Ben Farinazzo | Dirrum Festival #CBR22
Ben’s story is one of courage, hope and the unconquerable human spirit.
Ben is a proud father, husband and Australian. He was born in Brisbane and has Aboriginal and Italian heritage. At age 16 he joined the Australian Defence Force as an Army Officer. In 1999, he deployed on active service as part of the International Force in East Timor. Following a decade in the military, he successfully transitioned to a civilian career and held several senior executive, CEO and board roles in Australia and offshore.
In 2015, he suffered significant mental and physical challenges. Over the next three years, he overcame seemly insurmountable odds as part of his inspiring journey to represent Australia at Invictus Games Sydney 2018. He battled post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and a broken neck and back to compete in indoor rowing and powerlifting. He had the crowd on their feet and then in tears as he won two gold medals and ran over to embrace his family.
Today, Ben is an Ambassador for Australia Day, Lifeline, Soldier On, Kookaburra Kids and other charitable organisations. He continues to be a passionate advocate for mental health, wounded veterans and the healing power of sport.
https://www.benfarinazzo.com/
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#dirrumfestivalCBR 2022
Illuminate | 6 August 2022
Dirrum Festival is a festival organised by students at Radford College, Canberra. The theme of this year's festival was Illuminate, where we aimed to shed light and bring attention to issues that aren't talked about enough.
For more information about #dirrumfestivalCBR 2022, visit https://dirrumfestival.org/cbr22
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#dirrumfestival is an artefact of Dirrum Dirrum, a movement encouraging young people’s engagement in service to the common good.
Dirrum Dirrum is a way of seeing others and ourselves bound in respectful relationship, standing in a wide circle of compassionate engagement. It acknowledges a common ground and is an active choice for life beyond the smallness of self-interest. Dirrum Dirrum is the sound of red in Ngunnawal language: the colour of blood and earth.
For more information about Dirrum Dirrum, visit https://dirrumdirrum.org/about
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