BACKGROUND: Following a Vision. From rags to riches.

Between Bendigo and Hobart, I lived around Australia travelling between communities as I registered at local Centrelink offices in country towns where I propped. The situations were very different. I lived with an Aboriginal mob in the Kimberley’s. I was initiated into a tribe of tree protestors at Margaret River. I stayed with a crime family on the Gold Coast for a short time. I lived in a conservative Christian community in Albany, Western Australia as well.

To discover these communities I travelled using various modes of transport. I crossed state lines with my swag strapped to a motorbike. I travelled on overland trains and coaches. Several times I shared vehicles which doubled as a home. I also hitched, flew, and sometimes walked. I worked odd jobs and shared living expenses which supported my experiences of living ‘on-the-road’.

My travels ended in Hobart after following a vision to work in the environment. To accomplish this I felt I needed to live alone on the side of a mountain in the Tasmanian bush. For ten years, I worked on building Rustix.

Rustix was unique handcrafted rustic style furniture made from rare species recycled timber. I sourced my materials by hustling at sites for timber visible from the road. These included colonial home renovations, building demolitions, garage sales in the suburbs, and the local bush.

I sold my work by word of mouth. As I increased in popularity I became recognised as uniquely Tasmanian. I began shipping pieces on order. Though the broader markets were attractive, I preferred selling through my local stall at Salamanca Market, and also supporting Country Fairs in rural Tasmania.

From my market stall I cultivated relationships with locals, and new residents who had come to Tasmania for a variety of reasons. I maintained my close roots to the place where I sourced my materials, worked and lived. I believe I was recognised because my work reflected my lifestyle and choices for living naturally.

For a brief time I danced ballroom. I enjoyed having my own private dance teacher, until a fall. After that I enrolled at university. I was 42 years old. Again, I was following a vision: to work with people in their environment. To accomplish this I lived with those I was helping, I studied social work, and I learned the relation of labour was the most significance difference in the human experience.