“I’m not sure if people realise that Australia lead the way in HIV/AIDS prevention education in the 1980’s and it worked by keeping HIV infections down. Small regional and rural communities didn’t have the organisations that the Metropolitan areas had so we had to offer education and support to all ‘at risk’ groups. There were many comical times in HIV/AIDS education, I remember going out to an Aboriginal community in Alice with a bunch of candles in the shape of a penis. When we took them out to demonstrate how to apply a condom they had melted into a hideous mass. We then asked a guy to make some ceramic penis’s but they were so large we had to explain that wasn’t the normal size, especially to the high school kids!
When working at SHAIDS, alongside ACON we provided Sexual Health education to many of the schools in the Northern Rivers, this included issues about sexuality and inclusiveness. It was a time of working together with teachers, GP’s and community groups who wanted to assist in getting the prevention message out there. Setting up a group for vulnerable young men exploring their sexuality as well as a HIV positive house for accommodation and social get togethers, remember there was a lot of discrimination around people who were HIV during that time. I am extremely proud of that time and hope it made a difference. I was very humbled to be nominated and receive a World AIDS Day Award from Justice Michael Kirby, who I so admired for his stance on social justice, though I told everyone I won the medal swimming in the 1960’s Olympics – and people believed me.
Following my SHAIDS role as Counsellor/ Educator, I managed a woman’s project for 6 years which aimed to assist woman who were drug dependant. The project was external evaluated and had some real successes and the team I worked with were amazing. We as a team were fortunate enough to win a Baxter Award which is sort of like the Logies of health. It was hard work and we had to break down some major barriers where there were huge judgements about women who were drug dependent in both health and non-government agencies. I have gone on to work in electronic environments, managing clinical placements and education systems. This never ceases to amaze me given I was banned from ringing IT services for support in the early days. Though I did ring them every day several times a day so I understand completely now that I staff a Help Desk, what a pain I would have been! So that is my 27 years in the Northern Rivers in a nutshell!
The message I would like to pass on is, if an opportunity presents, take it even if you think you can’t do it. Every time I went into something new I didn’t think I could do it, I would self doubt myself, sometimes cry at night thinking I was going to fail and I didn’t fail. I love it when I see people like me who left school very young and have embraced education and are doing great.
One thing I am especially proud of is helping establish the Lippy Support Group for feminists who want to wear lippy, it is defunct now though I might have to set it up again! I LOVE Lippy and am never seen without it! For my 50th Tony organised a surprise party and every woman, child, man and even the dogs had lippy on! I think I will be remembered for my Kezza Kisses!!!
Tony and I bought a farm in Rosebank 1992 where we lived for 24 years and had the most amazing times with lots of friends, lots of fun and laughter though there were sad and hard times too. It was difficult to make the decision to sell but we did 4 years ago. The people who bought our farm in Rosebank have become amazing friends who we know will be lifelong We now live in Goonellabah in an Art Deco x service station which Tone renovated over 2 years. It is very different from the farm but I love our home and being so close to everything.
While living in Rosebank Tone was offered a job in Saudi Arabia to install a Kings Museum so I was able to live there with him for 6 months which was remarkable. I had so much fun, I had to wear the hijab which was great because no-one can compare you with anyone else as you’re all dressed the same. I joined the Book Club which was really ‘Book and Bitch’ and the sewing group “Sew & Bitch” though I had to take all the buttons off Tony’s shirts so I could go because I didn’t know how to sew. I organised International coffee mornings once a month and I asked everyone in the compound where we lived to wear their national dress and bring their national food. That was so much fun. My friend Kevin had given me a tape of music when I left Oz and so here were the Indian women all dressed in beautiful saris playing the forks to The BeeGees. I wore a sarong and hat with corks. I loved my time in Saudi though everyone else was worried I’d be arrested or stoned for speaking my mind. I did get to attend a Saudi wedding which was fascinating! Tone also installed the Heritage Museum in Hong Kong so I went over there as well but you can only shop so much before it gets boring, so apart from the great trips on the Ferry to outlying Islands to eat seafood I decided to come home.
Life has been amazing for both Tone and I, we have been partners in crime for over 40 years! We have 2 great kids who both live overseas and 2 grandsons who we adore! We’ve had 2 beautiful dogs. Rangi was with us for many years and she passed when we were at Rosebank. Tony built the biggest headstone in the world on her grave which said…’Rangi my beautiful girl’ but it looked like we’d buried a person there so we had to change it to Rangi my beautiful dog.’ We’ve taken the headstone to our new house. We also had Zorro the wonder dog who was the love of our lives for 13 fabulous years.”