Your first book, “Wilma’s Secret”, will be launched at Bookoccino on Sunday April 6th 3-4pm – what is the story about and what ages is it for?
“The story is about a young girl, who goes into the shed to look at the little gecko friends she has in there. While tidying up, she finds a hidden trunk, opens it, and discovers her great grandmother’s secret possessions. It was all a bit creepy… but she soon starts to explore these weird items and thinks she might like to also be a witch – and learns a lot about herself along the way. Will she ever find what happened to her great grandmother? The book is for kids of all ages – anyone with a dream off becoming more, or the young at heart.
The story seems to hint Wilma’s great-grandmother may once have been a witch, a woman who traditionally was known as a ‘wise woman’, and Wilma finds ‘treasures’ in the trunk – will Wilma be learning something to make her wiser?
Yes, indeed! She soon discovers that you can’t use this powerful magic for your own benefit, or it may backfire on you – a lesson that can be well heeded in real life as well. She also can’t understand what some of the old magic words from the book mean – and needs her mum to help her understand.
When did you first start writing and can you remember what those first stories were about?
Mmmmm, probably when the kids were little – so about 50 years ago!! Mostly it was poetry back then, about nature and bugs and animals. It felt really important to get it all down, and sometimes I just had to get the words onto paper, to say something about what was around me. (Robert Gale note: she still has most of these poems, and her next book is going to be a collection of poems and short stories)
I was too shy to tell people what I was thinking, so I had to write it down to express myself. Even now, I want to suddenly say something, no matter whether the audience is near or far…
You have worked as a Flight Attendant, Marriage Celebrant, a nurse and even an entrepreneur – which was your favourite 2 careers and why?
Nursing – especially the babies – because they couldn’t complain!! 😊 No, because I loved them for their innocence and smiles.
Airline Stewardess – especially with Air Canada – I got to explore most of that beautiful country and down into America. I remember coming back to Canada once and had bought some fancy undies for my sister and then also myself because they were so nice. I had to declare them at customs, so I said “pour l'amour” ( for love) to the officials, and they waved me through, smiling. Later, when I wrote to my mother telling her of the gifts for my pregnant sister and myself, she panicked and thought I was also pregnant - calling me worriedly until I calmed her down and told her I wasn’t!
Which airline were you flying with – and where did you go?
First, I worked for TAA (Trans Australian Airlines) welcoming international travellers to the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, then later on board, all over Australia. Then when I visited Canada, I joined Canadian Airlines International.
Her Air stewardess uniforms (2nd from left, front row)
Where did you serve as a nurse and in what capacity?
I trained to be a nurse in Perth, Western Australia. That was my first career. Then, they were desperate for more nurses in the more remote area hospitals, so I went out there. Later, after being an Air Stewardess, I got married and lived in England and did more nursing there. I even nursed friend of the king and queen! Then, when we came back to Australia to raise a family, I did more nursing here in Perth and then Sydney, much later.
I was once even the nurse in charge, here at Pittwater Palms – where I now reside!
You have raised 4 boys – was it noisy? And how did you keep up with all that energy?
Yes, they were noisy, but I had to keep them quiet because their father was asleep in the daytime due to working the night shift at AAP. As soon as they could, they all bolted from the house, disappearing into the neighbourhood, climbing trees and riding bikes - home for tea when I rang the dinner bell.
Judith's boys as little ones in WA (1971?) , and the 4 boys recently with her at her Granddaughter’s wedding, 2024
Your son Robert tells us you are a keen bush gardener – what is in your garden? How do you keep it all growing?
I feed them with love and care, and if they do the dirty on me, and go and die – I just buy some more!! 😊 These days i concentrate more on flowers and succulents, as my garden is much smaller here, but in my previous houses my garden was much larger and wilder with plenty of Grevilleas and Bottlebrush.
You are now 90 years young – what do you think helps keep one healthy and happy as we get older?
My new bird, “little Vic” keeps me happy! He’ s a cute little Budgie. I’ve never had one before and I love to get up and talk to him every day. I also love remembering my life by looking at old photos and pasting them into my LIFE JOURNAL, and writing what I can recall - now 6 or 7 books long!
Judith won Miss Rottnest in WA at the beach (circa 1954?)
Dressed as punks with her Best Friend Ruth in 1984
What are your favourite places in Pittwater and why?
Avalon has been my home for most of my life, now. I love the Pittwater waterways. We spent a lot of time sailing on it over the years. Gazing out across the Basin when we moored there overnight was terrific. I was a volunteer guide for the Palm Beach Lighthouse tours which is so calming, with the amazing view. Recently we had a picnic lunch at Bible Park, that looks out across to the Palm Beach headland. Its all so lovely. We are very lucky to live here.
What is your ‘motto for life’ or a favourite phrase you try to live by?
“Hello! It’s a lovely day today!”
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The Basin from the Bairne Track. Photo: Kevin Murray
