Personal updates from 2007 onward

I had been living in the Yukon before I came to Oz for the 30 year reunion. When I returned to Canada I decided to move to Vancouver and have been here ever since. In August 2002 I married my long term partner, Englishman Don Read. Don is a Dr of Neuropsychology in private practice. He specialises in assessing people with head and brain injuries and he has lived in Canada for about 40 years. He's sweet and funny and very good to me. I feel very blessed. I'm retired and I absolutely love it!

My partner Matt and I set up house together in 2000. We had both come from Melbourne to sunny Queensland but we had not actually lived together before. At first we had no intention of getting married again, either of us (we have 7 children between us and 3 grandchildren) but while we were planning a holiday to Vanuato we decided to be very romantic and celebrate a quiet wedding on the beach. The Mayor of Port Vila was the celebrant and it was a traditional Polynesian affair. It was incredibly beautiful.

It was nice to get the AO in 2000, but in 2002 I was lucky enough to get a place at the National Art School. So Helen and I mostly lived in Sydney for the next three years as I acquired a bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. I now have a studio at M16 in Kingston where I continue to pursue the paint across the canvas. I also do some consultancy and review work for the intelligence and national security community here and overseas.

As I have missed the reunions I also thought I ought to tell you all a bit more about my life after Telopea.
After high school I went back to the Netherlands to study medicine in Rotterdam. There I quickly developed an interest in policy making and management. I did my masters and PhD in public health and social medicine. Stayed on as a lecturer at the medical faculty until 1986.
. . . more from Gaspard

I retired from my business in 1999 and rekindled the portrait painting skills I developed at high school. After four rusty years of mixed satisfaction I returned to a very changed IT world. I now develop Internet-based applications using a range of programming tools. I enjoy cycling and walking; try to be a better cook; dabble with the idea of a historically-based novel; and I keep a primed canvas on my easel waiting for inspiration to strike! With my partner, Eva, and our Border Collie, Beau, I couldn't be happier.

Lyne and I are well and living a quiet lifestyle in Launceston. Lyne works four days a week in a garden centre whilst I have my own garden maintenance business doing gardens, landscaping and irrigation installations. Two of our children gravitated to Launnie and we now have five grandchildren in Tassie to keep us honest.   I have to tell you my hobby — I started playing the bagpipes in 1990 and in 2005 I played in the World Championships in Glasgow, also at Edinburgh and Stirling Castles and the Orkney Isles!

While I feel 20ish, my reflection affirms that I have joined the older generation. I have farewelled my mother, have somehow seen the kids safely into adulthoods to be proud of and have collected a posse of grand-nieces and nephews. My working life has delivered both bracing and enthralling twists and turns which seem to have come together now pretty well. Its been a busy decade that has taught me to take things lightly and to remember, when challenged, that “this too will pass”. Bring on the 60s; I’m ready!

I now live in Sydney after many years in Melbourne and work in Corporate Affairs with Caltex. I've returned to early interests and am back on the archaeology circuit — focussing on Middle East and Roman North Africa. I'm even studying Arabic, and on a good day can write my name and read signposts. For example — 'Iraq border 2 kilometres' at one of my favourite sites in Syria this year. I'd be delighted to hear from any fellow archaeology enthusiasts. Or anyone else who feels like getting in touch.

Bill and I sold Southlands Gallery in 2000 and for a time I managed a shop in the Hyatt Hotel promoting local artists. Deciding to do more of my own linocut art we sold our house in Darwinia Terrace 6 months before the bushfires and moved to the South Coast. After holding several art exhibitions I completed an Art Therapy course at The College of Complementary Medicine in Sydney. I'll use art therapy in community groups and teach my own courses while continuing to produce my own work — so it looks like I will never retire!

So what's Graham Moore been doing for the last 10 years ?
Hang on, we didn't see him at the 30th reunion (We couldn't find him !) so what's he been doing for the last — woo — 40 years ?
Well, thank you for asking. After fleeing the bosom and security of both family and public service at the age of 23, I became an actor, mostly unemployed — as they do, in Melbourne.
. . . more from Graham

After 30 years as a full-time musician I’m now a psychologist in the community service sector — challenging but rewarding, and I still do some freelance playing. I was pleasantly surprised by grandfatherhood last year — hadn't thought I was ready for that phase of life, but it's a delight. I cycle and bushwalk when possible, and partner Sarah and I retreat to a bush block near Daylesford in central Vic where one day we might build a house, or then again we might never have time. Life's still too busy, but it's satisfying.

Here is a brief summary of the past decades (looks like a job application form, sorry!)
1968 spring, left Australia for Vienna
1969 Austrian Army (compulsory) — Extensive examinations for admission to university (NSW Higher School Certificate was not recognized wholly)
1970 started on medicine
. . . more from Michael

I have two wives, de jure Janet, and de facto Suzhen. Janet is director of Lawasia and lives in Brisbane with youngest daughter Annie 19. My other two daughters, Eliza 26 and Mary 28, also live in Brisbane. Businesswoman Suzhen and I live in a Sydney apartment. I changed course 2001 after a 'career' in computing and consulting. I work for Suzhen mornings, and a consulting friend afternoons in his audiovisual business. I tinkle on piano, write short stories, swim, walk and every year or so try a major bushwalk.