SingAlong

PROFILE

After a wonderful country childhood in the New England area of NSW, I attended high school
in Sydney, close to my mother's family - memories of travel by steam trains with sleeper
carriages - an experience!

I graduated from Hawkesbury District Hospital as a State Registered nurse, and set out to
see the world - everyone travelled by sea, as both the Suez and Panama Canals were open
and the cruise ships were packed with young people.

Marvelous temporary agent jobs were available in London - we flatted in groups and saved in
order to hire self-drive cars or modified campervans to visit the UK and Europe - and took a
'Eurail Pass', to see Scandinavia with Youth Hostel Accommodation everywhere. Met so many
people - good friendships were made.

I worked a year in Bavaria grooming horses - and teaching English to the children -
(obviously I spoke fluent German after this) with trips down to the Tyrol in Austria for skiing -
I bought a little German VW - a beetle - with left-hand drive. Visiting the UK ("Fahren auf
dem links!!!!") was quite an adventure!

Returned home after driving out to Iran - and arrived in Sydney without any money - one
shilling coin (found in the bowels of my handbag) was changed to 2 5c pieces - which meant
2 phone calls - my goodness - that's another story. I worked at the local hospital, then
married a farmer resulting in 6 children - studied and gained an ACTL in Teacher Singing,
also an ATCL in Speech and Drama - then began to teach which I enjoyed. Played in many
musicals and led choirs in the places where I lived.

After my husband died I returned to nursing until retirement, caring for my parents until they
too passed on - after which I was free and moved up to Buderim to become a Queenslander.
I am 'Grandma' to 4 children, with another wedding coming up in Taiwan next year.
I have joined many groups - and love being here -my interests are many and varied
QCWA,(Post Branch President), Choral Society(Post Secretary) Church choir member,
Buderim BWMCA (about to become Secretary), a member of the Foote Sanctuary -( I 'weed'
weekly) plus the CCC! Cheers for Patch Adams -
Life is a ball - it's in your court so enjoy the ride and keep smiling.

Helen Cooper