Post by Wayne Hall on Dec 24, 2022 1:53:53 GMT -5
rumble.com/v21eqta-claire-boan-the-port-adelaide-mayor-who-is-still-vaccine-injured-interview-.html
Michael: Here we are and here we go.
Claire: I'm Claire. I'm the mayor of Port Adelaide-Enfield. Just been re-elected actually so I've got another four years in this job.
Michael: And how does that feel being re-elected?
Claire: Oh, it was really excellent actually. I really love representing the community but it was a very difficult process for me because of being so unwell. I wasn't sure I was able to do the job. And so when we were going through the process of "Do I nominate? Don't I nominate?" And I love the job, it was really tricky actually. Anyway, I was elected unopposed and I'm really grateful for this opportunity to represent the community for another four years, and I'll do that same disclaimer I did last time, which is I am speaking on behalf of myself, Claire. Definitely nothing to do with the Council in any of these discussions but also I'm aware of my position but it's..... I'm speaking on behalf of myself.
Michael: Now we did an interview with you last time we were here, which was about four or five months ago? And it was somewhere around here.
Claire: Yes. A couple of k's down the road.
Michael: And so, I'm going to put the link up to that so people can see that previous interview. And you were vaccine-injured then.
Claire: Yes.
Michael: Quite a high-profile vaccine-injured person. How has it been since then?
Claire: Since then....I can't remember what month it was but it was warm - I remember that - so it must have been before winter. Oh look, it's been up and down. And I never say to someone I'm better because I'm definitely....oh, I say I'm better but I'm not as I was before. I've still got a long road ahead, I believe. I've had better health and then had a massive relapse after deciding to take a holiday. It turned out it probably wasn't the best thing, and it was a really difficult time because I had to go back to the place I was before so I had to.....
Michael: Can I stop you. When you say "relapse" can you explain what the relapse was like?
Claire: Yes. So it was like my heart began having the racy tachykardia again and I had two more trips to hospital in ambulance. Which was interesting in itself because there was a nurse there who.....she overheard because every time I say I'm vaccine-injured or Pfizer-injured I know what I need: you need to give me a drip and the process to go through and she raced over and said "No-one ever talks about vaccines in here any more. What's going on?" And she said: "I've seen your video." And she instantly wanted to come and chat with me and connect, because obviously of the work you've been doing through Cafe Locked Out and the empowering that you've created, Michael, through you and your team of people to have a voice. So I'm sure she'd want to say "thank you" for the work you've done in that space as well.
Michael: I hate to say it: there's lots of people vaccine-injured. I'm meeting them all the time. From minor things like - I think its tintinnabulation where they can't.... it never stops... to all manner of things and none of it has been addressed.
Claire: No, and I guess at this point I hope that no more sufferings are had on those people who have already had something that we then....you know, done with it and then we can move forward because it's been such a difficult road for so many of us: mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, you name it. It's been a really tough road. And when you see all the posts that people put up on Jab Injuries Australia as well as the work that you're doing, as well as the work that the politicians are doing in this space, and it's been tough. So I think before when I met with you I hadn't been diagnosed with anything, because I found it really hard to get the specific tests, I guess. So eventually I was able to get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of my chest region, and it came back that I did have pericarditis. And the doctors and cardiologists have acknowledged verbally that I had myocarditis, so it wasn't made up in my brain, even though there were times when I kept thinking that maybe it was. And I was told that maybe it was. It was definitely something real, and I'm still now yet to find out where I'm up to in that stage in that recovery, while I'm still suffering a few of the other ailments as well.
Michael: You had both?
Claire: I did have both. Yes, which... It goes to show, I guess, I didn't fit the usual category that people decided to put people into, that it was going to be young men that were going to suffer that. I'm in every right a female but obviously my fitness at the time must have done something there I guess.
Michael: People have been affected by this. There's no getting away from it. We see it all the time. What is the difference between them both. I believe the first one, pericarditis, can heal itself. Is that true?
Claire: Yes, that's my understanding. I mean, it took a lot longer. They always said it will take a month or two but it took me at least six months to really get over those really acute pains that I was having. They are rare now but there's still something that's not right. Yes, as we say: people know their bodies and there is still something that is just not right and I know that I have to get a good balance.
Michael: So, you are cautious when you exercise now or you're constantly....do you feel like you are walking around with a time bomb waiting to go off?
Claire: Yes, it's probably more the second. I actually don't exercise. I celebrated my first ten thousand steps the other day. It was the first time I made it to that since being unwell. In the past I would easily have done that by lunch time.
Michael: You were a fitness freak, weren't you?
Claire: Yes, not excessive but I enjoyed exercising. I loved walking and riding my bike and going to the gym a few times a week. That was how I would relieve stress, I guess, and get out and connect with people and through that enjoy our beautiful environment that we live in. And yes, I haven't been able to do that. I'm yet to be able to go for a nice walk on the beach. We were stupid and somehow we got a puppy over this time as well, which we thought would help the kids because they have been suffering a lot emotionally through all of this, but I'm not sure it was the best decision to make. But yes, I'm yet to even take her for a walk on the beach. It's not quite where I am at in my capacity for the day yet.
