J

Hi, my name is Jennifer, I love looking after people! Before I had my own family I was a nanny for eight years in Sydney and I loved it! Only two families in that time and a new born in each household which was magic. That was twenty one years ago and I'm still in touch with those children and families and that fills me with happiness! I finished nannying when my daughter arrived in 1997 and when her brother came along in 2000 I was fortunate enough to have the choice of staying home. In a flash they were both at school and I became P&C President for five years and ran the canteen committee.We raised tens of thousands of dollars which was then poured back into the school and wider community through numerous charities. I made friends for life there and met some incredible people all working towards a better community. As my children reached high school I decided it was time for me to rejoin the workforce and I went out and got my WATS ( wheelchair accessible taxi ) licence. I spent the next five years transporting disabled passengers across Newcastle.Many of them becoming great friends through this process. This time included a regular school run with three gorgeous kids all with cerebral palsy.This girls varied in age from six to sixteen and we had a ball together twice a day five days a week. I still miss them! Helping people,making friends,sharing my love of life and spending time with wonderful new humans is a true joy and through becoming a hero I hope to continue doing these things for many years to come. I've always been a fairly land locked person!The extent of my travels on water consisted of Sydney ferries around the harbour and the five minute trip across Newcastle harbour to Stockton. So when I met my new partner two years ago and found out one of his great passions was sailing I felt lost to say the least! Not only did I not know one end of the yacht from the other I was pretty certain the thought of launching myself out onto the seas in a small vessel would absolutely terrify me! Never the less I was in love and if trying my hand at sailing was going to help this relationship along I decided I had to give it a shake. I signed up for a sailing course and spent a couple of hours a week trying to memorise all the jargon and learn which rope did what.Eventually I began to relax and trust the wind rather then fear it. I was still completely out of my comfort zone but definitely beginning to see why so many people fall in love with the freedom of sailing.After I completed the course I started twilight racing on Lake Macquarie and the sharp learning curve continued. My partner and I searched for and found a lovely old forgotten 27 foot yacht which we bought and are currently restoring. Another first for me but I'm becoming a dab hand at sanding and painting. After many bruises,dunkings and a few tears I think I can consider myself a sailor now!I don't see a Sydney to Hobart in the near future for me but I'll never say never! I feel proud to have conquered my fear of the unknown and put myself out there and had a real go. A favourite quote of mine is: " Love and compassion are necessities,not luxuries. Without them,humanity cannot survive. " Dalai Lama