Debbie & Timmy
I was born and educated in Melbourne, completing the Higher School Certificate at McKinnon High School and winning the school's English Prize.
After leaving school, I studied and played music for some years. A decade later, I got a job as a 'Publisher's Dogsbody' and spent nearly two years at Lonely Planet Publications, as a typesetter, assistant editor and editor.
After switching to the health-care and hospitality fields, in 2007, I began a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing at Holmesglen, graduating in 2012.
I began submitting work to newspapers and magazines whilst a student and by the course's end, was working as a freelance writer.
My first published work was an account of the anniversary of my father's death, published by The Age in April, 2007. The paper continued to publish my work for five years - opinion and personal pieces, a feature and a news item. I still contribute.
The Big Issue magazine published a dozen of my features, short fiction and personal columns between 2008-2012. One feature is published here (under 'Features').
My advocacy work for the Coalition Against Duck Shooting and the Orange-bellied Parrot continues. For these causes, I write and administer a long-running Facebook Page, press releases, a blog, and countless letters to the editor.