Michael: Now the myocarditis is different. And do you know how much damage there has been?
Claire: No. And I don't know that yet, which is probably part of the frustration. I don't actually have a complete diagnosis around that. It's just been a verbal acknowledgement that this has happened. Yes, it's really hard to get the answers, to be able to then move forward and progress and enjoy the recovery process I guess and feel trusting that the recovery is actually happening.
Michael: Why do you think it is hard?
Claire: I think a big part is probably the lack of acknowledgement. There are people who obviously do and they are so active in the community, really, trying to make things clearer and insure that people are actually expressing that this has happened to people, but because there hasn't been a societal-wide acceptance that this was probably not the best decision to make and yes there are a lot of people injured, it's just starting to get quiet now, and I think that's probably part of it.
Michael: Now we're talking about it, just before we started, if you look at history, the men who came back from World War I, a lot of them were injured, and people didn't want to know. So it's human nature to move on and put these people under the rug. You guys are here, and you took it in good faith and there are injured people all over Australia. And you were saying before, not so much compensation: you prefer acknowledgement is the fist way to heal this rift.
Claire: Yes, I think so. I think it would be really helpful, and that comes from all levels of society acknowledge that "You know what? Maybe we were wrong and even if people didn't purposely bring this on others, there was a mistake made, and I think that would help considerably in people's healing process. It may not physically heal them but with the mental and emotional healing it would have to go a long way because if that acknowledgement came, then all sorts of other things could follow, but I think that's probably what people are scared of. As soon as that acknowledgement is made then there is a lot of other ripple-on effects that would need to happen because of that.
Michael: Are you angry at all?
Claire: I've gone through anger, absolutely. I don't think I'm there now. I'm frustrated at times because it does just seem to be disappearing and the rest of us who are left behind with ailments are really suffering through it, and I know this happened like you said with people who have suffered post-traumatic stress with the war. Many other injuries that people have had that weren't actually brought on by their own decision, and that's difficult, and I have a huge amount more empathy for people who are experiencing those things now. So you've got to look at the good that comes from the bad and I guess that's something absolutely in my role that I'm able to now see that "Gosh, there are people out there suffering tremendously" that I just really didn't understand before but after being through it myself, being through some really tough times, I can definitely relate with that now.
Michael: What are some of the other ailments that you are suffering you said apart from the two with the heart?
Claire: Yes, it's hard to know whether it is the heart that has caused some of these things. There is definitely a chronic fatigue that occurs if I do too much and I just get wiped out and have to spend the afternoon in bed. So I'm trying to manage my days. I'm still able to do my job, which is fantastic. I just do it differently. I can't be out in heat and that really knocks me around a lot, and I'm not quite sure what's causing that, but people who have had different sorts of immune issues have said that that is something that they suffer from. Someone I was talking with recently said that they can't get warm. They are constantly cold now since having Pfizer so we sort of have had an opposite effect, which was interesting. And another one is still getting some brain fog type things when I'm doing too much, and noise stimulations if I'm in really busy places and if my kids are yelling and screaming in another room I just find that becomes a lot more overwhelming than what things used to before. And maybe that's part of the stress and maybe that's part of the mental process that I'm still working through. Maybe it's physical. I also have had period issues. I'm still working through those as well and hoping that.... hoping ....
Michael: Do you know that's an interesting thing there. We .... I asked Drahana my partner "Can you do a story about that because I'm getting approached. They want to talk. And she had, like, 50,000 people approaching her, not to talk but saying...."Yes, I'm having...." It's rampant. And no-one is talking. The same with men and their testicles. There's swelling, and the don't want to talk about it. I just feel that talking about it doesn't mean that the Pfizer doesn't work. But it means that there are significant problems with it. And it's still a trial. I hate to say it but that's the limit: 2023. And if it comes to a trial are you being....like are they assessing you to find out what went wrong? Any acknowledgement in that way from the company?
Claire: No. That's interesting, isn't it? That there could be a whole lot of data gathering, I guess, at this point to be able to see how we actually assist people and rectify any mistakes for any future MRNA jabs that might come through. And to the best of my knowledge nothing has been talked about from that side of things. But that could be incredible. You could have huge amounts of people giving their information I think to be able to assist that, as much as we hate being the guinea pigs in the trial.
Michael: If you are the guinea pig, at least by acknowledging these mistakes there is some purpose to what you went through.
Claire: Yes, that's a good point. That's true. I hate the point, but it's true.
Michael: They're building MRNA factories. They want a ton of these things. But say a plane falls out of the sky. We call out planes until we find out what went wrong. And currently - I'm interviewing two doctors today. And they're saying it's the equivalent of a plane falling out of the sky every two weeks. And no-one is talking about it. Except for us.
Claire: Yes. Gosh. Good point. And the whole risk-assessment side of things.... Yes, I'm not sure if that has been done. It's not something I'm usually heavily into. The whole risk and audit situation is not my cup of tea. But in this situation it's absolutely something that should be in the front of people's minds. Yes, it's pretty tricky I think.
Michael: You are higher profile than most people with vaccine injury. How are you being treated by the community: family and friends and stuff like that?
