What is your connection with Bacchus Marsh?
I was born in the United Kingdom and lived there until I was 10, when I moved to New Zealand with my parents. I met and eventually married an Australian … and that’s how we ended up in Bacchus Marsh. My husband needed a job and there was an assistant accountant’s job going at a local hardboards factory (the main employer in the town in those days) and, fortunately, a house was offered to us as well.
How long have you lived in the area?
I’ve lived here since 1972 … a lot of years.
How has Bacchus Marsh changed since you’ve lived here?
In those days, it was a very small town. The board at the entrance of the town said there were 7200 people. It was very much smaller than it is now.
What hats do you wear in the community?
I trained as a teacher and taught for many years. I was the librarian at the local high school for five years and then transferred to Bacchus Marsh Primary School and was there for over 16 years. I’m a member of the Bacchus Marsh Rotary Club. I’ve been involved in fundraising for various projects.
What are you very passionate about?
Through Rotary, we have been raising money for the promotion of an aquatic centre so that we can get some support for building one in the town. As a teacher, I had to teach swimming and I really believe that swimming is the best exercise for all ages and an important safety measure. We need something that’s available all year round for everyone in the community. I’m also very keen to support young children in the town, to give them the best start at school through literacy programs.
Why did you become involved in organising the Bacchus Marsh Flower and Garden show?
I developed an interest in gardening. My parents weren’t gardeners, but once my husband and I bought our house in 1971 I had to develop an interest in gardening because we had quite a big block and it was completely without a garden and overgrown. I had to learn by making a lot of mistakes.
What’s the best and the worst things about Bacchus Marsh?
The best thing is the convenience. It’s fantastic. You are never far from Melbourne, Ballarat or Geelong. It makes life easy for us. But the downside is that the town is getting very big and the infrastructure is not keeping up. The roads are very congested and we haven’t got the best services – an aquatic centre, art gallery, leisure centre – in spite of all our fundraising efforts. But we will keep pushing.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
David (my husband) and I were arrested in Yugoslavia in 1969. We were driving along a narrow road and there was a young guy in the car behind us, trying to impress his girlfriend, and he couldn’t get past us. Eventually we pulled over and the other driver came over to have a fight with David. I got in on the action, but the police arrived from the little town down the hill and bundled us all away to the station. We managed to explain ourselves and we were all let go later.
