“My parents were living in the Parndana camp when I was born and moved out to the farm just after that. We were on Gosse Ritchie, farming was good until years later when we got caught with the yarloop clover. Dad was one of the worst farmers hit with it but back then. There was no government help, you were left to deal with it on your own. The first sad thing was to see the farm sold because of that. The second sad thing was to see it going to blue gums. I went to Karatta School until it closed, then went to Parndana School and when I was 16 moved to Kingscote to start work as a telephonist in the telephone exchange at the back of the post office, back in those days when people ring you up and ask you to put them through to someone. I did that back in ’72 until I got married and had Troy. Then I became a stay-at-home mum for a while, adding Byron and Kimberly to our family. I am just a happy person; I don’t stress about things. I like being involved—community involved—and with that comes the satisfaction of seeing things come to fruition.
I’ve been involved in the Kingscote Show for probably 20 years, secretary for 16 years. This year we didn’t have one because of Covid, first time since the world war. It’s been great to have a break from the show but I am looking forward to making next years’ show bigger and better. I’ve been involved with the local SES as a community person and I am just getting involved with Advance Kingscote, helping with the parade this year. I am trying to encourage people to get involved in Christmas lights to give a bit of Christmas cheer this year. We just need to have people feel happy and that things will be better from now on. So, I hope to see people get involved in it. I have been doing lights for years and get satisfaction out of seeing the kids and hearing them out there, they love it. I did the picture plates for the kids again this year and wanted to help those families that lost their picture plates in the fire to get new ones plus their old ones back. I have done this for many years and it gives me great pleasure. Monies raised from the plates went to the Mayoral Bushfire Fund this time, but in the past, it was for the Hospital Auxiliary. My happy place is home here in my garden. Now that I am not working, I spend a lot of time in my yard.”