Claire: Yes, I was actually about to say that: it's quite amazing. I think the video that you put out last time must have reached quite far and then a few of the social media posts that I've put up. The community has been absolutely amazingly supportive. I'm sure there are people out there who don't agree and find it quite challenging to hear the story. It's been amazing to be surrounded by people who have acknowledged and surrounded themselves and people who haven't wanted to get the jab and have come up and said "thank you". The community I think have taken on board the fact that I have made it pretty clear through this time, not only with the jab but also with other decisions that I am part of that I will be trustworthy and I will be honest, and sometimes that hurts. Sometimes it's hard telling people the truth and they don't like hearing it. But I must do that in my job. I knew it before but this has made it so much clearer to me. I did an opening speech when I was re-elected which basically said that: that our job is to be honest and trustworthy and that's what I will do and the person I will be.
Michael: And they voted you in, which shows that they are applauding you. They are backing you.
Claire: Yes, yes. I guess so.
Michael: Was it brutal, the election? Were your opposition.....
Claire: I was elected unopposed, and that was part of it, I guess, that no-one else actually put their hand up for the job.
Michael: Why was that?
Claire: Well, it could be all sorts of things. Some people have said "Because you did a great job, Claire". And I think "Oh, some people might think it's because the job is nuts and no-one else would want to put their hand up. But I might have to just take it and say thank you to the people who have supported me through all of this time. Not only the last four years but absolutely this last year of really difficult times, where I haven't been able to perform my work to the best of my ability. But now I can and I'm ready to come back and do a really good job of it.
Michael: Do you think from small councils - because I've interviewed people from all over Australia now running for council rather than the federal election that they lost, and some of them are getting in, all over Australia - do you think the council is somewhere where we can really have positive change, that will actually creep up?
Claire: Yes, and that's a really interesting thing above government, right? We have three tiers of government, and we also have the community. And the local government is absolutely the closest to the community that we can get and we are doing a really good job of it and I say that quite openly that I think we're doing a fantastic job of connecting with community and hearing voices. We make ourselves available to them and from here we can only get better, can't we, surely. And if our voice can actually be reflective of the voice of the community rather than reflective of other tiers of government, then I think that we can make some really positive changes.
Michael: Another question. I'll move towards the third act here. How has your view of life changed? Because you were a very positive person when I met you. You said you never got down and you're always forward. But you've been tested. Everything about you has been tested. How have you changed from the person previous to the vaccine to the person I'm talking to now?
Claire: Oh, my husband would say that I am grumpy. I did a period of time where I did some intermittent fasting for the last couple of months and that's actually helped me a lot. I'm having quite an increase in my abilities and so I would definitely advocate for that. I'll get back on it after Christmas.
Michael: I've heard some alternative therapies work as well, which I'm not going to mention here. I've heard they are very effective.
Claire: I've also been doing many of those and they've been very effective also so I can definitely advocate for that. So yes, I would say I'm probably a bit more pokey. I don't want to.....
Michael: What do you mean by "pokey"? I don't know that term....
Claire: Well, I don't....I just do a little bit more....I'll speak up a little bit more, I think, whereas before I'd do that quietly behind the scenes and now I'm actually just going "No, well I don't think that's right. I'm going to say something." It's not my personality to be provocative or in people's faces at all, but I'm also not going to be quiet about things that I think are really important, so that's - I guess - what I mean by "pokey". I might just piss people off that little bit more than I would before because I don't want to accept just the first answer just because that's the one that people give. I want to ask those deeper questions, I guess.
Michael: Wouldn't that be a great thing for a leader, though? I mean you can't have a leader who is frightened of confrontation. And I don't mean yelling and screaming. You can't have one who is frightened of that, and that is a form of confrontation.
Claire: Yes, that's so true. And being respectful, there is definitely a way to do it. I want to continue to be highly respectful toward all people that I relate with in every way, unless they are abusive towards me and then I might reconsider my take on that. But yes I would say that I have changed in that way. I still want to be a positive person but there are days when I am not. There are definitely times when I am not positive at all, but....
Michael: You are human.
Claire: Yes. It turns out that I am. Before I would just never have days that are down, but I do have them sometimes, and that's OK and I'm actually OK with that now, whereas before I would find that really a difficult character trait that I didn't have before.
Michael: Is there any positives to them, like when you're down? Any deeper soul-searching or anything you can take from it that's positive?
Claire: I guess....
Michael: Like poetry.
Claire: I don't write poetry. That would be amazing. I wish I was a wordsmith like that. I had taken up writing little bits and pieces through the really tough times. I'd write down some of my thoughts to that I could just have them down rather than have them just circulating in my mind, just about the world, I guess. I don't know. I'm a bit more of a talker as you can probably tell here as well, that I much prefer to relate to people and chat through things and hear other people's point of view and not just conclude with "what I'm saying is right" but actually have a really good rigorous conversation around it, and change my mind if that's the case. That's OK as well. I'm OK with that.
Michael: To end on two big questions. No, three big questions: 1. I believe that the quality of our culture, or our identity, has been seriously challenged. To who we were before and who we are now. And who do you think, or what do you think, if we had a vision of who we should be as Australians, what would your vision be?
