The Rambling Rose
Hoping you can follow along with my big adventure…
At the age of 57 and a bit, I decided to bite the bullet and retire from my job as a casual journalist and sub-editor with The Northern Daily Leader newspaper in Tamworth. I’d been walking in and out of that old building on and off for more than 30 years.
Life is far too short to do something you’re not entirely happy doing – and, although I love writing, I wasn’t happy to stay on as the paper transcended into News Now – a new form of publishing and presentation being rolled out to all Fairfax publications.
At the age of 29 (29 years ago), I was employed by Ann Newling at The Leader as a casual journalist. I’d had no writing experience, apart from being subliminally taught the ropes by the most wonderful mentor you could imagine, my late husband Jazzer Smith.
Jazzer, a Tasmanian native, wrote The Book of Australian Country Music in 1983, and I was fortunate to be able to assist him with the physical input of those stories and profiles.
He was a wonderful man, a gifted wordsmith, an enthusiastic drummer and vocalist, and the love of my life.
I’ve always enjoyed finding a good yarn and in 30-odd years of writing for The Leader, I met some incredible people with the best stories.
It got me thinking that if there were that many people around the Tamworth district with fabulous stories to tell – what if I broadened my search area and went much further afield?
So, after voicing the idea to someone I was interviewing in late April, that I could rent out my house, buy a motorhome and drive off into the sunset, that’s just what I’ve done.
And it’s been pretty eventful so far. Every day brings a new adventure or challenge. And I’m up for it. Hope you’ll join me on this ramble around the country.
Cheers,
Anna
P.S. Who knows… perhaps I’ll get to meet you on my travels… if you see me, say hello!