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A decommissioned firefighter helmet sits on a counter and, quietly, it helps a child rebuild their life. That is the kind of practical hope we talk about with our guest, Scott Hanley, a station officer with Fire and Rescue New South Wales and one of the driving forces behind Beat the Burn, a community-led fundraising movement supporting paediatric burn care.

Scott takes us back to 2006, when a small group of firefighters created a four-day cycling challenge to raise money for the Burns Unit at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. From that first ride, Beat the Burn has grown into a series of fundraising events and a culture of service that continues well after the sirens stop. We unpack why the Burns Unit is known as “002”, and why that bond between firefighters, clinicians, and families runs deep.

We also get specific about what burn injuries really involve. Many are not flame-related, and recovery can mean pain management, infection risk, repeated procedures, rehabilitation and mental health support for the whole family. Scott explains how fundraising supports real needs: anaesthetist fellows, skin graft lasers, burn splints research, regional step-down clinics, and burn survivor camps that give kids the rare relief of being understood.

In this episode, we explore:

• The origins and evolution of Beat the Burn
• Why supporting children with burn injuries became personal for Scott
• The realities of childhood burn treatment and recovery
• The commitment of firefighters, their families and local communities
• How donations help improve treatment and access to care
• The power of starting small and building something with lasting impact
• How individuals, businesses and communities can become involved

Content note: This episode discusses children affected by burn injuries and aspects of their treatment and recovery. Please listen with care if this may affect you personally.

Support Beat the Burn

Learn more, donate or find out how you can become involved:

• Beat the Burn
• Beat the Burn on Facebook
• Fire and Rescue NSW

If this conversation resonated with you, please like the episode, leave a comment and share it with your family, colleagues, fire station or community. Every interaction helps more people discover these stories and join conversations that matter.

Follow Engaging Conversations for more real stories from real people, highlighting resilience, community and the power of human connection.

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What changes when you’re told your time may be running out?

For George Parry, the answer wasn’t to retreat from life. It was to live more deliberately.

In this deeply personal episode of Engaging Conversations, George reflects on a life shaped by extraordinary business success, devastating setbacks, alcoholism and recovery, faith, love, resilience and, now, the reality of serious illness.

George speaks candidly about the years he spent chasing achievement and control, and the transformation that came when he finally learned to let go of what he couldn’t change and focus on what he could.

We explore what success really means when money and possessions no longer provide the answers, why trust and reputation are among the most valuable assets we build, and why helping others can ultimately be one of the most rewarding measures of a life well lived.

George also shares his personal experience of voluntary assisted dying and what having choice and agency at the end of life has meant to him. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, his perspective offers a rare and deeply human insight into dignity, mortality and the importance of making the most of the time we have.

At the centre of the conversation is a simple message:

Choose love over fear. Reach out. Take the chance. Help somebody. And ask yourself: “What am I going to do about it?”

George describes himself as being “in extra time”, but perhaps his greatest reminder is that none of us really knows how much time we have.

George Parry’s Book - Order From Chaos

George has captured many of his experiences, lessons and philosophy in his book, Order From Chaos.

The book is available in both Kindle and physical editions through Amazon.

To find it, search:

Order From Chaos by George Parry on Amazon Australia (Amazon.com.au) by clicking on this link.

A direct link to the book is also included in the show notes.

Connect with George on LinkedIn by clicking on this link.

A Note for Listeners

This episode includes discussion of alcoholism, serious illness, end-of-life choices and voluntary assisted dying. George is sharing his own personal experiences and perspectives. This conversation is not intended as medical or legal advice. Please seek appropriate professional guidance for your own circumstances.

If this conversation resonates with you, please follow Engaging Conversations, share the episode with someone who may benefit from hearing George’s story, and leave a review to help more people discover these conversations.

Engaging Conversations is proudly created by Ecolibrium Headquarters.

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Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, and when you truly accept that, the way you live begins to change.

This special Prelude to Engaging Conversations offers a rare glimpse into the conversation before the conversation.

Before the microphones were switched on, George Parry and Leon Goltsman found themselves reflecting on life, purpose and legacy. What began as a casual discussion quickly became something much deeper, capturing the heart of what was about to unfold.

George's story cannot be reduced to business success or public milestones. It is a story of remarkable achievement, significant loss, addiction recovery, unwavering faith and the courage to face life's greatest challenges with honesty and grace. Together, Leon and George explore the idea that everything we think we "have" is only on loan, and that our truest legacy isn't measured by what we leave behind, but by the memories we leave in the minds and hearts of those we love.

If you've ever wondered what really matters or what you hope people will remember about you, this conversation will resonate deeply.

This isn't simply a preview of next week's episode. It's an invitation to pause, reflect and perhaps have the conversation you've been postponing with someone who matters to you.

Join us next week for the full Engaging Conversations episode with George Parry.

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