Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

Yes, I have performed on stage as a child at dance concerts. At my first dance concert when I was six years old, I wasn’t the best dancer, but I won the award for having the biggest smile.

As an adult, I have spoken at many mental health conferences in my role as a peer support consumer consultant. I was always very nervous, but I knew that I had spoken well. Probably the most memorable conference was the Richmond Fellowship ( Mind) conference in Hong Kong. It was an amazing experience. I have spoken at many conferences here in 🇦🇺 Australia. I am kinda glad that I no longer have to do that sort of public speaking. Yes, I was good at it, but I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I prefer working behind the scenes, solemnly doing my bit to teach empathy and compassion to those who work with people with mental health issues. I don’t like being in the limelight. I prefer to be anonymous.

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

My favourite everyday exercise is to walk Lily in the fresh morning air .

In my life over the years, the main physical activity has been dancing of all sorts. As I child, I did ballet and tap, then jazz ballet, ballroom, rock ‘n’roll swing, belly dancing, and zumba. My favourite remains Swing and ballroom. These days, I don’t dance much and am contemplating a return to some form of dance.

L

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

I have to say that I am in admiration of people who have celebrity status who use their wealth and celebrity status to do good in this world.

I think of Neil Finn, whom is a very wealthy man, worth millions, whom supports financially organisations like So They Can, who builds schools in isolated African communities, and Auckland City ,Mission, fighting homelessness in New Zealand. Neil is using his wealth and status to highlight global issues. He is definitely a compassionate, empathic person. Also, when we were in lockdown, he created Fangradio, a daily radio show that was broadcast all over the world for an hour or two every day. I think of Sam Neill and Jimmy Barnes, who did similar things online during lovkdown to keep humanity smiling and functioning during lockdown. Sam is one of my favourite people, and I dare you to watch his online “cooking programs” and not laugh. Jimmy Barnes these days is a redeemed soul, a loving family man, who again uses his wealth and talents to do good things. Whatever he was like in the heady days of Cold Chisel, he now has definitely made up for his previous wildlife. He is the epitome of a loving family man.

There are probably countless more people out there who use what they have to share with those less fortunate, and I have only given examples of those I know of in my 🌎 world.

I always have the attitude thst there but for the Grace of God Go I. I consciously look for examples of people who share what they have and have some pretty amazing friends in my life. We all believe that if all the world would learn to share, we would overcome some of the world’s problems.

What’s your favorite cartoon?

My two favourite cartoons from my childhood would have to be both Peanuts and Scooby Doo. I have memories of enjoying both of them. I also enjoyed Josie and the Pussy-cats and the Roadrunner.

They don’t make cartoons like these anymore.

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

Probably the most positive events that have happened in my life over the past year have been self-publishing 2 books. Both God Bless Our Dogs and The Dance Of The Emerald Dress 👗 have been the 2 most major things that have happened in my life and my friends, family and associates have shown me so much support for these 2 projects.

Also, writing ✍️ my blog is another major positive event that brings me such joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment.

On a personal level, becoming close friends with Kathryn has definitely been a highlight as we bond even closer because of our mutual love for our dearly departed angel lady Susanna. Every cloud has a silver lining, and that is definitely how I see Kathryn in relation to losing my sister Susanna. Good comes out of everything if you choose to look for it.

Do you ever see wild animals?

I live in a country renowned for its native wildlife. I don’t often see a lot of these native creatures, but they are close by to where I live in Sunbury on the outer north west of Melbourne.

One day a couple of years ago, I encountered a kangaroo hopping down the street that I live on. I was in the laundry at the time. The kangaroo stopped a few times, very obviously disorientated, and looking for a way back to the nearby bushland. The poor thing ended up heading in the wrong direction, heading towards a busy main road. It is the closest I have come to a kangaroo apart from the tine in Tasmania, where I held a baby wombat at a wildlife park in Mole Creek. The baby wombat was lovely and snuggled into me. There was lots of native wildlife there, and you could feed the wallabies and wombats, etc. It is wonderful to live in a country with such wonderful creatures.

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?

One of my favourite places to visit in Victoria would have to be Williamstown. It is a quaint little seaside village with lots of beautiful historic little old cottages. It has a port for ships and a beach. The shops on the main shopping strip are quaint and interesting too. There are lots of cute little shops and restaurants and a really good ice cream shop, and the fish and chips on the pier are to die for.

My parents nearly bought a house in Williamstown when they were first married, and I often wonder if they still would have had me and how different my life would have been growing up in Williamstown. I dream about what that would have been like. Yes, it is natural to dream of the things you ❤️ love.

Share five things you’re good at.

I had to ask some members of my family what they think I am good at, because I had a bit of brain fog about it , and they were helpful.

1. Writing my blog and writing ✍️ in general is definitely something I am good at.

2. Being a dog Muumy to Lily. Definitely, one thing I love doing the most is taking care of Lily.

3 Being optimistic and being positive towards the people in my life. Russell tells me that he thinks I am a strong positive force to be reckoned with.

Maintaining a routine and being organised.

5 Caring for my loved ones, particularly my nephews and nieces, as they are becoming wonderful young adults. ❤️ As I don’t have children of my own, my nephews and nieces are so important to me, and I want to be a special aunt to them.

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

The one thing that I would change about me would be that I would like to be able to lose weight easily. The psych medication that I have been on for many years has affected the brains chemistry ⚗️ and means that my metabolism has been altered, and I have gained a bit of weight that I am unable to lose. It has also made me diabetic. I don’t regret being on this medication because it keeps me mentally well, and I don’t consider my mental illness to be the worst thing that has ever happened to me. It is, in fact, quite the contrary. My experience of mental illness has made me a far better person, with compassion and empathy for all. I just wish I could lose the weight, because I feel I am judged as being overweight and people who stigmatise me because of it, don’t get that my overall health is a juggling act and I would much rather be a bit overweight, if the trade off because of it, is good mental health. So I guess it is a juggling act that makes me a better person. Never judge a book by its cover. You never know what a person is dealing with. So I guess the one thing I would like to change is other people’s attitude to my weight and my mental health.

Are you more of a night or morning person?

I am definitely a morning person. I love it when the day is young. Just about every morning 🌄 I take Lily for a walk in the fresh, crisp morning air and sunshine. I think the quiet, gentle start to the day is my favourite time of day.

My body clock is used to waking up with the sun. At nightime my brain becomes foggy, and I feel sleepy. I am definitely not a night owl, as I need a good night’s sleep to function.

Lily too is a morning person, though she does sleep in a bit. She wakes up happy every day, and normally, she greets me as I wake up. She wakes up happy every day, and this brings me happiness too.