About Me

A short biography

I spent 1993, the year after year 12, in the United States, meeting and living with my extended family, exploring, meeting new people and discovering my other country. I also spent it studying TEE Physics, and came home in time for the university entrance exams.

I studied Applied Physics at Curtin University, though it was a close call between that and public relations. As part of university life I got involved with the university radio station, 6NR, where I worked and volunteered for eight years. I also worked in the Department of Applied Physics as a liaison officer for four years. During my studies I delved into computer science (particularly systems, networking, communications and artificial intelligence), which is where I met my former husband, Dion Mendel. He and I were married in 1998. I finally completed my degree in December 2000 after studying part time for some years.

After university I accidentally fell into work with the fire brigade, taking triple-0 calls. If you rang 000 (emergency number in Australia) and you wanted fire or rescue, and you were anywhere in Western Australia, you'd get us. And we'd deal with it. It was very interesting work which I turned out to be reasonably good at. I worked in the Communications Centre in this position on and off as a casual and contractor until April 2005. I also began working as a freelance science communicator. Science communication was the career path I'd shifted towards by the end of my degree, after having variously considered options such as ranger, meteorologist or systems administrator. The opportunities I was getting were freelance, so I took them.

In my time in Perth I continued with the environmental interests I'd been developing. I volunteered as a guide in Kings Park and Botanic Garden from 1999-2005. I studied primitive skills such as survival, tracking and tool making. I co-wrote a wildflower book, and photographed a set of reference albums on Perth trees.

In April 2004 Dion and I agreed to separate, and I worked a last year in Perth tidying up odds and ends before hitting the road to wander solo for a while. I arrived in Melbourne in May 2005, with the intent of looking for work and seeing what opportunities came up while I explored a new city and state. I've been here since, freelancing, exploring and meeting people, continuing to build my career as a science communicator while also trying to build myself into the person I want to be. That's a never-ending task -grin-.

Interests

Physics, codes and cryptography, puzzles, computer networks and systems, cool gadgets and interesting inventions, memory.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aikido, orienteering, rogaining, tree climbing, gymnastics, all kinds of dance, deep-water aerobics, acrobatics, circus skills.

Languages, body language, music, singing, watching theatre, reading books. Drawing, writing, telling stories, performing, stage management, making costumes.

Gardening, permaculture and organics, horticulture, landcare, druidry, ethnobotany, food-as-medicine, cooking.

Travelling, exploring.

Some philosophical traits and beliefs

• I love being outdoors, maybe because I seem to be part tree. I hate being trapped under a roof or inside, though I've learnt to live with it a little.
• I'm not fond of driving or cars, though Melbourne is very geared towards it. I'd rather walk or ride my bike if possible.
• I need to be physically active. You'll often find me stretching, and when performing I tend to be highly physical and energetic.
• I'm not good at following rules and regulations - I'm just a tad too anti-authority. But if you ask me nicely, I'll do as much as I possibly can for you because I like you.
• People who try to prove spiritual or mystical concepts using physics laws generally irritate me.
• Clothing to me is pretty much all costume, there for appearance's sake. So I wear slightly unusual things, and find this normal. I also have a big clothing and costume collection to cover many different kinds of appearances. Life sometimes seems like one big dress-up-party.
• I don't go into music shops unless I've got money to spare - I can't walk out without buying something. I find music very addictive and enthralling, and love listening to lots of different kinds. It's almost better than chocolate.
• I'm big on real food. Stuff that's come from real sources, with a minimum of processing and additives and takings-outs, preferably fresh.
• I'm also vegetarian, for the most part.
• Because I'm big on real food, curious and experimentative with a wide knowledge of plants and food products, and anti-rules (e.g. anti-recipes), my cooking can sometimes be an adventure. Don't be afraid to invite yourself to dinner.
• I am not possessive of people. I'm not very possessive of stuff either (though I can't make myself get rid of music). My spare room belies this statement, but it's true. Really.
• I'd rather decorate my house with colour, light and space than with anything else. Space is an important part of the construction. There should be room for emptiness.
• The things I buy are in preference efficient, compact, minimal in style and decoration, functional, and simple. I like to simplify things down to their key ideas. Raw identity is good.
• My clock runs backwards.
• I strongly dislike smelly stuff.
• I don't watch TV, haven't owned one for almost ten years now. I don't miss it. I also don't watch movies very often, and haven't seen most of them. I don't find this a lack.
• The spiritual side of life is highly important to me.
• I believe that we don't rule our environment or our planet, we caretake it. We do not have dominion, other than in the sense that this is where we live and it's the *only* place we live.