Hi Tammy, can you tell us about your early years?
I grew up in England and emigrated to Australia when I was 12. My dad was a gardener so we moved to Hesket and lived on an Azalea and Camelia nursery and I went to school at Braemar College. I was there when the fire started near Woodend (the week before Ash Wednesday). I remember they couldn’t get the keys for the buses so they decided we should walk down a dirt track amongst the trees and the smoke. We weren’t very far from the fire and couldn’t go home. Dad stayed and my sister and mum went to Melbourne. When we came back the Ash Wednesday fires came through (fortunately the fire went around the nursery and we didn’t lose anything). That was our introduction to Australia. I still can’t cope with the smell of fire. Not long after that, we moved to Woodend.
How did you meet your husband Darren?
My dad was heavily involved with the state emergency services, and Darren volunteered. I think it was a Christmas party, and they ran a pretend car accident scenario and Darren was playing a casualty in the car accident. I was 17. We got married when I was 19 and had our first child when I was 21. In between we started our business- we worked together for 33 years.
What sort of business was it?
It was a spare parts business- Autopro in Kyneton. Darren had been working in spare parts so he had contacts in the industry. I was also working at Ben Hunter Motors, A Mitsubishi Dealer in Kyneton at the time, so I used to do the paperwork for our business during my lunch breaks! I stopped working at Ben Hunter Motors a month before my first child was born but I never stopped working in our business. I used to bring my daughter to work with me or work from home. Then 12 years ago we bought a second business- KRB Motors in Castlemaine.
How did you come to work at the Castlemaine Mail?
We used to be regular advertisers with the Mail so when we sold the business I had to tell the paper and a few weeks later they asked if I wanted a job working in Sales Support and Admin – I’ve been in the job for two years now. The two things we noticed when we sold the businesses was that our phone never rings now and we get weekends off!
Have you travelled much?
I’ve been back to England once when Jess and Nic were little and we’re planning a trip back in a few years. We’ve been to Bali and Thailand but mostly we’ve travelled around Australia in either a camper trailer or tent. One of the most memorable trips was a six-week journey travelling from the most easterly point of Australia in Byron Bay right through the centre to the most westerly part at Steep Point WA.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Embroidering, quilting, yoga and gardening (I’m doing a lot of re-vegetation on our 15-acre property in Drummond).
What sort of music do you enjoy?
It’s varied. I like Ed Sheeran, James Taylor, and the 70s and 80s.
What are you reading at the moment?
I can’t remember the name of it – but I like light and easy.
Who are your dream dinner guests?
I think it’d be cool to invite my four grandparents (who have passed) but when they were the same age as I am now. I’d love to know how they lived their life back then.
What philosophies do you live life by?
I treat people the way I like to be treated and I like to do the best I can at anything I do.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
Our neighbours and the quietness – I like being in the bush.