Claire: I just love.... I do citizenship ceremonies. I lead the new Australians. I can't think off the top of my head all of the words but it's about ....it's the words in the Constitution that says we're going to do these things as Australians. What are they? I should have looked them up. But they're really important words that when I'm standing out the front. This is what we should be, it's about respecting one another. It's all about expecting that we'll have a different point of view and that's OK. It's really hard, it's been really hard for the last year to read those words knowing that that's not actually what's necessarily occurring out there.
Michael: That's right. It's like the national anthem. The national anthem at the moment is a lie because we're not one.
Claire: They're beautiful words. They are stunning words.
Michael: More beautiful now because it's not true.
Claire: Yes, and that should cause all of us to reflect on... Hang on, is this actually what is going on now? I'm not sure that it is. I think we are just saying the words. But I would hope that that's what our country comes back to because those words are...... they're beautiful. They are really stunning and....
Michael: Something there. Your words "back to". I feel that one thing humans never do is go backwards. It's very rare. We're a forward-thinking species. And we move forward, good or bad. One of the things we've been challenged on, and I ask everyone this. And I even asked Senator Antic and he really struggled with it: how would you define freedom to an Australian? You know, as an Australian....I'm an Australian. I've got freedom. And a North Korean said: "What do you mean?" How would you define the freedom we grew up with?
Claire: That's one of the phrases actually: freedom of speech. It's hard when you're in government because there are particular freedoms that we could be seen to be taking away from people in one regard, I guess, but it is also there to create other freedoms for other people, so this very difficult space that we can't have a place with absolutely no rules and absolutely no anything that creates what might be perceived to one person freedom but be completely constricting to others. So it is a very difficult thing to be able to articulate, isn't it?
Michael: Aren't difficult conversations what we expect our leaders to have?
Claire: Yes, yes. And I think this question is fantastic because it actually would cause each of us to reflect. You and I would have a different view on what freedom actually means. And that's OK.
Michael: I'll tell you mine, to give you a base. I think freedom of choice and freedom of speech - if you have those tools, and it's up to you to use them. You don't have to use them, but they are there if you use them. If you use them well - and I mean do no harm: I don't mean, like, shout out Nazi propaganda - but freedom of speech, like you said, to question, if you use those, they allow us and our children a third freedom, which can't be granted, which is the freedom to be yourself. And I think, as you do these welcoming ceremonies for people from overseas, people from other countries don't come here to open milk bars. They come here to be themselves because in their country they are not allowed to be. And I think that's the beauty of Australia and that's what we're in the process of losing if we're not incredibly vigilant. So that's my view of freedom.
Claire: Yes, I think that's pretty much spot on. I think....
Michael: That's lazy. You can't just do that. You've got to have a rigorous debate.
Claire: No, I think you're right. For people to be able to come out and feel like they can just express themselves shouldn't be something that is seen as a privilege. It should be seen as something that is a right to actually have in their own selves. But I guess over the last year it's been hard to know who you can connect with and have a conversation with and I have wanted to - I've made it really clear that this should not divide our country. This is what has actually happened. Our community has been divided over this topic and I think slowly people are maybe coming back together on a regular community level . But there is still this overarching thing that is hanging over those of us who have been hurt in one way or another, whether it's injury or loss of job. Whatever it is.
Michael: And those who haven't taken it. There is - you hear it in the language - we won't get into politics but Dutton came out with some incredible language recently where basically he is challenging anyone who challenges the government is a threat. And I think this is very dangerous language in a time when I feel now we have a division it's easier to heal the division now than it is if we ignore it and it grows deeper.
Claire: And just like the leaders made decisions to created all sorts of restrictions twelve months ago and before that, it's now their responsibility to come and start that next conversations, and as leaders we have to begin those tough conversations. I do it almost every day in my own job, but we have to be the ones to start those conversations so that the people feel they can also be part of them, and that's leading with an open heart I guess in the conversations so we're not dictating what it is we think but that we are at least provoking that conversation so everyone can participate. It doesn't completely answer your question on what's freedom but I love that that is still hanging there because I'll be thinking on that for a while because there are so many different levels of freedom out there that people have views on.
Michael: I just feel that if we can define it, then we can build a better Australia upon that foundation. That's our core belief. That doesn't change. And at the moment that core belief is found out to be false. That's only a thought of mine anyway.
Claire: I think constitutionally we've probably got it right and if we go back to that, and we actually practise what's there already, I think we'll probably be all right.
Michael: I think they were pretty clever whoever wrote it. Is there anything else you would like to say or get off your chest while you are here?
Claire: I guess just a massive thank you to those who have connected. It's astounding how many people have connected with me since the video and over this time and have supported me and supported others. There are so many people out there as you've said, and we need a lot of love and we need a lot of support, and that'd not just from those who are injured but those who have been hurt in other ways. Keep on supporting one another because that's the best we can do.
Michael: Usually I finish by asking "where's the hope"? But I'm going to say now, and I've never said this: "You're the hope!" You are absolutely a beacon of hope. It's a pleasure to meet you again. Thank you for doing this interview.
