I retired from St George Girls on December 21 2011, after 35 years as a Social Science teacher. I left believing that the door would be shut on my teaching career, and that I had to move onto a new career –research and writing. My political career ended in September 2008, when I retired from Kogarah City Council, after 17 years in Local Government.
I have been forced to embrace technology, and have had 2 blogs set up –annefield.net.au in July 2013 and annefieldauthor.com in mid – June 2014. I am delighted that my blog, by August 16 2014, has been read in 80 countries around the world.
I am asked when I meet people I have not seen for a while “What am I doing in retirement? “ They sometimes clarify this by saying “of course, we read about some of your local activities in the St George Leader. “
What have I done since leaving St George Girls High School? I remain committed to a productive, diversified and challenging future – my speech highlights this.
During early 2012, I spent time much time researching a planned adventure. I knew that, on March 12 2012, it was 100 years since my Scottish Grannie has left London to sail to Australia. I wanted to honour Grannie’s journey, and decided to think outside the square and to do something different.
Fortunately, I found Mark in Albany, Western Australia. Mark was an around the world sailor, who had put a bottle out to sea when he and his crew were circumnavigating Cape Horn about 5 years ago. I had found someone who could help me to carry out my adventure. Objective achieved – bottle to sea, south of West Cape Howe in the Southern Ocean on April 19 2012; 100 years to the day that my Grannie sailed past Albany. However, the bottle washed back in and was found by a Perth fisherman at Bremer Bay, Western Australia. I reclaimed it in late July 2012, in Perth, from the fisherman’s wife.
I then had to decide where to recommit the bottle to sea; Mark insisted that it be returned to the ocean. This took time – consultation with Bass Strait fishermen, and then oceanographers at the CSIRO in Hobart . A decision was then made –the recommittal was to be out of Eden. On September 30 2012, Grannie’s bottle was recommitted to the ocean, and I put a bottle out to sea which also honoured my Yorkshire connections. Objective achieved.
This story was You Tubed under Anne’s Adventure, in July 2013, and in mid -2014 is the subject of a planned ebook.
In late September 2012 onwards, I ran the community campaign for Kogarah residents, to save Griffith House which was located on the St George Hospital campus. The campaign continued until early May 2013, when sadly the Victorian House was demolished by the Department of Health.
In mid- 2013, I flew to London, primarily to attend the 50th Anniversary of my late partner’s football team winning a major trophy in 1963. This celebration was to be held in the north of England- near Wakefield. A book on the History of the Football Club was written by Professor Dave Waddington from Sheffield Hallam Universtity. (Dave is the son of the team’s captain) I am honoured and delighted that Harold features on the book’s cover- he is jumping for the ball in goals. (Harold was the team’s goalkeeper of some repute.)
After Wakefield and Edinburgh, I then went on to visit my relatives in Glasgow returning home through Hong Kong. I caught up with two ex -St George Girls in Hong Kong enjoying a day at Sha Tin Races with the ladies. We enjoyed a lovely buffet lunch in the International Visitors Room.
During the remainder of 2013, I worked with 4 other heritage advocates from across Sydney, to produce Saving Our Community’s Heritage and Action Plan. These documents were launched by the Shadow Minister for Heritage, Barbara Perry on November 10 2013.
female viagra for sale Leimo also provides their Personal Hair Laser device which is the world’s first cordless device and a very beneficial hair loss breakthrough ever made that effectively works to halt hair loss in the past Sickle cell anaemia and leukaemia Extra long erection problem Men over 75 years of age (unless prescribed by the doctor and on low dosage) Partially deformed penis Usage of other impotency drugs Allergy. These injuries could be classified as injuries which are low cost cialis referred to as complete or incomplete. It is said that cheap viagra without prescription amongst mammals, only human being along with rabbits utilize sexual intercourse for satisfaction. Since the problem has aimed at quite a large number of male entities, therefore, it has cheap viagra from uk become a concern. The National Trust Heritage Awards were held on May 14 2014 at Doltone House, Pyrmont. I decided to document the fight to save Griffith House and entered this document into the Advocacy Category, National Trust Heritage Awards. Saving our Community’s Heritage and Action Plan were submitted into the Education Category. It took a considerable effort to document the community campaign. In recent months, I have presented the publication to the 3 local Councils.
After meeting a published author in early March 2014, my thoughts then turned to an ebook. My Bottle Overboard story on my blog has had 999 views as of August 27 2014, and You Tube has had 1580 views as of August 24 2014. My story is a social history of Scottish immigration with some adventure thrown in. In late April 2014, I joined an ebook club.
I resumed work on my Moorefield racecourse research in 2013, but did not achieve a substantial amount of research due to my work on the Griffith House campaign. I have been researching material throughout 2014. The reads of my Moorefield speeches on my blogs are travelling well- one speech has had 1088 views as of August 27 2014.
In late July 2014 in Coffs Harbour, I met the grandson of an old Moorefield horse trainer to view his archival records. I have fortunately been given access to these records.
Over the past few years, I have travelled to Perth to see my Aunt and Uncle. (My Aunt passed away in 2013 , and my Uncle in 2014. ) I have also travelled to Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, and Canberra.
I am still waiting to complete my Bass Strait adventure with a Port Welshpool fisherman! We made contact when I was deciding where to recommit my bottle to the ocean. Geoff and I have remained in contact since mid-2012. And when we do finally meet, we plan to put another bottle overboard into Bass Strait …..
I maintain my political interest in the local area. I was pleased to be appointed to Rockdale City Council’s Library Advisory Committee, by Council, in December 2013.This Committee was set up to assist in the planning of a new library in 2016) and I was also appointed to the Community Engagement Committee at St George Tafe, September 2013.
Raine passed away on March 31 2013, and Marietta passed away on February 20 2014. Lizzie and James, my new dogs, joined Harry (named after Harold and Prince Harry) in early March 2014. Lizzie is the naughtiest Cavalier I have owned, and she certainly keeps me on my toes.
I have continued to write many articles for my blogs since 2013. I am actively encouraged by a close friend to write more articles. In 2013 and 2014, I entered the Hurstville Discovery Writers Competition.
I did not know it at the time,that someone was doing me a huge favour in MY LIFE AFTER in forcing me to use my creative skills. My future in working with the written word will be exciting, challenging and rewarding.
Anne Field
August 27 2014
