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lead vocalist, guitarist, song writer

i was born in Broken Hill, NSW, a happy outcome to an urgent royal flying doctor from outback Australia. i was a church ministers kid, and lived in lots of australian towns i ended up in sydney to study nursing and then up to adelaide at the end of my training just to have a fresh start and live somewhere different. i began my journey into serious music starting off performing in a church band - where the audience was always appreciative!

i wrote (or memorised) my first song at the age of 7. "my shirt is the best in town" was its name and i can still sing it. the idea of making up songs and melodies on the piano came early. i used to frustrate my mother when at my practice time on the piano i never wanted to play the set music - i'd rather make things up. mum never quite knew the difference which is why i got away with it! i still prefer playing the new rather than practicing the old.

i knew i wanted to focus on it full time when i really began to experience performing in my 20's. i had never contemplated a full time career of it and then i started to see it was possible, took the leap to do it and now have totally fallen in love with it. what an extraordinary part of your head to live in.

INSPIRATION
my high school teacher was a total discouragement. when we had to bring something we had 'made up' to class, i played a fairly involved piano piece to which she said – ‘thankyou, now sit down, susan’ (monotone). i complained to my parents.

i had an older friend who had the words and chords to old folk songs and we would play together. i started writing songs again at this time (aged 13) on piano and guitar. i would then ask my minister dad if i could play them to the church congregation on sunday. my piano teacher then gave me an old hawaain guitar which promptly ended up in the toy box and my parents then blew me away by buying me my first full size serious guitar. they didn’t have much money in those days so it was a huge thing.

WHY GUITAR !!
my best friend played the guitar and i wanted to too. it was cooler and more portable than the piano.

TOURING!!
i guess i never had any idea of what touring would be like. all i know is that i have never worked harder in all my life and never felt so rewarded or so connected to people. its an absolute honour that i hope continues for a long time to come.

HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR!!
Seeing whales in alaska,
all the friends i have made in other countries. great friends.
the opportunity to stand on a stage and sing your heart out about things that matter to you, in harmony, with your band mates, to people who love music.
Being a choir girl singing the boy soprano part high up in a cathedral to many many people below. i felt like an angel (!) and exhilarated.

SCARY GIG!
Perhaps I can tell of a ‘scariest moment’ during a gig – well, scary AND exhilarating at the same time. There I was in my spray-on black vinyl pants, streamline and ready for action. A surging crowd pressing to the front of the stage and I think “this is a perfect time for stage diving if ever there was one”. So I take a run up and launch myself into the crowd – like a feather, like a bird, like a kite…..like a stone – down, down, down – the beautiful crowd had my feet, my legs…oh but that’s about it. My head headed straight for the cement at a speed of about 9.8 m/sec. Right at the moment of reckoning my descent stopped and I was lurched heavenward on the shoulders of much cheering and celebration!! Saved to surf another day…?!

if i wasn't a musician i would be a doctor or a triathlete and maybe even a golf pro if i can get my handicap down!

When I am 70 i see myself as seasoned and special for having lived so long and so well.

i hope i still have my partner alongside me who would be 75 (that i am really looking forward to). i hope i leave in the world some wisdom and perspective that is relevant, tangible and lasting. i hope to leave a trail of love and generosity and have demonstrated truth by my actions.