Claire: Thank you very much Michael.
Freedom is my soul's wings.
Australians were born to fly.
Michael: Here we are and here we go.
Claire: I'm Claire. I'm the mayor of Port Adelaide-Enfield. Just been re-elected actually so I've got another four years in this job.
Michael: And how does that feel being re-elected?
Claire: Oh, it was really excellent actually. I really love representing the community but it was a very difficult process for me because of being so unwell. I wasn't sure I was able to do the job. And so when we were going through the process of "Do I nominate? Don't I nominate?" And I love the job, it was really tricky actually. Anyway, I was elected unopposed and I'm really grateful for this opportunity to represent the community for another four years, and I'll do that same disclaimer I did last time, which is I am speaking on behalf of myself, Claire. Definitely nothing to do with the Council in any of these discussions but also I'm aware of my position but it's..... I'm speaking on behalf of myself.
Michael: Now we did an interview with you last time we were here, which was about four or five months ago? And it was somewhere around here.
Claire: Yes. A couple of k's down the road.
Michael: And so, I'm going to put the link up to that so people can see that previous interview. And you were vaccine-injured then.
Claire: Yes.
Michael: Quite a high-profile vaccine-injured person. How has it been since then?
Claire: Since then....I can't remember what month it was but it was warm - I remember that - so it must have been before winter. Oh look, it's been up and down. And I never say to someone I'm better because I'm definitely....oh, I say I'm better but I'm not as I was before. I've still got a long road ahead, I believe. I've had better health and then had a massive relapse after deciding to take a holiday. It turned out it probably wasn't the best thing, and it was a really difficult time because I had to go back to the place I was before so I had to.....
Michael: Can I stop you. When you say "relapse" can you explain what the relapse was like?
Claire: Yes. So it was like my heart began having the racy tachykardia again and I had two more trips to hospital in ambulance. Which was interesting in itself because there was a nurse there who.....she overheard because every time I say I'm vaccine-injured or Pfizer-injured I know what I need: you need to give me a drip and the process to go through and she raced over and said "No-one ever talks about vaccines in here any more. What's going on?" And she said: "I've seen your video." And she instantly wanted to come and chat with me and connect, because obviously of the work you've been doing through Cafe Locked Out and the empowering that you've created, Michael, through you and your team of people to have a voice. So I'm sure she'd want to say "thank you" for the work you've done in that space as well.
Michael: I hate to say it: there's lots of people vaccine-injured. I'm meeting them all the time. From minor things like - I think its tintinnabulation where they can't.... it never stops... to all manner of things and none of it has been addressed.
Claire: No, and I guess at this point I hope that no more sufferings are had on those people who have already had something that we then....you know, done with it and then we can move forward because it's been such a difficult road for so many of us: mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, you name it. It's been a really tough road. And when you see all the posts that people put up on Jab Injuries Australia as well as the work that you're doing, as well as the work that the politicians are doing in this space, and it's been tough. So I think before when I met with you I hadn't been diagnosed with anything, because I found it really hard to get the specific tests, I guess. So eventually I was able to get an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of my chest region, and it came back that I did have pericarditis. And the doctors and cardiologists have acknowledged verbally that I had myocarditis, so it wasn't made up in my brain, even though there were times when I kept thinking that maybe it was. And I was told that maybe it was. It was definitely something real, and I'm still now yet to find out where I'm up to in that stage in that recovery, while I'm still suffering a few of the other ailments as well.
Michael: You had both?
Claire: I did have both. Yes, which... It goes to show, I guess, I didn't fit the usual category that people decided to put people into, that it was going to be young men that were going to suffer that. I'm in every right a female but obviously my fitness at the time must have done something there I guess.
Michael: People have been affected by this. There's no getting away from it. We see it all the time. What is the difference between them both. I believe the first one, pericarditis, can heal itself. Is that true?
Claire: Yes, that's my understanding. I mean, it took a lot longer. They always said it will take a month or two but it took me at least six months to really get over those really acute pains that I was having. They are rare now but there's still something that's not right. Yes, as we say: people know their bodies and there is still something that is just not right and I know that I have to get a good balance.
Michael: So, you are cautious when you exercise now or you're constantly....do you feel like you are walking around with a time bomb waiting to go off?
Claire: Yes, it's probably more the second. I actually don't exercise. I celebrated my first ten thousand steps the other day. It was the first time I made it to that since being unwell. In the past I would easily have done that by lunch time.
Michael: You were a fitness freak, weren't you?
Claire: Yes, not excessive but I enjoyed exercising. I loved walking and riding my bike and going to the gym a few times a week. That was how I would relieve stress, I guess, and get out and connect with people and through that enjoy our beautiful environment that we live in. And yes, I haven't been able to do that. I'm yet to be able to go for a nice walk on the beach. We were stupid and somehow we got a puppy over this time as well, which we thought would help the kids because they have been suffering a lot emotionally through all of this, but I'm not sure it was the best decision to make. But yes, I'm yet to even take her for a walk on the beach. It's not quite where I am at in my capacity for the day yet.
Michael: Now the myocarditis is different. And do you know how much damage there has been?
