Roots & Wanderlust

For both of us, the desire to explore started early. Susan grew up in the lush tropical cane fields of North Queensland, where community spirit was strong and weekends were filled with sport—tennis, cricket, Vigoro, and athletics. But it was the introduction to camping that turned North Queensland into one big adventure playground for her, sparking a love for travel that eventually led to a backpack and a one-way ticket to London in 1983.

Geoff’s path was forged a little differently. Leaving home at 12 to work in bars and underground mines, he gained independence early. After schooling in Gympie and holidays on the Hervey Bay sand flats, the free tertiary education policies of the Whitlam era opened the door to a geology degree. This launched a career in mineral exploration, where he was often sent solo into remote locations with just a 4WD and a long-range radio.

The Meeting

Fate brought us together in Cairns during one of Geoff’s field breaks. We met over a game of pool, and while it could have been a brief encounter, Susan decided to take a leap of faith and move to Perth when Geoff was relocated there.

When the work in Perth dried up, our first shared adventure began: a two-year backpacking journey through Europe, funding our way by working in a London pub and an Israeli kibbutz. By the time we returned to Australia, wedding bells were ringing. We even had a memorable honeymoon sharing the breakfast room every morning with Johnny Cash!

Family & The “Big Lap”

Married life saw us moving across the continent, with three-year stints in Queenstown (TAS), Cobar (NSW), Golden Grove (WA), and Darwin (NT). Along the way, our family grew with the arrival of Sean in Dubbo and Liam in Perth.

Living in Darwin introduced us to the reality of Fly-In-Fly-Out work, but we made the most of it. We adapted our travel style to fit a trusty Pajero, a builder’s trailer, and a tent, wending our way through the Pilbara, the Kimberleys, the Red Centre, and Kakadu.

Putting Down Roots

Eventually, the remoteness of the Top End had us looking for a place with both work and good schools. We found it in Charters Towers, which became our home for nearly 30 years. We poured our hearts (and a lot of sweat) into restoring an 1890s house on a half-acre block, aided by our family dogs, Milo and Vanilla.

As the boys outgrew the town and left to start their own stories, we sat down with our accountant to plan a “transition to retirement.” Fate, however, had other ideas. Susan took up a position in Melbourne, leading to six wonderful years exploring the city’s art, architecture, and culture—even through the challenge of lockdowns.

Where We Are Now

Today, home is the Sunshine Coast. We are happily settled, sharing a house with Susan’s sister, Carmel, and getting our hands dirty with yet another garden makeover.