What do you do for a living and what do you love about it?

I was a photographer in a former life, and now I’m a physiotherapist. I live in Blayney and work at both the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) and my own clinic in Blayney, called Chronically. My main focus is on chronic disease management and those complex cases that other practitioners may find difficult. This is the area I feel most at home, because I feel that I can help people see a significant improvement with their health. I love my clients, and also my team at OAMS. I get to work in a multidisciplinary team at Walu-Win, which is an allied health service that’s part of OAMS, with a rehabilitation gym and amazing resources. We are fantastic for Indigenous health, and we’re an inclusive community-based organisation that does a lot of good health-wise in Orange and the surrounds.

With my own clinic, I love that my clients are so varied. I’m not just a sports physiotherapist; I do everything from paediatrics to end-stage palliative care. Physiotherapy has this unique ability to make people feel better physically and mentally, and when clients walk and they’re in less pain than when they come in, that’s so beautiful.

Where is your favourite quiet space in Orange?

It would have to be the botanical gardens in Orange. I go there often, just to sit and read. I’m a big reader, and I love just walking from the entrance to some remote spot under a tree perhaps, and it’s so peaceful because you’re in nature and it’s warm and there’s often no one around.

Where would you go for the perfect birthday dinner?

This is a hard question, because there are so many great places to eat in Orange! I would probably have to say Gong Thai at the Gladdy – I always get the chilli cashew chicken. It’s so good, and one of my favourite meals. Now I’m hungry and wondering if they’re open today! But I wouldn’t eat in I’d go early and grab takeaway and go somewhere like Cook Park, the Orange Botanic Gardens or the Adventure Playground so the kids could run wild and play, while I picked out all the cashews and eat those first.

Where would you go for your ideal holiday?

A beach holiday, probably South West Rocks. I love fishing on the beach. I’m not really one for swimming in the water, because I’m petrified of sharks, and I hate the idea of stepping on a fish in the water, but I’m happy to roll up my pants and go in knee depth and catch fish with the kids. We always catch and release!

Who is your best friend and what do you like to do together?

I don’t really have one close friend; I have lots of close friends and I do different things with each one. It’s everything from coffee dates, planning books, discussing books, writing books and games nights. I love games nights!

If you were running for Mayor, what would you campaign slogan be?

I think it would be about supporting small business in this town – I’d promise to reduce the rent on commercial properties on Summer Street. It’s so difficult to start a small business and keep it going while paying massive rent, and we have so many empty shops currently!