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About Me

I am a tech phobe person who cannot work out how to place a photo in a document, scan something or even send a fax! Instead I devote myself to things I can do.
I am the lucky owner of a Kia Soul and a very interesting life. When I was 19 I got to marry an angel and I decided to keep him. It surprised me that I ended up with 5 children, I had intended to be a rock star.
In between raising kids and greeting grandkids I made some award winning films and founded an International Film Festival all about nourishing films. The festival went off like a little rocket and I hung on tight while learning the ins and outs of event management. One day ABC's 'Australian Story' ran out of incredibly sad stories so they came to our happy festival and filmed me instead. Had I known they were going to virtually live with us for 8 days I would never have agreed.
A few years ago my life was transformed through gratitude and so much happened that it seemed too good to be true . This led me to start researching gratitude and what I found out made me even more excited, so much so that I want to run out into the street and grab people by the shoulders and tell them what I knew that happiness is so easily accessed, I wanted everyone to know.
I somehow managed to restrain that overwhelming impulse and channel it into what has become Goodness Gracious Me (all sorts of great stuff) and also the workplace oriented training program: The 30 Day Gratitude Challenge. At the moment I am also the Creative Director on a brand new 2 day event in Sydney, Australia called Wired for Wonder... an initiative of Comm Bank - and what a wonderful initiative - bit of a dream event for me... full of heart, wisdom and wonder.
With my experience in the film world I know that film is a wonderful way to get a message out so my husband, Phil, and I are well into the interview phase of a documentary named Goodness Gracious Me! - The Documentary. We have been honored to interview some of the world leaders in the area of gratitude research, brain science, and psychology exciting stuff.
I also get to review positive feel good films for ABC Radio Coast FM on a little show named I Love that Film! During my life I have run businesses, events, seminars and, occasionally, into trouble. The things I like best are my family, listening to music, learning life lessons, contributing to change, reading in bed, and getting to know people. I am particularly addicted to telling inspiring stories.

Location:
Australia, Sunshine Coast Queensland
Current organization:
Wired for Wonder
Past organizations:
Goodness Gracious Me, 30 Day Gratitude Challenge
Current role:
Film Director, co producer, co writer etc
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
Public Speaking, Relationships, Communication & Emotional Intelligence, Filmmaker, Event & Project Management, Communicating Vision, Being a mother of 5, Pulling Rabbits out of Hats, Making marriage work
I am:
Brainstormer, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Filmmaker, Idea generator, Parent, Social entrepreneur
Associations:
National Speakers Association of Australia
My website links:
Goodness Gracious Me, 30 Day Gratitude Challenge, Wired for Wonder
Universities:
University of Newcastle

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Good relationships
Family
Films that bring wisdom and change and laughter.
Gratitude
People with fire in their belly
The idea that ordinary people can change the world through everyday actions

An idea worth spreading

'You find what you look for" - these 6 simple words changed so many things in my life. Look for the good and, wow, like a light shining from the corner of your eye... there it is. It may not be easy to spot at first, but in each of us there good and in almost every situation there is good. If we find the good and take time to appreciate it, then life is wonderful! Gratitude and wonder - they come out of this approach to life.

Talk to me about

Easy ways to get happier, make life richer, happy marriage

People don't know that I'm good at

Making Soup

My TED Story

I came across TED while I was in Oxford attending the Skoll World Forum for Social Entrepreneurs. On my return home I started watching .... and still keep watching. Love TED and tell everyone about it. TED is one of my favourite things.. Next month I get to live a little dream and speak at TEDx Noosa...

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