I have led an interesting and challenging life. In my life’s journey to date, I have met many inspiring people, visited many places, both within Australia and overseas, and undertaken many diversified activities.
I grew up in Wallsend, Newcastle. Whilst I remember an interesting and happy childhood, it was lonely without any siblings. It taught me to be self -contained and independent.
My parents took me on many outings and holidays. Each Sunday, we usually took a drive in our 1960 Holden to visit places such as Windsor, Nelsons Bay, Singleton, Maitland, Raymond Terrace , Lake Macquarie amongst others . An elderly neighbour, Mrs Hughes often came with us. Longer holidays were by road to Melbourne, Adelaide , Brisbane and the Snowy Mountains.
It is from these travels that I gained my love of history and adventure, which has stayed with me all my life. I met Bonnie on the swings in a caravan park in Brisbane in possibly 1964 ; remarkably we are still friends today.
I was educated in Newcastle, NSW and began my university career at Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney in 1972. I enrolled in an Economics / Economic History major with the required Education subjects. However, I enjoyed studying some Statistics , Mathematics, French Culture , and Politics. University was a culture shock after school –it was simply a case of sink or swim.
My first teaching appointment was at Figtree High School in Wollongong, where my staff called me Gracie. I was then forced to move from home in Ryde, Sydney and to have to look after myself. Independence at last! I enjoyed my time at Figtree High School, and was involved with the school athletics team whilst at the school. I took the opportunity to join a Scottish Dancing Group and also explored the South Coast.
I met Harold at Shellharbour in late May 1976; we were free spirits and partners for almost 36 years until his death in late September 2011.He played football, so I got to know all the South Coast football grounds. Since his death, I have established an annual memorial award at a South Coast Football Club. This award, to an under 21 player, commemorates both Harold’s memory and his lifetime involvement in football as a player,coach and referee.
I was transferred to the Social Science Department, St George Girls High School, Kogarah, Sydney at the end of February 1977, and remained at St George Girls for 35 years, until December 2011. My teaching subjects were Legal Studies, Geography, Commerce, although I initially taught some junior school Maths when first appointed to St George . I was the co-ordinator of the School Mock Trial Team for 17 years. My nickname in the Social Science Department remained Annie for 35 years.
I returned to Macquarie University in 1980 to begin studies in Urban Geography. The Diploma of Urban Studies initiated my interest in urban history and the urban environment. I was fortunate to have excellent lecturers, who displayed a passion for their teaching subjects. I have Dr Peter Spearritt to thank for developing my interest in social history. My Moorefield Racecourse book, launched in mid- 2016, is in fact a social history. Other lecturers opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the politics of the urban environment. Politics was soon to beckon for me ……
In late 1985, I was appointed as a Director to St George Hospital Board, Kogarah, which was an invaluable training ground for my subsequent 17 years as a Local Government Councillor. I remained on the Hospital Board until early 1988, when the Greiner Government terminated our positions as Directors. I was elected in September 1991 and September 1995 to represent Third Ward on Rockdale City Council. In 1999, and 2004, I was elected to represent North Ward, Kogarah Council where I remained until I retired from Council in September 2008.
Whilst Local Government was challenging, I enjoyed most of my time in “the boy’s club.” There were a number of controversial issues throughout my time on Council; these issues were both stressful and demanding. I had many interests whilst on Council – local history and heritage, the urban environment, child care, access issues for people with disability and producing school kits. I served on many Committees, some of which I chaired. Whilst at Kogarah Council, I instigated a project which resulted in a booklet, Volunteer Heroes being produced and launched, in Heritage Week 2009.
The NSW Parliament acknowledged my long community contribution in education and politics with a Notice Of Motion by Hon Shaoquett Moselmane in the Legislative Council, NSW Parliament in late March 2012. It was now time to move on to my third career – writing.
I started work on my Moorefield Racecourse (1888-1951) book in 1993. It has taken a long time to complete due to the demands of my teaching career, Council commitments and elderly parents. I knew that I had to finish my book as I wanted to publish my electronic book on July 14 , 2016, 65 years to the date of the last Moorefield Race Meeting. The hard copy is to be launched on October 13 , 2016.
After Moorefield Racecourse, I plan to write a children’s book, the Adventures of Miss Hoity Toity and Lizzie . Lizzie is my mischievous tri- coloured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is Miss Personality Plus. Then my Bottle Overboard Adventure from April 19 and September 30, 2012 will follow as an electronic book.
I travelled to Albany, Western Australia and sailed into the Southern Ocean with an around the world sailor. I placed my Scottish Grannie’s life story into a bottle one hundred years to the day that Grannie sailed past Albany. I then committed the bottle to the Southern Ocean sixty nautical miles south of West Cape Howe, the most southerly point in Western Australia. This story currently features on You Tube as Anne’s Adventure. I was able to undertake this journey on April 19, 2012 as I have my grannie’s log from her journey by sea, in 1912, from London to Sydney. My bottle washed in at Bremer Bay, Western Australia and was then recommitted to the ocean , east of Eden, NSW on September 30 , 2012.
Over the years, I have travelled widely – Britain , Europe, Scandinavia, New Zealand , USA and Fiji and within Australia. I have however travelled most extensively to Britain : 1974-1975 , 1979 -1980, 1983-1984 , 1996 -1997 and mid -2013. Some of these journeys are recorded in articles on my two websites . My 1974 and 2013 overseas trips both feature in my e- book, “The Diary of an Adventurous Australian Overseas Traveller, “ which was published on Amazon in May 2015.
My overseas and domestic travels have been challenging, adventurous and a learning experience in my life . I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people, and to embrace other cultures. I remain in email contact with my Finnish penfriend, Ismo whom I first met in Helsinki in February 1975. My memorable Australian holidays were my trip to Monkey Mia from Perth in January 1994, and a number of visits to Tasmania.
I also remain in contact with a number of my former students from my 35 years at St George Girls High School. They remind me of the great stories I told them in class, and what fun we had whilst learning.
At a reunion in October 2013, of the girls I had taught in 1983, one of my students reminded me of the time I had worn mismatching black shoes to school . One student in our Year 12 Geography class that day plucked up the courage to tell me. My response apparently was “girls, it was dark in the wardrobe this morning!”
Technology has enabled me to maintain my memories. In mid- July 2013, my website annefield.net.au was set up and my You Tube was posted on July 16, 2013 . In June 2014, annefieldauthor.com was established. Both websites showcase many areas of my life, and have recorded memories of my dogs, travel , my 1980 Toyota Corollla amongst other things.
Each Xmas, I mail out my annual newsletter, which details my year’s activities. I am told that it is keenly read by friends and relatives. This Newsletter provides me with a wonderful archival record of activities of the past.
In conclusion, I consider that my life is like a tapestry –a multi- dimensional story. Some of the people i have met, regardless of age ,have inspired me in different ways. I consider my life’s journey to be an ongoing learning curve. If I have inspired others in my life’s journey, then “ my story” will be somewhat complete . My life is a series of memoirs …..
This was my 2016 entry into the Hurstville Discovery Writers group competition
