From 14 after school at McLennan’s Pharmacy, Swan Street Richmond, where I personally delivered medication to local customers. Then after school again at Dimmeys Store Richmond, and M. Ball & Co (corner Swans & Church Streets Richmond) selling Fabrics & Haberdashery.

At 14 my mother was also eager to provide us with as many personal and professional opportunities in life, so she took us to Allan’s Music in Collins St Melbourne, where famous Trevor Hindmarch taught us music/piano. Mum was so much liked at Allan’s that they asked her to do a television commercial for them. She also encouraged us to take up jazz ballet- well, she was hoping to turn me into a ballerina- I don’t think so…….

At 16, as an A+ Art student, I did work experience at D’Arcy Masius MacManus Advertising Agency in St Kilda Road Melbourne. There I met Peter Russel Clarke and worked on a Just Jeans ad. At the end of my gig, I was asked by the staff to return working there but being 16 and ‘I can work anywhere attitude’ I moved on. Yes I regretted it later.

At 16, 1984, my parents wanted us to buy and run a restaurant business for $150K, so they sent me to work undercover and trial the business in the Chocolate Box Centre Camberwell- I told them my findings- ‘staff giving freebees to their friends and a dishonest ‘books’ Lebanese owner.’ So I saved my parents from losing our family home to the banks. I doubt they remember me doing that.

At 17 after school,  I worked  at Myer Melbourne Department Stores for few years and from 19 at Georges of Collins Street Melbourne  where my new-found knowledge and use of Rede hosiery made me feel ‘a real luxury woman.’

At 17 during my High school Social at Camberwell High School, I organised and hosted my own first fashion parade and designed/made most of the men’s/women’s garments. I also was the first person to introduce and showcase some designs from fashion designer Christopher Chronis.

At 18 I attended seminars at the Melbourne Stock Exchange as I loved ‘business.’ But I loved retail too, because I loved helping people REALLY buy what they REALLY wanted- I was never a pushy salesperson. But those retail days are over now- in fact, in Australia, the customer service attitude hardly exists. I would still love to manage stores- it really is simple to do it ethically and successful and profitable. 

At 18 I was wondering whether to pursue a career in Fashion Design, Law, Psychology. I chose Fashion. I thought I would be arguing alot with the court judges over injustices in the family court system.

I then completed Year 12 HSC (Higher School Certificate).

At 20 I studied Fashion Buying & Merchandising at the Melbourne Institute of Textiles– we were the first students to attend this new course there. There I showed off my infatuation for Yves Saint Laurent- i still have one of his white tailored men’s shirts that I wore whilst working in hospitality in my late 20’s. 

From 21 and for most of my 20’s,  I co-managed a small family business as a fashion buyer where I would travel to Asia to hand pick high quality fashion to sell in Europe. I also worked as co-Supervisor in hospitality in Greece in a major Greek/German owned Hotel Makedonia Palace in Thessaloniki along the bay. The pay and staff respect were *#@! but the hospitality experience was priceless and I loved it! I got to meet Jeff Kennett & his wife Felicity plus some crew from The Age media one afternoon, as they visited my restaurant during the ‘siesta time’ but I was thrilled to say hi, but not when my waiter tipped the red wine on Felicity’s shirt! Ugh! ( I hope she does not remember that!) The constant pressure and task management was my high! I love working in hospitality!

From late 20’s to 2006 I worked in retail again and then changed to the office world: the Melbourne public service and corporate industries. I worked in almost every industry, you cannot imagine. I felt confident enough to work any phone system, to work on any reception desk, to support any Manager/CEO. Of course i worked for many narcissists- it is a given, right?

Also at 28, as I still loved the fashion/media world, I continued studies in acting, fashion, modelling, film.For the next 10 years at least I studied in Melbourne at NIDA, Melbourne Summer Film School, Swinburne Tafe amongst other schools. Whilst working in the corporate worlds I worked in commercials/films e.g. Neighbours, Underbelly, The Wog Boy, many other films/tv series; Sussan’s and other commercials, e.t.c. I also loved working behind the scenes as Producer and Director- It was here I was in my true element as a project manager plus the business/networking skills required as a Producer.

From 28 I also started to read about the New/Age- Metaphysical topics and health related topics. This initially led me to study Certificate of Massage at the Australian School of Therapeutic Massage in Burwood Melbourne. I loved it- I loved healing people from physical pains. So I worked from home and I later set up a room in the Salon area at Myer Melbourne. I just loved making people feel good and enlivened with my treatments. But my hands and arms became tired from the physical pressure, so I continued on in the corporate world.