With Gaye Guest, Keysborough
What is something people don’t know about you?
This question makes me laugh! There are many things people don’t know about me, as I believe everyone needs some mystique about themselves. We don’t have to lay our souls bare on the table for everyone to view and analyse. While people may be critical about me, often I would like people to realise that my life’s experiences have made me the person I am and what I will reveal is that I network well.
What was your most memorable moment?
Of course top of the list is the birth of my children and grandchildren. This would be followed by some of the wonderful moments in my younger life, like being a Queen’s Guide and just knowing that some things that I work behind the scenes at now brings much pleasure to many people.
What would your last meal be?
Food is subjective, but now all I want to know is that it is home grown or organic and not full of chemicals. So just plain good food, grown locally on non-contaminated land.
What do you love most about where you live?
I didn’t grow up in this area, but I love the memory of the old City of Springvale and City of Dandenong which sadly we are losing. Working on the Noble Park Centenary from 2007, I grew to appreciate the proud history of this suburb and sadly that is being whittled away by over development and, dare I say it, sky rail!
What event, past, present or future, would you like to witness?
I would just like to witness some good news stories ongoing. Unfortunately we are being surrounded by such sad circumstances daily that I realise I very rarely really laugh any more. Life is so fast-paced that great moments get very quickly overshadowed and swallowed up by the next event or function and we no longer have time to sit and appreciate what we have around us and the basic things of life. If I could turn back the clock, how I would love to sit with my Dad and we would just make one another laugh ongoing, until our sides ached and we were crying with laughter. That feeling and memory is hard to describe unless you have experienced it yourself.
What is your favourite television show?
I am sick of all these reality TV shows presently as there is no other choice on free to air TV. Maybe a variety show where you were entertained and laughed along with the cast. Bring back reruns of The Graham Kennedy show, Don Lane show and even The Midday show with some very clever skits.
What has been your most embarrassing moment?
I can’t think of any off the top of my head, maybe because I have never wanted to dwell on them. There have probably been plenty of “oopsy“ moments but as they say, if we don’t make mistakes we can’t learn from them, so I can’t say I have locked any particular moments in my memory bank. Sorry to be so boring, but that’s life like it or lump it!
At school I …
… never really left school! I believe schools are a great environment if students and parents will give it a chance, and a safe haven for many of our students in today’s environment. They say you never realize what you have until it’s gone so it’s the friends you make and the reunions in later years. I had my photo taken with a past governor general while decorating sponge cakes for his afternoon tea!
What ONE thing would you change about your suburb?
If we could turn back time I would reinstate all the bulldozed schools and fill them with happy students, plant the magnificent river red gums that were ripped out unceremoniously to make way for elevated rail, bulldoze all the over-sized mansions that now occupy what was great farming land – land that should have been retained to feed our growing population – and I would make sure every young family could afford a home for themselves.
