Coastal Caring Clowns - Mrs Quickfix

PROFILE

I had an auspicious start to my life. My Mother was on the last ship out of Singapore before
the Japanese took control, the ship was sunk on its way out of the harbour and my Mother,
brother, sister and myself were left in the sea for 16 hours before we were picked up by a
passing Australian freighter who took us to Perth and hence my beginnings to be an
Australian. Sadly my Father was interned in Changi.

I trained as a Speech Therapist in Brisbane and worked for the Farwest Homes in Sydney
dealing with disadvantaged children and then I had a long stint with the Bush Childrens
Homes in Townsville where we had many Aboriginal children coming in for hearing aids,
spectacles, speech work etc., but it was hard work and always the same children returned
three months later with all of their glasses, hearing aids, books etc., lost or broken.

I then had a chance, as my family were relocated to England for several years, to train at
the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and gained my LRAM, LGSM in Drama as a
performer and teacher. I then spent several years as a peripatetic speech teacher visiting
several schools and then I became an examiner for the London Academy of Drama which I
loved. Then a short sojourn in France where I found it difficult to find work as my French
wasn't up to the standard required for teaching but I was able to do some speech work with
blind children.

On returning to Australia, I went to a meeting where Barbara Brewster was giving a talk
about clowns, and for some reason I put my hand up and said i would like to become one,
and that's how I became involved with the Coastal Caring Clowns Inc., and I have enjoyed
the experience enormously.

Laughter is the best medicine, as it requires no prescription and i just love putting smiles on
people's faces.

My family think it hilarious when I get dressed up as a clown and drive away, but for me it
has been a rewarding and enriching experience.

Happy clowning.