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I have been very fortunate in my life. I have had good jobs and opportunities and worked for many years in the commercial travel industry. But it all came crashing down six years ago, when my partner of 16 years found someone else.

I had no house, no car, I was left with bills. I thought to myself: I could fight, and get half. And I thought: I don鈥檛 know if I can do that.聽

In the end, I left it. What is due to him will come to him. But – our friends were his friends, and after that I was very much on my own.聽

Through this difficult experience, I quickly realised that money and possessions aren鈥檛 everything. Security is everything.

I went away to NSW and lived with my sister for one year, and I did a nursing course. Through that, I was offered a job. At the same time, I was offered another job back in Melbourne, full time, working in the travel industry again. I decided to go back.

My new boss had his own business and had major contracts with union people. Covid came and it was no issue for our work; it was 24 hours a day throughout the pandemic, and I went about rebuilding my life.

My boss was a bit paranoid, and this increasingly became an issue. After a year or so, I lost my job. I found somewhere to stay and was receiving some money from the government.聽

My sister had a son in Penrith who had been injured and was in constant pain, with a lot of issues. He had kids who were young adults, but no one was caring for him. So, I went there to take care of him. I lasted four days. He had some extreme views and opinions that were just really unpleasant, and I drew a line.

However he really was in need, so we came to an agreement about his manners and what I could do for him. I moved into the three-bedroom apartment and became his carer. We got on fine after that initial hiccup and things went along like that for 20 months.

But sadly, my nephew鈥檚 condition became worse; he became sick and then he died. The family was upset, the situation became difficult, and I was ultimately evicted. I couch surfed for a while, and I became very depressed.

A friend mentioned Link Wentworth to me and so one day, late in the day, I went in and I met Sharyne. She stayed back late to see me and took a few notes about my case, and was so kind, I became hopeful. It was up and down for a while, seeing properties and not knowing whether it would be a home for me, and trying to imagine my life there. But I kept thinking, 鈥淩emember, there are people worse off than you.鈥�

When I heard from Sharyne that I had been successful in getting a house I could not believe it. I kept pinching myself. I actually lost the keys on the first day! It was a struggle furnishing my place but I thought to myself, 鈥淚 can make this work鈥�. And I did.聽

My mother was orphaned, and she was someone who always was making the best of what she had. I also have this view. You hope that things will work out, and if not, then it was not meant to be. My mother was someone who didn鈥檛 like to cause trouble for anyone. She has been gone for 13 years now. I do feel that I speak to her. I wouldn鈥檛 say that I am religious, but I do feel something is there.

I was born in Queensland on the Gold Coast, and I grew up in New Zealand and in Sydney鈥檚 eastern suburbs. I landed in Canberra, where I worked and met my partner, and then we moved to Melbourne and lived in Moonee Ponds for the 16 years we were together.

I always worked throughout my life. I started out making choc tops in a Theatre. I would get bloody hands from making choc tops when the pre-prepared ones ran out! I went on to be an usher, became head usher and worked at the State Theatre, where I managed 60 people.聽

I later took a course in Travel, and loved it; I found a fascination for commercial travel and pursued it further with a Masters course.聽

I worked in this industry for 14 years or so, and it was intense work: planning entire trips and connecting people with the practicalities of their travels, arranging visas, being on hand when things go wrong, finding solutions and rescheduling flights and so on, to keep trips on track. It is high pressure. I thought I loved the job; I was getting in early and leaving late. I had lots of wonderful experiences – but the anxiety was building up.聽

I did have the opportunity to visit some wonderful places. Some of my favourites were Vancouver and London. I toured the Rockies in the US which was wonderful. There鈥檚 a lot of Australia I haven鈥檛 seen, which is on my wish list. I only recently realised that the Dreaming is Australia鈥檚 Aboriginal peoples鈥� 鈥榖ible鈥�. There is a path there that I don鈥檛 fully understand, but I would like to learn more.

My sister did the family tree, and I was amazed to find that on one side we have connection to Dick Turpin, the famous English highwayman, and also Joseph Smith, who was the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as The Mormons.

I took a break from travel when my relationship ended; when I returned, I realised the strain it had put on me, without me noticing. Sometimes, the heart is the part that is not really seen.

In my current job, I am unofficially third in charge of a large retail outlet. When you work with young people there is an age difference, you notice it as an older person. I feel the kids I work with look at me hesitantly at times. At work I have a way of interacting with people, which comes with lived experience. I try to make it enjoyable!聽 Seniors can be expensive to employ, so we get less shifts. Some of the other colleagues around my age are on a Whats App chat, and we support each other.

I try to think young, I decided not to take ageing as it鈥檚 expected. I want to know what young people are thinking and doing, how they see the world. At work, I try to be someone for them to come and talk to about work things. I think we need to try and leave them something as good as, or better.

For myself, I have found that security. I have my place, I have my pay. I do my budgeting and try and save a bit. I don鈥檛 have the urge to travel. One thing I cannot stress enough is how extremely grateful I am to Link Wentworth; I have received so much from them, I feel that I cannot thank them enough. Every person who has assisted me has done so with unbelievable kindness and generosity, above and beyond their jobs. I see it as a place of heart and caring. I just want to give back.聽

I was quite depressed, and so as things are now, it鈥檚 just a joy to be alive.