Claire: No. And I don't know that yet, which is probably part of the frustration. I don't actually have a complete diagnosis around that. It's just been a verbal acknowledgement that this has happened. Yes, it's really hard to get the answers, to be able to then move forward and progress and enjoy the recovery process I guess and feel trusting that the recovery is actually happening.
Michael: Why do you think it is hard?
Claire: I think a big part is probably the lack of acknowledgement. There are people who obviously do and they are so active in the community, really, trying to make things clearer and insure that people are actually expressing that this has happened to people, but because there hasn't been a societal-wide acceptance that this was probably not the best decision to make and yes there are a lot of people injured, it's just starting to get quiet now, and I think that's probably part of it.
Michael: Now we're talking about it, just before we started, if you look at history, the men who came back from World War I, a lot of them were injured, and people didn't want to know. So it's human nature to move on and put these people under the rug. You guys are here, and you took it in good faith and there are injured people all over Australia. And you were saying before, not so much compensation: you prefer acknowledgement is the fist way to heal this rift.
Claire: Yes, I think so. I think it would be really helpful, and that comes from all levels of society acknowledge that "You know what? Maybe we were wrong and even if people didn't purposely bring this on others, there was a mistake made, and I think that would help considerably in people's healing process. It may not physically heal them but with the mental and emotional healing it would have to go a long way because if that acknowledgement came, then all sorts of other things could follow, but I think that's probably what people are scared of. As soon as that acknowledgement is made then there is a lot of other ripple-on effects that would need to happen because of that.
Michael: Are you angry at all?
Claire: I've gone through anger, absolutely. I don't think I'm there now. I'm frustrated at times because it does just seem to be disappearing and the rest of us who are left behind with ailments are really suffering through it, and I know this happened like you said with people who have suffered post-traumatic stress with the war. Many other injuries that people have had that weren't actually brought on by their own decision, and that's difficult, and I have a huge amount more empathy for people who are experiencing those things now. So you've got to look at the good that comes from the bad and I guess that's something absolutely in my role that I'm able to now see that "Gosh, there are people out there suffering tremendously" that I just really didn't understand before but after being through it myself, being through some really tough times, I can definitely relate with that now.
Michael: What are some of the other ailments that you are suffering you said apart from the two with the heart?
Claire: Yes, it's hard to know whether it is the heart that has caused some of these things. There is definitely a chronic fatigue that occurs if I do too much and I just get wiped out and have to spend the afternoon in bed. So I'm trying to manage my days. I'm still able to do my job, which is fantastic. I just do it differently. I can't be out in heat and that really knocks me around a lot, and I'm not quite sure what's causing that, but people who have had different sorts of immune issues have said that that is something that they suffer from. Someone I was talking with recently said that they can't get warm. They are constantly cold now since having Pfizer so we sort of have had an opposite effect, which was interesting. And another one is still getting some brain fog type things when I'm doing too much, and noise stimulations if I'm in really busy places and if my kids are yelling and screaming in another room I just find that becomes a lot more overwhelming than what things used to before. And maybe that's part of the stress and maybe that's part of the mental process that I'm still working through. Maybe it's physical. I also have had period issues. I'm still working through those as well and hoping that.... hoping ....
Michael: Do you know that's an interesting thing there. We .... I asked Drahana my partner "Can you do a story about that because I'm getting approached. They want to talk. And she had, like, 50,000 people approaching her, not to talk but saying...."Yes, I'm having...." It's rampant. And no-one is talking. The same with men and their testicles. There's swelling, and the don't want to talk about it. I just feel that talking about it doesn't mean that the Pfizer doesn't work. But it means that there are significant problems with it. And it's still a trial. I hate to say it but that's the limit: 2023. And if it comes to a trial are you being....like are they assessing you to find out what went wrong? Any acknowledgement in that way from the company?
Claire: No. That's interesting, isn't it? That there could be a whole lot of data gathering, I guess, at this point to be able to see how we actually assist people and rectify any mistakes for any future MRNA jabs that might come through. And to the best of my knowledge nothing has been talked about from that side of things. But that could be incredible. You could have huge amounts of people giving their information I think to be able to assist that, as much as we hate being the guinea pigs in the trial.
Michael: If you are the guinea pig, at least by acknowledging these mistakes there is some purpose to what you went through.
Claire: Yes, that's a good point. That's true. I hate the point, but it's true.
Michael: They're building MRNA factories. They want a ton of these things. But say a plane falls out of the sky. We call out planes until we find out what went wrong. And currently - I'm interviewing two doctors today. And they're saying it's the equivalent of a plane falling out of the sky every two weeks. And no-one is talking about it. Except for us.
Claire: Yes. Gosh. Good point. And the whole risk-assessment side of things.... Yes, I'm not sure if that has been done. It's not something I'm usually heavily into. The whole risk and audit situation is not my cup of tea. But in this situation it's absolutely something that should be in the front of people's minds. Yes, it's pretty tricky I think.
Michael: You are higher profile than most people with vaccine injury. How are you being treated by the community: family and friends and stuff like that?
