More About Me
I am a marriage celebrant located in Fremantle Western Australia. I have had an interesting journey to get here, having previously been a primary school educator and school principal. I am now working as a sustainability educator and urban farmer.
My Story
Here's the official blurb
I have a background in education, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and a Masters in Educational Management. I worked for over 20 years in schools as a special education teacher, visiting consultant, teacher educator and school principal. To the delight of my students and parents, and the chagrin of the more conservative teachers and education department, I loved dressing in silly clothes every Friday. I am highly regarded as an expert presenter, facilitator, trainer and public speaker. (even when I'm wearing fairy wings)
A “sustainable sea change” in 2006 led me and my partner Tim to establish a small B&B in South Fremantle called The Painted Fish - Sustainable Accommodation in a Seaside Garden, which catered for the slight alternative green left of all occupations. Soon life was full - running this business, presenting the award winning Living Smart program, coordinating the famous Hulbert Street Sustainability Fiesta and combining creativity and craft while retrofitting our houses for sustainability.
We now run Ecoburbia, a business aimed at giving people the sustainable skills they need to look forward to the future with hope in our unsustainable world. Our work ranges from presenting workshops on good solar house design at local councils, to inspiring corporate executives to introduce a worm farm to the office kitchen. We are aware that developing community is essential to this work, and so make sure there is lots of interaction, fun and play in whatever they are doing.
Ecoburbia won a Fremantle Chamber of Commerce award in 2011, and a West Australian Best Small Business Environmental award the same year. I was the Fremantle Citizen of the Year in 2011. The next year we were honoured to win the Australia wide Banksia Award for Excellence in Small Business.
But I discovered that awards made very little difference to my life, so I stopped applying for them and I am very content milking goats, talking to my neighbours and tending to the garden.
And of course - conducting ceremonies!
If you are interested in Ecoburbia you can find out more HERE