I called the Hotel Cecil home for about 13 years.

I loved living in the middle of Southport. It was so busy and everything I wanted I could get to by walking there!   

School up the road, books for school across the road from Symons, records from Tolmies, King Sandwiches and double thickshakes from Dairy King out the back through the carpark, sporting equipment from Thomson & Watt two doors up, a haircut from Dezli's next to them......and everyone used to say hello and knew your name. 

Later there was rollerskating in the streets and thought the Bulletin Arcade and then Skaters Paradise in Bay Street.

I had the best life. Everyone I knew was envious that I lived in the thick of the action!  

I did leave home for a while of course!  I went to Brisbane. I started my hospitality career at the Mayfair Crest International Hotel.  Then I moved down to Sydney as their New South Wales Sales Executive and joined the Traveleague of New South Wales (Treasurer 1989 & 1990 and at the time I was the youngest office bearer in history at 19) and the Marketing Association of Australia and New Zealand (also the youngest professional member at the time.)  When the hotel changed hands, I decided to move on.

 For a couple of years,  I tried my hand at acting.  I was  "doing the hard yards" in a Leagues Club and a couple of  local pubs and studying full time  (pictured - The Actor's Centre, 1992).   It was a lot of fun and I went to a lot of auditions and did some extra work but I wasn't mean to starve for my art so I went back into hospitality management after graduating .  After running establishments in the inner west and east of Sydney, I decided to return home.

After a stint at Movieworld (one of my jobs was singing  in a lunchtime show as "Mae West" ) and then managing a club in Surfers Paradise for while, I went to Japan. I taught English for assorted schools and did odd acting/voice over jobs for several years.  I got married and had a wonderful daughter (pictured).  I spent 7 years living and working in Tokyo but my dad was dying and my mum was caring for him at home in Southport so I returned with my daughter. 

Despite a tremendous battle, my dad passed away soon after (11th November 2003) and we had buried my brother, Tony,  the year before so that meant that my mum would be alone.  My mum was happy here and I decided to stay and support her rather then return  to Tokyo. Within months, my daughter was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder  and it seemed my decision to stay build a life for her here was fortuitous.  Una was enrolled in school and I became the Treasurer of the Parents & Friends Association of the Special Developmental Unit at Musgrave State School for the next two years.  

I was approached by Griffith University to assist in their fundraising activities in Dad's name.

So began The Peter Gallagher Memorial Fund and my long association with Griffith University.   I continued to raise funds  and friends for the university's ground breaking research and community projects for several years  until I "jumped the fence"  from the administrative arm to work in academia the Griffith Business School while pursing further study.

I was tutoring and lecturing for several years there while I finished my dissertation -  which I am proud to say earned me a First Class A in the  Honours program.   I love to learn new things and studying, in some form or fashion, always be a part of my life.  When you stop learning, you die!

My most important role has been as an advocate for my daughter.  Those without a voice are so easily overlooked and pushed aside.  

She is capable of so much but our system pigeonholes those who are differently- abled.

She doesn't talk much but that doesn't mean she doesn't think and learn.  I see people treating her like they treat the elderly and it annoys me..... the lack of understanding, the lack of empathy and the lack of respect get under my skin!  

My daughter and others like her should not be written off,  segregated into special schools because of their inability to communicate what goes on in their heads. These kids are part of our community and should have every opportunity available to them to interact and enjoy it.  Then as adults, they will be better equipped  to contribute to it.  So many of them are able to to work, pay taxes, buy land and pay rates but are never given the chance.  

But with out thriving businesses in our division, the children, yours, mine, able bodied,  physically impaired,  developmentally delayed or academically gifted will not have jobs.  Future generations will not have community centres to frequent, sporting clubs to join, parks to play in or schools in to learn in. 

When government supports business, business is in a position to support the community.  And all of its citizens regardless of age, ability, creed or colour.