s raffles and fab cakes. What could be better?
Cake, community and a little comedy!
It’s $10 - cash only / 9.30am for a 10am start.
Get a table together!
See you there!!!!
I am absolutely loving the Cranky Woman’s call to comedy action.
In June I am joined by my comedy colleague/ the incredible Jackie Loeb for a double header of diabolical hysteria!
With a show at Bello and Coffs / ticket links in the comments!
Here I am up at sparrow fart walking. So I can keep my cranky self strong and effective!
I have one spot left in my Cranky Woman’s Comedy Course on 17 May at Coorabell Hall as one woman had to drop out - she is very cranky about that!
So DM me and I will give you the link!
Are you a fruity mother? Some of us just aren’t your usual moms. We are quirky.  We’re not good at cooking. We forget to pick you up. Sometimes we complain. A lot. Because suffering isn’t something we particularly love.
 So if your mum or your’re a mum like me and you’d like something that celebrates your uniqueness then suggest the people who love you go to my website which is mandynolan.com.au - I have a cranky woman Comedy show coming up at Coorabell Hall,  workshops for women who want to try Comedy in Sydney and in Melbourne and some Womens writing workshops here in Mullumbimby/ I will put links in the comments!
Let’s just say that we are pregnant with possibility.
People say ‘wow Comedy it’s the hardest thing you can do.’
That’s totally not true. But as Comedians we often don’t want you to know that!
Being a Comedian and talking about yourself and the way you see life and finding a way to connect with other people is actually not as hard as you think.
And those skills that you develop in Comedy, they’re transferable to other aspects of your life.
I have a few spots left in my Comedy course with the Byron community college. It starts on Wednesday, the 13th of May. So if you’re interested, call 6684 3374 and register now.
Oh in this photo – it’s from a show I did in Byron at what was a venue called Catalina and it was the night before I gave  birth to my daughter who turns 31 this year. I’m pretty sure the message was about nuclear testing in the pacific. Although it’s relevant now as it ever was.
I am coming to the planting festival at Woodford this Friday to perform Comedy for empaths. It’s the only way to survive a world run by sociopaths. Laugh at them. It really upsets them. Truth bombs hurt! Tickets are still available at the planting festival.com. See you there.
Hey comedy lovers .. yeah I know I said I’d give up Comedy. And to be honest it’s harder than smoking. I’ve got a week up and then two and then I found I was making inappropriate jokes with strangers. At funerals. Or while getting a breast examination.
Which to me was a sign that I really wasn’t good at quitting. So I’m not doing as much Comedy but I’m still doing some.
So this week if you want to catch me, I’ll be at Kingscliff Bowling club on Wednesday night from 7 pm. The Ballina Rsl club 7 pm on Thursday (both free gigs) and then I’m at the planting in Woodford on Friday and Saturday main stage at the Mardi Grass Festival!.