Claire: Yes, I was actually about to say that: it's quite amazing. I think the video that you put out last time must have reached quite far and then a few of the social media posts that I've put up. The community has been absolutely amazingly supportive. I'm sure there are people out there who don't agree and find it quite challenging to hear the story. It's been amazing to be surrounded by people who have acknowledged and surrounded themselves and people who haven't wanted to get the jab and have come up and said "thank you". The community I think have taken on board the fact that I have made it pretty clear through this time, not only with the jab but also with other decisions that I am part of that I will be trustworthy and I will be honest, and sometimes that hurts. Sometimes it's hard telling people the truth and they don't like hearing it. But I must do that in my job. I knew it before but this has made it so much clearer to me. I did an opening speech when I was re-elected which basically said that: that our job is to be honest and trustworthy and that's what I will do and the person I will be.
Michael: And they voted you in, which shows that they are applauding you. They are backing you.
Claire: Yes, yes. I guess so.
Michael: Was it brutal, the election? Were your opposition.....
Claire: I was elected unopposed, and that was part of it, I guess, that no-one else actually put their hand up for the job.
Michael: Why was that?
Claire: Well, it could be all sorts of things. Some people have said "Because you did a great job, Claire". And I think "Oh, some people might think it's because the job is nuts and no-one else would want to put their hand up. But I might have to just take it and say thank you to the people who have supported me through all of this time. Not only the last four years but absolutely this last year of really difficult times, where I haven't been able to perform my work to the best of my ability. But now I can and I'm ready to come back and do a really good job of it.
Michael: Do you think from small councils - because I've interviewed people from all over Australia now running for council rather than the federal election that they lost, and some of them are getting in, all over Australia - do you think the council is somewhere where we can really have positive change, that will actually creep up?
Claire: Yes, and that's a really interesting thing above government, right? We have three tiers of government, and we also have the community. And the local government is absolutely the closest to the community that we can get and we are doing a really good job of it and I say that quite openly that I think we're doing a fantastic job of connecting with community and hearing voices. We make ourselves available to them and from here we can only get better, can't we, surely. And if our voice can actually be reflective of the voice of the community rather than reflective of other tiers of government, then I think that we can make some really positive changes.
Michael: Another question. I'll move towards the third act here. How has your view of life changed? Because you were a very positive person when I met you. You said you never got down and you're always forward. But you've been tested. Everything about you has been tested. How have you changed from the person previous to the vaccine to the person I'm talking to now?
Claire: Oh, my husband would say that I am grumpy. I did a period of time where I did some intermittent fasting for the last couple of months and that's actually helped me a lot. I'm having quite an increase in my abilities and so I would definitely advocate for that. I'll get back on it after Christmas.
Michael: I've heard some alternative therapies work as well, which I'm not going to mention here. I've heard they are very effective.
Claire: I've also been doing many of those and they've been very effective also so I can definitely advocate for that. So yes, I would say I'm probably a bit more pokey. I don't want to.....
Michael: What do you mean by "pokey"? I don't know that term....
Claire: Well, I don't....I just do a little bit more....I'll speak up a little bit more, I think, whereas before I'd do that quietly behind the scenes and now I'm actually just going "No, well I don't think that's right. I'm going to say something." It's not my personality to be provocative or in people's faces at all, but I'm also not going to be quiet about things that I think are really important, so that's - I guess - what I mean by "pokey". I might just piss people off that little bit more than I would before because I don't want to accept just the first answer just because that's the one that people give. I want to ask those deeper questions, I guess.
Michael: Wouldn't that be a great thing for a leader, though? I mean you can't have a leader who is frightened of confrontation. And I don't mean yelling and screaming. You can't have one who is frightened of that, and that is a form of confrontation.
Claire: Yes, that's so true. And being respectful, there is definitely a way to do it. I want to continue to be highly respectful toward all people that I relate with in every way, unless they are abusive towards me and then I might reconsider my take on that. But yes I would say that I have changed in that way. I still want to be a positive person but there are days when I am not. There are definitely times when I am not positive at all, but....
Michael: You are human.
Claire: Yes. It turns out that I am. Before I would just never have days that are down, but I do have them sometimes, and that's OK and I'm actually OK with that now, whereas before I would find that really a difficult character trait that I didn't have before.
Michael: Is there any positives to them, like when you're down? Any deeper soul-searching or anything you can take from it that's positive?
Claire: I guess....
Michael: Like poetry.
Claire: I don't write poetry. That would be amazing. I wish I was a wordsmith like that. I had taken up writing little bits and pieces through the really tough times. I'd write down some of my thoughts to that I could just have them down rather than have them just circulating in my mind, just about the world, I guess. I don't know. I'm a bit more of a talker as you can probably tell here as well, that I much prefer to relate to people and chat through things and hear other people's point of view and not just conclude with "what I'm saying is right" but actually have a really good rigorous conversation around it, and change my mind if that's the case. That's OK as well. I'm OK with that.
Michael: To end on two big questions. No, three big questions: 1. I believe that the quality of our culture, or our identity, has been seriously challenged. To who we were before and who we are now. And who do you think, or what do you think, if we had a vision of who we should be as Australians, what would your vision be?
