NEIL: In 2020 we decided to move, come to country Victoria, Bendigo. InLife organised the caring team and then I had a Zoom meeting with all the carers up here, which was great. So I got to see their face before I moved up here and introduced myself, which was really, really good.
So, you know, with InLife, it's about creating possibilities for other people, and they created a possibility for us to be able to move centrally, come up the country, and that was the biggest thing for Majella was wondering if I was getting the same amount of care, and the good care in the country as I was getting in Melbourne.
I've got Huia, who is the chef and she looks after my food habits and then I've got Caity, who is a personal trainer.
HUIA: I actually didn't realise who Neil was I didn't realise that Neil was a baker and I have been a chef for years and so I feel like we've been brought together.
NEIL: This is my beautiful daughter Octavia.
OCTAVIA: This is my dad, Neil
NEIL: It's this support To your family and to yourself and knowing that things will get done and knowing that you're safe and that you can move forward and do day-to-day stuff And get to all your appointments.
InLife was put on to me when I was in hospital. So when I had my struggles in hospital for 11 months, I never thought that I'd be coming out having someone with me all day. But, you know, I'm lucky I did because the support has been unbelievable.
And going to my chiropractor the chiropractor said the best thing back for the brain is to oxygenate the tissues and getting my muscles back to being strong again and also getting a good body for my wife.
Because I've been to a lot of psychologists and counsellors and they said your rehabilitation involves being joyful in what you do. So I said, go home and learn to do something that brings you joy.
So the cookies bring me joy. Being a chef has to come from the heart. Like I said, so I've been doing the online Zoom baking class. I just love teaching people about cooking and there's more than one way of teaching. It's about having fun and making sure that they feel included.
I love to answer questions anything about cooking or baking. So if you've got any random questions on which chocolates or flours or butters to use, I just love answering it.
Letting people know how to do it, you've got to gel straight away and you either do or you don't. With Huia, I did, which was good because we both hold the same cooking language.
HUIA: Both got the same brains.
NEIL: We're honest, which is good, but it's just nice. Going around chatting to the owners of the businesses.
HUIA: We know exactly what each other's thinking, we'll go there today sort of thing, and we're in there.
NEIL: InLife have always been all over it. Like they said to me, if you don't feel comfortable with someone. So I don't want to be around someone I can't talk to and I feel all the InLife people I've been able to talk to openly they've got it, you know, because they know where I'm coming from.
But the thing about InLife people is, I think, they push you but not to extreme like they'll want to do stuff. Sometimes I need that, to be pushed to rebuild me, takes a good team. And of course, you know, to get that good team you've got to believe and create yourself.
I'm very happy with the with the care that I'm getting. I never thought that I'd be working next to another chef. And I've got a beautiful wife and beautiful daughter. So, you know, I'm blessed.