I'm a wife, mother and grandmother plus business owner. A few years ago I set up ‘The Sisterhood’ which is a gathering of women with stories to share, their tragedies, triumphs, dreams, talents, health issues, all sorts of topics.
I set up a Facebook page 3 years ago and found a venue, three speakers and an activity and invited all women...I had 63 attend!
We have no agenda, there is no selling of anything, sit where you like, mix or don't, up to you. I do a personal meet and greet....the speakers sit on a couch or comfy chair, and it's just like beautiful therapy.
We laugh, we cry, we reassure each other, we uplift and never put down...women have told me how much it helps them. Some women who are isolated for whatever reason will come and just smile and stroke my arm when they leave...I leave with a full heart..
It was my low self esteem as a teenager that inspired me...I needed a mentor...someone independent from the school and family. There is so much pressure to achieve at a high level...who really knows what they want to be when they grow up? Some adults still ask themselves that... I have so many dreams and things I want to do and so do other women...we lose ourselves with our families, careers, husbands, life in general that we forget to just be crazy funny women...we are our worst critic...we are so hard on ourselves and each other...Why???
I believe in telling each other how much we admire who they are....I try to do this every day.
I mentor young girls in the high school and have helped drive two events called "Junior Sisterhood and Brothers in Arms" where about 40 adults from the community have run classes in many different areas from car maintenance, belly dancing, Pilates, coffee making, how to apply for a passport, managing money, fitness, cooking, candle making, Crossfit, and the list goes on. Hoping to do lots more of this....in many schools...
I'm happiest when I'm helping others and now I have the time and am happy with who I am so I can do this.
We are fortunate enough to live on the beach at Boat Harbour...my husband of 37 years and I used to visit here as teenagers, and always talked about how one day we would love to live there...so we bought a shack and eventually pulled it down and built our family home. With a very hectic working life we felt "at peace" when we came home and find the ocean ever changing and soothing..every day is different...We adore the winters and summer...
Plus I love that a short drive up my road I can buy fresh native flowers from the side of the road...I love going out for new experiences and meeting new entrepreneurs.
I have chosen to stay here in Tasmania because I feel safe here, it's clean and green and the air is so pure - I love the seasons. It's a foodies paradise...so much beautiful produce..I can park right outside my favourite coffee shop,even leave my keys in the car if I admit it. My family and friends are here...people are just discovering us yet I feel a bit smug that I've known about it for a long time...it's affordable to live here, plus we have employment for our whole family.
I still have so many dreams. I'd like to do something with shipping containers, publish a book, maybe a coffee table one featuring unusual homes and their owners...there are so many creative people (under the radar) on our island...I'd like my own clothing label...I would like to be involved in some renovation project donating my skills and time to help someone in need....Renovation rescue I think it is.
The most important thing in my life is my beautiful family. I have a son 32, daughter 30 and another daughter 27. My husband who supports most of my crazy ideas. I am so proud of all of them and the love and great communication we have. I kiss them every day. My 5 grand babies who think I'm cool cause I go down the slide, do handstands, cook with them, colour in, play dress-ups and lots of other crazy adventures we have.
And my health is very important, I look after myself and take time to just breathe and enjoy each and every day on this beautiful island.
We have loud family get-togethers. Our three children are extroverts and so are the grandchildren....we have a huge dining table where we all congregate and there is a lot of love and laughter and competing with each other...The husbands and wives wonder what they have married into...it's hilarious watching them all...If we fight we make sure we resolve it...I am the glue...I try and keep it all together..My husband is the financial whizz...I can't stick to a budget...the creative mind and attention span of a gnat...but I bluff my way through it...the children have taken on our businesses (IGA Supermarkets) and are buying us out... We are so lucky but so are they...
Some things people wouldn’t guess about me is that I've travelled extensively and am heading to Africa for the 6th time next month. I have an obsession with candles and cushions.
I can pinch with my toes...I have a bath with a view which I frequent daily... I can always find time for a bath. If I had to describe myself in one word it would be "kind".
I'm loving that Tasmania is producing some gorgeous gins...love a good G and T!
I have a very positive attitude.
Photography by Amy Brown.