Walsh River Community Centre - 2001



People


Valley Vibe
Interviews

JUDE

Jude Blossoms interwoven with wafts of pink, mingled with silver hair, sparkles on the cheeks, colourful shawls and brightly coloured clothing! Who is this flowerchild of the sixties?? It's none other than our dearly loved Jude.

But who is Judith Yvonne O'Connell?? Well, the best person to tell you that is Jude herself.

"I'm an Ozzie at heart. I fell in love with Australia when I was only ten years old and living in New Zealand. All I wanted to do was grow up and go to Australia," she says. "My first visit was in 1979 but then I came back on January 13, 1982 and I've been here ever since."

"I've had a couple of husbands, got two kids and two grandkids - Clive and Cody at the Gold Coast. Sheree and Samara in New Zealand. I worked hard to make a successful business over there, with my sister-in-law. We had a PVC factory making covers for containers, liners for swimming pools and that kind of thing. We broke into a man's world and the business magazines used to call us the Cover Girls," she says with a grin and an infectious laugh.

But it wasn't enough for Jude. So she walked out. With 17 year old Sheree, Jude headed for Australia. From Sydney to McKay and back to Numbin. Sheree returned to New Zealand. But it was only the beginning of the adventure for her mum.

"In 1985 I found myself in Cooktown. Moved to Cairns in '91 and had a go at promoting arts and crafts for a couple of years but I didn't compute with Government bureaucracy. So I shifted to Mission Beach. There I met a couple of girls who were also on a mission - a mission to meet me!! That was Trish and Joan...."

Loading up a car and trailer with six dogs, the three travelled back up the coast and found themselves in Atherton. "But then a chance meeting with Johnny and Spindle at the Herberton pub changed everything," says Jude. "They told us about a place at Walsh River - and that's how we got here."

What's Jude's philosophy on life? "All you need is love."

What makes her heart sing? "Peace."

What does she enjoy most these days? "Just seeing this community happen."

How does she fill in her time? "Pottering around, doing crochet" (she forgets to mention how much she helps other people).

She reads science fantasy, likes "the old rock and a bit of techno".

Ambitions? "Just to wake up and remember who I am."

We're honoured to be sharing your journey, Jude.

Valley Vibe Interview by Eunice.

Valley Vibe
Interviews:

Lyn F
Jude

Jerry Jeffress
Caleb Zaicz

NEW! Southern Cross Creations
Art & Craft in Far North Queensland
Paintings, Pillows, Slippers, Teddy Bears

WALSH RIVER MOB:
Remembering Little Bob
Some Littlies; Mattie
Aiden; Bonnie; Littlies; Regina
Beach Volley Ball Players; Doug; Littlies; Monique; Regina
Jude; Lyn; Libby
JohnJ; Keith; Norbert; SimonZ
Littlie; Caleb; Felix
More Littlies
Joseph; Joelle; Reuben; Kylie
Gazza; Jacqui; Gillian; Gals; Guys

Ellen; Beau; SimonK; JohnJ; SimonZ and Jude

Work Days:
The New Shed

Special Days
Holiday on Gould Island
Youth Fun Day: Slippery Slide
Valedictory 2001

CIRCUS ARTS NORTH WORKSHOPS
and PERFORMANCE

Circus Arts North meets participants
Mathew, Gemma, Kaylin, Josie, Leah, Galaxy, David
More Kids, Alex, Sandy, Jacqui, Phred, Jodie
Costumes and Face Painting
Warm-up and Perform!
Perform! - Part 2
Perform! - Part 3 and Finale
All Circus Photos by
JaMworks

Scott's Local Fauna
Reptiles

 

imagery & web design by melissa@jeffress.net
site last updated 23-June-2002