I’ve been telling tales since I was a wee lass but it wasn't until my teenage years that my potential to write tales was first realized – factual tales, that is.
In 2001, I commenced a journalism degree at the Queensland University of Technology and when I graduated in 2004, I decided to reward myself with a trip to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. I loved every moment of the adventure and while there, ‘caught the bug’ as the cliché goes. I wound up spending the majority of my early 20’s backpacking from country to country, including two amazing years spent living and working in Japan!
No matter where I was in the world, I made it my mission to completely immerse myself in the history and culture of those countries and it was the connections I made and the experiences I had throughout my travels - especially in the poorer, less-developed parts of the world - that really opened my eyes and sparked my interest in movements such as localisation and sustainable living. I was so impressed by the sense of community I witnessed not just at the local level but at the societal level. I remember thinking: this is what Australia needs: sustainable cities and communities where people care for and look out for one another; where they walk or cycle to work, grow their own vegetables and shop locally to afford all the necessities of a healthy life.
I was 24 when I returned to Australia and moved back to my hometown of Lismore in the northern rivers region of New South Wales - a region renowned for its green practices and forward-thinking environmental initiatives. I landed a job as a cadet journalist with a local radio station and I’ve met some amazing, inspiring people as a result. I’m now working part-time as an online journo with OurPatch (http://www.ourpatch.com.au) and freelancing for a few other popular publications. I have one year to go before completing my second university degree.
Environmental, sustainability and green issues are my favourite subjects to learn and write about – I hope that passion comes shining through in my articles!
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Philippa Swift
