Washed off a break wall,
lost my job,
and then my Dad passed away.
I was called into a meeting, and requested to sit within eyesight of a termination letter. I look up to see the new owner of the business - younger than my second child with the grin of ‘my family bought me a new business’ glaring awkwardly at me through the sweat that started sliding off his newly manicured bald head. 'When?' I ask. ‘Take a minute’ he said.
Only two days before, my daughter and I decided to walk the south break wall at Coffs Harbour. Recently I had helped in filming ‘accessible local destinations by wheelchair’ for the company I was working for. The irony right! I happened to be filming when we were struck by a freak wave. Myself along with 10 others were washed onto the rocks. I emerged with my thumb dislocated, new shoes gone and unable to find my daughter. Frantically screaming her name, others were found with her amongst the rocks, just above the waters edge.
The next day was spent x-raying and scanning, and plastering my hand and arm. I called in to work from the hospital to finish an editorial about the new owners taking over the business to be printed in the local newspaper that week. More Irony! If I had known about the ‘take a minute’ the next morning, It would have read very differently.
If only they had spent a little time talking with me they would have found that I was happy to leave to spend time with my Dad who was very sick at the time. Even though I couldn't impress anyone in a job interview with a pen taped to a plastered hand, I could still dial a phone to the Fair Work Commission.
In the weeks unfolding, I found myself in the position of preparing a service, hosting relatives, and educating myself in a process very unfamiliar to me as well as dealing with the pain of losing someone so close whom I loved - My Dad. As well as this, I had a week to search through photos, trying to remember dates, places and memories. With no sleep for days, I prepared a tribute to honour my Dad’s life.
It was only on reflection that I could see how amazing it would have been to have had him with me to prepare it. After all, it was all about him. The ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ he should have been there to tell me.
That was 5 years ago, and since then I have been asked to prepare many similar tributes for friends and family.
With a career in nursing and diversional therapy with Anglicare for 14 years, as well as working in advertising, logo and branding, graphics, administration payroll and bookkeeping online, I now have the privilege of working for myself, doing what I love and am passionate about.
This is why
My Life My Story
was created.
