Don Mathewson is a true champion who shares his extraordinary story of courage, determination, a passion for athletics, and overcoming major physical challenges alongside a life of service to others.

He is a Masters track athlete who has been World Champion on three occasions across different age groups and received fifteen other medals. During his pursuit of excellence, he has completed World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland, USA, France, Brazil, Spain and Australia. As well as holding several Australian and State records across different distances, he cycles with an early morning group three days a week and supports others through several forms of volunteering.

About our Guest:

Don joined the Royal Australian Navy at sixteen in a new scheme introduced by the Navy to provide more education for sailors to handle the technology in a modern navy.

At twenty-one, he was promoted to Petty Officer. Two years later, he undertook Naval Officers training in the UK, winning the sword of honour for top candidate.

He left the RAN after twenty-one years and began a career as a Field Director with World Vision International in the South Pacific.

He became Senior Manager with a large talent management group as Senior Executive Coach.

He worked there well past retirement age and then left to undertake volunteer roles.

These include Mentoring Men, teaching English as a second language, being on the National Committee of Endeavour Foundation, a large disability support organisation and running a coffee mates group for older men.

He teaches English to speakers of other languages and is passionate about mature age fitness and health.

He has a keen interest in Politics, Climate and First Nations people and endeavours to keep across these issues through intentional reading.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website

Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This Limited Kintsugi Heroes podcast series was made possible with grant funding from the NSW Department of Communities & Justice Connecting Seniors Grant Program. To find out more about the program, head to https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/connecting-seniors-grant-program-2025.

Alan’s remarkable story describes overcoming the challenges that go with building relationships. He raised three young boys after his first marriage broke up. This was followed by business failure, then another failed marriage.

His life began to change when he discovered his healing gift. Then he met a group of Aboriginal Elders for a year around a campfire. Because he wanted to learn, not to help, he was invited to go through an initiation into manhood.

Alan shares how successful relationships begin with yourself and letting others come to you. He helps others by listening, understanding and helping them heal themselves. This led directly to the Campfire Project, where people tell their stories without criticism, counselling, or judgment.

About our Guest:

Alan Stevens is an International Profiling and Communications Specialist and has appeared on TV and media worldwide.

He has worked with international clients, like Disney Films and Gillette, and high-profile organisations, like the Australian Federal Police, to help them to understand how people tick. Alan works with business owners and executives, helping them to understand and engage their clients and prospects, enhancing their presentations and negotiation skills. And with parents and teachers to help children to reach their full potential while improving the experience of parents, teachers, and students.

His courses are Certified Learning Solutions, and he is a Fellow of the Institute for Learning and Performance Asia Pacific.

He is focused on creating and training his own competition to the highest level and as quickly as possible. He believes “We need more people with the skills, but they have to be well trained”, and he has a moral obligation to find and train the best coaches to become the leaders in their fields.

He also created the #WeTogether initiative and The Campfire Project, a safe place for men and women to give themselves permission to tell their stories. And share their experiences and wisdom from around the world. Alan is also a Director of The Business of Smiles, helping raise Mental Health awareness in the workplace and worldwide.

Contact:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/readingfaces

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CelebrityProfiler

Facebook Business page https://www.facebook.com/ReadingFaces/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/face_profiler

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

YouTube || Facebook || Instagram ||

Narelle has a severe vision impairment that means she uses a guide dog to get around. She only started to lose my sight about 16 years ago and has lived with only seeing shapes for the last two years.

She is an advocate for digital accessibility in Australia and work to let people know about the benefits of ensuring that everyone can access the information, understand the information and make informed decisions based on the information.

The benefits of good communication and digital accessibility are important to her. And the benefits of being disabled. We are normal.

Socials:

https://dasat.com.au

https://www.youtube.com/@digitalaccesssolutions

https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-access-solutions-and-assistive-technology

https://www.facebook.com/DIGITALDASAT

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website

Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This Limited Kintsugi Heroes podcast series was made possible with grant funding from the NSW Department of Communities & Justice Connecting Seniors Grant Program. To find out more about the program, head to https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/connecting-seniors-grant-program-2025.