Where and how long have you lived in Sydney’s east:
I’ve been living in the east for 31 years since moving back home to Australia from Canada. We moved to Canada when I was 1 years old and were only meant
to stay there for 6 months but stayed for 17years!
My whole family moved back to Australia in 1989 and my mum still lives in the family house my dad grew up in. We live in Coogee.
How many children:
We’ve got two children an 11 year old girl and ten year old boy.
Favourite Park:
There are so many to choose from but it’s hard to go past Centennial Park. I remember cycling around that park every day before work when I first moved
back from Canada. We once lost a puppy in Centennial park and spent the night walking around it calling out her name. Thank goodness she ended up on
our doorstep in the morning.
Now a-days the kids love to ride through the park discovering the many trails on their bikes.
Favourite Beach:
I love both Coogee and Clovelly beaches but I’d have to say nothing beats jumping off the Northern slab in the summer months at Clovelly and looking for
Bluey around the rocks.
Favourite kid friendly cafe:
We are spoilt for cafes but the kids favourite is Green Mango in Clovelly. They love the smoothies and the extra chocolate thick shakes. We stop off at
the Kake Cafe in North Randwick on our way back from Centennial Park because the staff are just so friendly and the food is great.
Favourite Coffee Spot:
I normally grab my coffee at home but if I was to go out for a coffee it would be to Gordon’s on Clovelly
Road, best coffee and super friendly
staff. It’s also a favourite lunch and rose Friday arvo spot.
Favourite date night place:
We’ve been checking out karaoke venues because my husband is singing in a band for the Law Rocks fundraiser soon so he wants to get some practice. This
has taken us to Newtown, Leichhardt and all the venues in the east that offer Karaoke!
Favourite Local Day Out Activity:
We’ve been heading out on Saturdays mornings for cycle down to the UNSW gym for a game of basketball then back home through Centennial Park. The new path
across Allison Road is perfect for the kids. We ride on the footpath everywhere – too scary on our roads.
Favourite Local Shop:
I love our local shops, Laugh & Learn toy shop in Randwick and further down the road the pastries, especially
the cherry strudel from the Sweet Spot is divine. Sushi Kun in Clovelly has the very best sushi in the east, and it’s always super fresh, they never compromise. Every Wednesday night we do Pinto Thong
Thai.
Favourite wet weather location:
I’m partial to a walk in the rain along the coast from Gordon’s Bay to Bondi to watch the ocean waves. The dog loves it too.
Describe an ideal day in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for you?
I still pinch myself that we live so close to the most beautiful beaches in the world and we have such a stunning coastal walk. A perfect day in the east
would be enjoying the beaches and a sunset cocktail on the rooftop at the Coogee Pav.
What area of the east have you yet to explore much but would like to?
I’d like to explore La Perouse and Bare Island Fort…I’ve never been over to the Island. I’ve also heard it’s good snorkelling around there…
I’d love to give that a go too.
Work or SAHM:
I run a group of volunteer fundraisers called The Change Angels. We’re a group of friends
who get together to raise money for registered charities. So far, with the help of our local community we’ve managed to raise over $600,000 in less
than four years.
We’ve been able to support so many charities like Barnardos, women’s and children’s shelters, The Child Protection Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital,
Bravehearts, Fred Hollows Foundation, Little Hereos Swim Academy and many more.
The only requirement is we have to have FUN and be creative in how we get the community involved.
We’re currently organising a High Tea at Dolton House Hyde Park with AusCam Freedom Project to raise money to send Cambodian girls to
school.
This is the first time we have thrown our support behind a charity outside of Australia. Cambodia is one of the world’s poorest countries and a little
goes a very long way. Julie Dowes is a local Maroubra woman and she contacted us to see if we could support with her charity.
After meeting her we were captivated by her enthusiasm and dedication and now we couldn’t be more motivated to help. The High Tea is on Saturday 13th October 2018 and
we have a fabulous line-up – MC is Sami Lukis, special guest speaker is Melinda Tankard Reist and there will be a live art performance by Sarah Rowan
Dahl. Tickets are selling fast but a few are available if mums would like to come and support us.
I also run a little Buddy Bracelet business and have engaged girls in
Cambodia who have been rescued from the sex trade to make special
“B for Brave” Buddy Bracelets. This provides them with employment
to help them rebuild their lives. We will sell these special bracelets
100% of profits going to AusCam.
Motherly advice :
Be the friend you want to have and stick up for yourself. Try hard and get involved, you are the maker of your destiny.
