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It is always hard to know where to start when you think of telling your life story. So I decided to start with my parents. |
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Here are my youthful parents on their wedding day
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I was the second child to arrive in their family.
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After a short career in sumo wrestling…
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I had my passport photo taken and left for Kalimantan (Borneo, Indonesia) with my parents and sibling…
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I adjusted quite well…
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And took up mud wrestling…
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Construction engineering…
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Then a spot of acting…
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...whilst fitting in some school-work in the mornings.
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But, too soon, it was time to say good-bye to my friends...
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And enter the world of school uniforms and cheesy school photos.
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I managed to survive these and another four years at University to graduate with a double degree - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Special Education) - on a Departmental scholarship.
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I then moved to the country for my first teaching posting.
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After several years I moved on to being an Early Childhood Teacher in a long day care centre, ending with being the Acting Director whilst the Director was on maternity leave.
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This gave me a taste for directing, so I set up the town’s first out of school hours care centre.
 
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Exhausted, I decided take time off and do some exciting things like visit Tasmania
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…and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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I also returned to Newcastle University to do a research Master of Philosophy. This opened the doors to tutoring and later lecturing undergraduate teachers as my project turned into a Doctorate of Philosophy…
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Only in the middle of it all my health let me down and I had to prioritise – so I deferred my research and focused on lecturing and tutoring. In recent years, with my health improving, I decided to follow through on my two passions – supporting children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, their families and teachers; and writing. |
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And so Dave is Brave and Learn to be Buddies were born…..
But that is a whole other story which I tell here.
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In 2010 I started running workshops for children, parents and professionals...
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Though there was a pause in Learn to be Buddies activities during the Christmas/New Year break of 2010-2011 as I married my lovely husband....
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Now, in 2011, I aim to:
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Publish a new book
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Run workshops at schools, conferences and support group events
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Hopefully prepare to re-commence my PhD studies.
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