Claire: I just love.... I do citizenship ceremonies. I lead the new Australians. I can't think off the top of my head all of the words but it's about ....it's the words in the Constitution that says we're going to do these things as Australians. What are they? I should have looked them up. But they're really important words that when I'm standing out the front. This is what we should be, it's about respecting one another. It's all about expecting that we'll have a different point of view and that's OK. It's really hard, it's been really hard for the last year to read those words knowing that that's not actually what's necessarily occurring out there.
Michael: That's right. It's like the national anthem. The national anthem at the moment is a lie because we're not one.
Claire: They're beautiful words. They are stunning words.
Michael: More beautiful now because it's not true.
Claire: Yes, and that should cause all of us to reflect on... Hang on, is this actually what is going on now? I'm not sure that it is. I think we are just saying the words. But I would hope that that's what our country comes back to because those words are...... they're beautiful. They are really stunning and....
Michael: Something there. Your words "back to". I feel that one thing humans never do is go backwards. It's very rare. We're a forward-thinking species. And we move forward, good or bad. One of the things we've been challenged on, and I ask everyone this. And I even asked Senator Antic and he really struggled with it: how would you define freedom to an Australian? You know, as an Australian....I'm an Australian. I've got freedom. And a North Korean said: "What do you mean?" How would you define the freedom we grew up with?
Claire: That's one of the phrases actually: freedom of speech. It's hard when you're in government because there are particular freedoms that we could be seen to be taking away from people in one regard, I guess, but it is also there to create other freedoms for other people, so this very difficult space that we can't have a place with absolutely no rules and absolutely no anything that creates what might be perceived to one person freedom but be completely constricting to others. So it is a very difficult thing to be able to articulate, isn't it?
Michael: Aren't difficult conversations what we expect our leaders to have?
Claire: Yes, yes. And I think this question is fantastic because it actually would cause each of us to reflect. You and I would have a different view on what freedom actually means. And that's OK.
Michael: I'll tell you mine, to give you a base. I think freedom of choice and freedom of speech - if you have those tools, and it's up to you to use them. You don't have to use them, but they are there if you use them. If you use them well - and I mean do no harm: I don't mean, like, shout out Nazi propaganda - but freedom of speech, like you said, to question, if you use those, they allow us and our children a third freedom, which can't be granted, which is the freedom to be yourself. And I think, as you do these welcoming ceremonies for people from overseas, people from other countries don't come here to open milk bars. They come here to be themselves because in their country they are not allowed to be. And I think that's the beauty of Australia and that's what we're in the process of losing if we're not incredibly vigilant. So that's my view of freedom.
Claire: Yes, I think that's pretty much spot on. I think....
Michael: That's lazy. You can't just do that. You've got to have a rigorous debate.
Claire: No, I think you're right. For people to be able to come out and feel like they can just express themselves shouldn't be something that is seen as a privilege. It should be seen as something that is a right to actually have in their own selves. But I guess over the last year it's been hard to know who you can connect with and have a conversation with and I have wanted to - I've made it really clear that this should not divide our country. This is what has actually happened. Our community has been divided over this topic and I think slowly people are maybe coming back together on a regular community level . But there is still this overarching thing that is hanging over those of us who have been hurt in one way or another, whether it's injury or loss of job. Whatever it is.
Michael: And those who haven't taken it. There is - you hear it in the language - we won't get into politics but Dutton came out with some incredible language recently where basically he is challenging anyone who challenges the government is a threat. And I think this is very dangerous language in a time when I feel now we have a division it's easier to heal the division now than it is if we ignore it and it grows deeper.
Claire: And just like the leaders made decisions to created all sorts of restrictions twelve months ago and before that, it's now their responsibility to come and start that next conversations, and as leaders we have to begin those tough conversations. I do it almost every day in my own job, but we have to be the ones to start those conversations so that the people feel they can also be part of them, and that's leading with an open heart I guess in the conversations so we're not dictating what it is we think but that we are at least provoking that conversation so everyone can participate. It doesn't completely answer your question on what's freedom but I love that that is still hanging there because I'll be thinking on that for a while because there are so many different levels of freedom out there that people have views on.
Michael: I just feel that if we can define it, then we can build a better Australia upon that foundation. That's our core belief. That doesn't change. And at the moment that core belief is found out to be false. That's only a thought of mine anyway.
Claire: I think constitutionally we've probably got it right and if we go back to that, and we actually practise what's there already, I think we'll probably be all right.
Michael: I think they were pretty clever whoever wrote it. Is there anything else you would like to say or get off your chest while you are here?
Claire: I guess just a massive thank you to those who have connected. It's astounding how many people have connected with me since the video and over this time and have supported me and supported others. There are so many people out there as you've said, and we need a lot of love and we need a lot of support, and that'd not just from those who are injured but those who have been hurt in other ways. Keep on supporting one another because that's the best we can do.
Michael: Usually I finish by asking "where's the hope"? But I'm going to say now, and I've never said this: "You're the hope!" You are absolutely a beacon of hope. It's a pleasure to meet you again. Thank you for doing this interview.
Claire: Thank you very much Michael.
Freedom is my soul's wings.
Australians were born to fly.