Born and raised in Bangalow NSW where I learnt the importance of being raised in a village, having loving hard working parents and brothers to keep me alert, mischief prone and playful. While there was an abundance of love, light and generosity, there has been no shortage of darkness, sadness or life's challenges. However, good fortune smiled to usher in a wiser set of values and overarching integrity. Mindfulness, meditation and healthy life choices are kin to a spiritual path and virtues too many to quantify. My children and grandchildren remind me that opportunities to love, learn and play are embraced when we dare to reach for dreams and affirm each other. Peace, harmony and understanding starts with those easiest to love and ripples out.

Education has been a key to broader horizons and many avenues for a curious mind to adventure through. This remains central to a quest for greater wisdom and understanding. I have studied, worked and taught at universities in my field of Psychology (Registered Psychologist since 1974, worked in Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Canada and Australia). The joy I have in seeing the extraordinary careers of former students is a powerful reminder of the passion I had as a practitioner, teacher, researcher, supervisor and HOD.

When asked why I trek and travel, especially in my retirement, I reach for the quote: "I travel, not to escape life, but in order to ensure that life does not escape me."

So with an open heart, curious mind and to-do list to get on with, this Siren is on a mission not to simply tick off items, but to create opportunities, accept invitations and welcome grace in as time is too precious to wait for certainty, perfection or no risk options going forward.