Hi,
 

Happy spring! 🌼 We have a blooming good edition (see what I did there…) of inspiring, informative and hopeful stories.
 

Let's start with a question. I'll give you the answer later, but here's something to ponder as you work through today's newsletter: What's the value of working dogs to Australia's economy?
 

Go on, have a guess. 🐶
 

Congratulations to Sophie Cape for winning a major landscape painting prize. Sophie's story is amazing. She was once an elite athlete who turned to art after catastrophic injuries brought an end to her sporting career. 🎨
 

If you're curious about Sophie's life, I'd recommend getting a cuppa and watching this 2017 ABC Australian Story episode.
 

Australian Story also recently featured a truly inspiring story called Small Wonders about a community-led project to build small homes for women at risk of homelessness. 🏡
 

And here is another example of an innovative purpose-built co-housing project in Canberra.
 

"Don't talk yourself into old age." That's Tim Looker's outlook on life. The 74-year-old has just gained his law degree and isn't retiring any time soon as he wants to help others. 🎓

Can public art be good for the public's health? A nagging suspicion's led to a study.
 

A cultural shift is underway, with more women taking on roles traditionally favoured by men. Meet the boss who thinks addressing the imbalance makes teams safer, stronger and more effective.
 

Meet the Broken Hill man running 1,132km to raise money to help fight Angelman syndrome. 🏃‍♂️
 

Charlie Maher has become the first Indigenous man to complete all seven major world marathons, and he's been an inspiration to others along the way.
 

And talking of marathons, did you hear about the three Scots who paddled their way to Australia? (Spoiler alert: It took 139 days, but not from Scotland.) 🚣
 

Now, the value of working dogs — if you guessed $3 billion, well done! And read on….
 

Thanks for joining me on the Bright Side. 🌟
 

Sabra