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AWESOME Farewell Tea 2012

Admittedly, this post is far from belated but just plain way over due!  In my defense I did birth 2 small (well large) children, move to a new country, search and find a new home, move into said home and try to cope with above mentioned 2 small (well large) children in the past 2 years so maybe you will cut me some slack.  I understand if you won’t.

I wrote this over 2 years ago in the early morning hours of learning to cope with my new baby Ethan, while I was still living in Perth, Australia, so I hope that counts for something…

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So we’re in the midst of packing all our belongings and starting our next adventure in the USA, Texas to be exact.  While so happy to be moving closer to family and friends in the States and the UK I can’t help but think what a wonderful life we’ve made for ourselves here.  We’ve both had great experiences in work, travel and play!

I also can’t help but think of the wonderful opportunities I was given to grow in my practice as an artist and teacher.  By opportunities I mean beautiful offerings of nurturing trust from so many individuals, organizations and companies in Perth.  Every job no matter how small or large gave me so many chances to re-examine myself as an artist and teacher!

I would like to extend a warm thank you to Francis Greep, the then Head of Music at the WA Opera Company.  When I arrived in Perth, the company did not currently have a movement program but Francis took a chance on a new transplant and together we developed and created an exciting addition to the Young Artist Program.  This relationship led to me directing the Young Artist Concert Series for four seasons and three years directing the companies lovely Opera in the Park.  If I every questioned my abilities, Francis was always there to push me forward and he opened me up to a whole new world of Opera!

Opera in the Park 2008 – Madama Butterfly

The other company that can’t go without a huge thank you is AWESOME Arts!  I remember sitting on a sofa in Scotland 2 weeks before we began a 3 week journey across the globe to Perth, writing an expression of interest to volunteer at the 2006 AWESOME Festival!  A girl called Amanda wrote me back saying they’d love to have me work as an artist assistant for the festival and the rest was history.  I began working as Project Manager for the company in 2007 as well as accepting a role as one of their Creative Challenge Artists that year on the Make Your Move project.  Over the next 5 years I worked as a Project Manager on two different Community Development Projects and worked as an artist on 5 different Creative Challenge Projects, one of which (Open Book) I created and developed as Lead Artist.  I also worked our version of full time which meant almost every waking minute of November on 5 different AWESOME Festivals!  It was bittersweet to leave such a creative and caring work environment where the lines between co-workers and friends became blurred, well non-exsistent.

AWESOME Festival 2011 – Amanda & Amanda both circa 6 months pregnant

We are very excited to start the next stage in our journey but also cherish all the memories we’ve made and will take them with us forever.

AWESOME Festival 2009 – After Party