In 1999, I developed Macular Degeneration, and went on sick leave for 9 months. I did not know if I would ever return to work again, but QR were obliged to try, so they purchased a CCTV with a camera, which when attached to a monitor, magnifies text, books, anything really, and a software program called Zoom Text, which is a screen magnifier, and will even talk to you if you want. So, I returned to work as a Senior Systems Analyst, one step down. I was not sure I could even do that job, as my confidence had taken a huge hit.
However, I adapted to my new situation, and after about 6 months, through QR, did a Microsoft Systems Management course, and became the SMS Manager for that area of QR. Now for those of you who are not familiar with the IT world, SMS is a system whereby software installations, updates, upgrades, bug fixes etc. are all sent down a network cable to PC's, and installed when the user chooses. These have to be “packaged”, which means, adapted to suit the company’s IT environment, and a ‘wrapper’ put around it. This overcomes the need to visit each PC and do everything manually.
As often happens in large organisations, QR upgraded their computer operating system. I was seconded to the SOE team, (SOE means Standard Operating Environment). This involved developing the SOE, and then installing it on each user’s PC, along with all their other software.
As often happens in large organisations, QR underwent a restructure. Which led to the main IT division gobbling up all the smaller IT divisions, one of which I was in. Hey presto, no job. Although as I was still under secondment, I moved into the Test lab, which tested all new applications, new versions of applications and packaged them, much as I was doing before. It was only supposed to be a 3-month secondment, but I stayed there until I retired in 2006, 5 years later.
On a personal level, I was fist married in 1968, at the tender age of 19, Way too young.
However, I have 2 fine boys from that marriage, who are now 47 and 49, with 5 children between them. They both live in Strathalbyn.
In 1979 I separated from and divorced my first wife. In 1982 I married my second wife Penny, who had two boys the same age as mine.
While in Adelaide, I joined an amateur theatre group, the Stirling Players, where I was an actor for about five years.
Penny and I moved to Brisbane in 1990; Penny was a teacher, and got a job at Griffith Uni, teaching ESL students, while I was studying. Penny later started her PhD and got a job as a lecturer at QUT, coincidentally the same Uni where I was studying, but a different campus.
Once I finished my degree, and settled in at QR, I Joined another theatre group, the API Theatre.
I did some more thespian work with them, including 2 David Williamson plays; ‘Travelling North’, in which I played the doctor, and ‘The Emerald City’, in which I had the major role of Colin Rogers, a screenwriter, who moves from Melbourne to Sydney. Both of these plays were made into movies.
In 1997 I won a Best Actor Award in the Dalby One Act Play Festival for my role as Daddy in Edward Albee’s “The American Dream”. In the play, we all had American accents and one of the judges was American. She would not believe that I was not from the US. Her response was “I know an American when I hear one.”
I did no acting after I was diagnosed with MD until 2014, when I went to Strahan in Tasmania, and performed in a play called "The Ship that Never Was", in which I played the part of a convict (while building a ship onstage), a Scottish ship builder, and a Chilean governor.
While living in Brisbane, I wanted to do something in the community; so I tried to join the Men’s Help Line, but ironically, they had moved to Melbourne, so I joined Lifeline, did a training course, and spent 2 ½ years as a telephone councillor.
On the day Penny and I retired, in March 2006, Penny was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She died in August 2009. I am still in touch with her 2 boys in Canberra. One has 2 girls and twin boys, and the other has a little girl.
During Penny’s illness, I joined a choir, Pro Musica Singers, where I was treasurer for 2 1/2 years, the choir gave regular concerts and sang Christmas carols at different venues, I then sang with the Qld Performing Arts Centre choir for 6 months.
While Penny was ill, Alice, whom I had known for about 20 years, moved up to Brisbane from Sydney, where she was a TAFE lecturer, and was looking after her elderly father, until he died. She rented a house which we have now sold, on Russell Island. Beautiful spot, on an acre of land with water views. She stayed with us on and off, to help look after Penny.
After Penny died, I went over to Russell Island, to get away from everything for a while.
Alice and I were married in Melbourne by Penny’s brother Geoff, who is an Orthodox priest. We then went back to Queensland.
9 months after moving to Russell Island, we upped sticks and moved somewhere closer to the family – Melbourne, to a suburb called Rowville, which was not the most wonderful after Russell Island. So then we discovered Emerald in the Dandenongs.
We lived there for 4 years, where I joined the Emerald Rotary club, and looked after their website, created a Facebook page, and did their weekly electronic newsletter.
I didn’t see much of my immediate family, so we moved to Goolwa 6 years ago, and well, we just love it here.
I was with the Goolwa rowing club for 18 months, after which I joined the Coorong Dragons (dragon boat club). I am also a member of the Adelaide recumbent riders and the Goolwa Probus club.
I have also joined a choir called the Riverport Singers, who sing a range of music, all a capella (unaccompanied).
President Wendy Lippett
Secretary Greg Casson
and outside badge. Also a Centurian box for Rotary Foundation and a Callistamon plant. Meredith was appointed to the Environment committee.
