Strangely, it’s taken joining U3APP and seeing how much pleasure I derive from my classes, to make me aware of my passion for ongoing learning. This probably explains my various tertiary courses over the years. As an undergraduate, I completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University. Some years later, I completed a Graduate Diploma of Computing at Monash University. A few years later again, I completed a Graduate Diploma of Education at Deakin University. Then in 2017 at the age of 61, I complete a Masters of Human Service (Counselling) at Swinburne University. So I now have four very diverse tertiary qualifications from four different universities.
I have spent most of my working life in Information Technology. I started as an Analyst Programmer (writing software) but eventually moved on to become a Business Analyst (designing software) and Project Manager. I also spent three years working as a TAFE teacher of Business Computing.
In 2019, I helped my sister form the activist group Grandmothers for Climate Action. I continue to administer the Facebook Group which currently has 215 members. In 2021, I ran a class on Climate Action for U3APP – a project initiated through GfCA. The class members agreed they wished to continue meeting and this group now continues as Climate Champions. We have begun writing articles for the U3APP e-bulletin, with more projects to come.
Although I have worked mostly in I.T., my real passion is in mental health, especially in the Aged Care community. Until Covid-19 hit in 2020, I spent a number of years volunteering at an Aged Care Facility, with the aim of improving the mental health of some of the residents. I still regularly attend webinars offered by Swinburne University’s “Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults”.
On a personal level, I live with my partner in Elwood and have two daughters, one of whom lives in Los Angeles. As of September 2021, I am also a grandmother to an American / Australian boy, whom I am yet to meet in person. I love to travel and feel very lucky to have managed to get in a long wished for second trip to India in February 2020 just before travel out of Australia was shut down. I believe that maintaining physical as well as mental fitness is important, especially as I age. Although definitely no athlete, I have belonged to one gym or another for about 30 years.