CURRENT MISSION

am passionate about helping create Transition Towns (google Totnes, UK - if you've never heard of Transition :) community gardens, books, art and nature

ABOUT ME

I'm from Central Australia originally, I grew up in small schools where most of the students were indigenous Aboriginals. My parents were amateur artists, and I have inherited their love of the Australian outback and some of their creative talent! I have worked for Northern Territory Parks Service for several years - while I lived in Alice I hosted lots of people passing through town who needed a bed, friends of friends, overseas travellers etc. While I lived there, I also worked for a while as a botanical illustrator and science/conservation journalist. I'm based in Adelaide but try to go north whenever I can (usually to escape the cold wet winters here in the south!. My last big trip back 'home' was a four month stay on an isolated aboriginal community about six years ago, where I worked as a teacher's aide and music tutor to the kids each afternoon. What a magic four months, spectacular walks every day after school, perfect weather, played my music in the church band...(I also play five string banjo and sing). Have been performing semi-professionally for many years now.
Did a lot of backpacking through Europe and around the Mediterranean (couchsurfed before it was popular!)and have worked in Ireland. Have had some health problems lately, using this time to finish my Arts Degree and hopefully get better to continue travelling.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm not officially Bhuddist, but I'm a great fan of the Dalai Llama. His philosophy I find the best of all. I find I'm learning, changing, growing and exploring my way through the world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Have hosted a few people, and enjoy discussions in the Social Resilience group.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Did a lot of backpacking through Europe and around the Mediterranean in the 1990's (couchsurfed before it was popular!)and have worked and couchsurfed with friends in Ireland (mainly Dublin)and England (Yorkshire). Got stuck in Israel once without funds (problems with local bank, and there was a three day international phone strike on, so couldn't call home for help). Scary, as there was no embassy in Jerusalem. No money at all!! luckily, a fellow Aussie working there took pity on me and put me up at her place for three days - phew! In return, I shopped and cooked for her as she was working fulltime and not much of a cook anyway. She really appreciated it! so it felt like a good trade-off...eventually the phones came back on, the bank coughed up and I flew out of there with much relief. And a new friend (thanks Anne Marie)

Interests

Bushwalking, swimming in the sea, teaching and being inspired by my students, nutrition (and getting well again, after suffering chronic illness.) Bookaholic.

• arts
• books
• singing
• cooking
• gardening
• motor boating
• boating
• traveling
• magic
• music
• backpacking
• swimming
• animation
• teaching
• history
• journalism
• science
• beaches
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Nowhere Boy, American Beauty, Into the Wild, Motorcycle Diaries, Red Dog.
Music: Philip Glass, Michael Nyman, The Cherry Pickers, Shooglenifty, The Audreys, Siobhan Owen, Ukelele Orchestra UK, Penguin Cafe,First AidKit, Joni Mitchell,Pink Floyd, U2, The Waifs,Andy Salvanos
Books: The End of Globalisation - and the Reinvention of the World by John Ralston Saul; Reworking Success - new communities at the millenium by Robert Theobald; Small is Beautiful; Artful Living in Celtic Homes; The First Stone by Helen Garner

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

...swimming off the coast of Scotland on a hot day, and being mistaken for a mermaid by a nine year old boy in a little motor boat with his mum and dad! Apparently he was quite convinced (I was a long way out from the beach at the time...haha). Being picked up by a book publisher whilst hitchiking on the west coast of Ireland; later I met up with him in Dublin and I pitched a project idea to him. That was quite exciting, he gave me lots of good advice.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy teaching basic banjo chords to kids, they love it - especially aboriginal kids! Enjoy sharing my natural history skills with people, and creating a kitchen garden with friends. Happy to teach people how to write well (was a working journalist in my twenties)and how to improve the natural storytelling ability that most people have. Want to find out as much as I can about Transition Towns, and how I can get involved locally (would be great if I can incorporate this knowledge into my arts degree somehow)...have to lobby the University I think! I'm very keen to increase my skills in community peace-making at the local level. Have just discovered the powerful possibilities of CrowdFunding as a source of microfinance for social, artistic, musical and scientific initiatives...anyone out there want to join me in exploring how we can make use of CF is most welcome!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I live near the beach and the Bay (Glenelg South), and there are lots of great cafe/restaurants nearby. Am a reasonable cook and easygoing company. Friends tell me they can take me anywhere and I can talk to anyone!

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Israel, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ireland