My South Australian Life

Aug 5, 2022
My South Australian Life

‘I never had a Plan B’

Julia Robinson realised early on that art was a passion she would pursue at all costs ­– it’s also how she met her husband, fellow artist Roy Ananda. Julia finds inspiration in folklore and folk horror, and is a keen folk dancer.

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Oct 29, 2021
My South Australian Life

‘The most testing time is the one we are currently in’

Life has brought both great adventures and insurmountable grief for Judy Potter, an arts and community leader whose role as chair of Adelaide Festival sees her helping steer the organisation through one of the most difficult times the sector has ever faced.

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Jan 15, 2021
My South Australian Life

“You always come to crossroads in life”

Luthier Jim Redgate often finds himself torn between his workshop and the call of the ocean. When he’s not building guitars or kitesurfing, he might be found snowboarding, playing gigs, fixing up up his old Holden EH, beekeeping or making wine.

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Dec 18, 2020
My South Australian Life

“In most pursuits, talent will only get you so far”

Growing up in the country, Catherine Branson developed early on the resilience necessary for a high-flying career. The Chancellor of the University of Adelaide and inaugural chair of a new ASO project highlighting female composers says she also took it for granted that “generally speaking, if a boy can do it, a girl can do it also”.

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Nov 13, 2020
My South Australian Life

‘Ballet is a huge part of my identity’

From Adelaide's Hyde Park to the Australian Ballet, Jill Ogai had her eyes on the prize as a child and has worked through injury and setback to become a soloist.

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Nov 6, 2020
My South Australian Life

“The simple joy of not just looking, but seeing”

Brian Parkes – CEO of Adelaide’s JamFactory – left home more than 30 years ago and drove his bright blue Datsun 180B to Hobart to embark on a journey that in many ways, he says, he is still on today.

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Oct 9, 2020
My South Australian Life

‘People will always remember how you make them feel’

Debbie Ryan was living a blessed life, married to her highschool sweetheart, with two beautiful children. Tragically, following years of incessant bullying, her daughter Maddy took her own life. Debbie is now on a mission to show just how deeply our actions can affect others.

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Aug 30, 2020
My South Australian Life

“Neurosis surrounded us… we just got on with life”

Writer and performance poet Geoff Goodfellow is known for his "brutally electric" style, but he reveals a more vulnerable side in a new memoir about his boyhood. Here, he shares the story of his life ­­– from working-class lad to literary icon.

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Aug 16, 2020
My South Australian Life

“I can honestly say I feel I’ve been stripped down to my soul”

Working on radio is the perfect job for Mel Dzelde, a vivacious and funny mum of three who loves music and meeting people. But Mel is also fighting for her life after cancer came knocking again. She reveals how she stays positive and how a personal bond with Oprah Winfrey keeps her spirits up.

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Jul 26, 2020
My South Australian Life

“Eat good food and don’t drink bad wine”

Chef Chris Jarmer, 48, hails from restaurant royalty. His parents Peter and Kathy owned Jarmer's fine dining restaurant on Kensington Road for years and today Chris has carved out his own niche in the hospitality game. Here, he talks about cooking, business, meeting a long-lost sister and marrying into another Adelaide food and wine dynasty.

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Jul 3, 2020
My South Australian Life

“I never really left the world of make-believe”

Geoff Cobham is the artistic brain behind some of SA’s most awe-inspiring creations – Adelaide Festivals, mind-bending light shows and now Patch Theatre. His partner, Restless Dance Theatre’s Roz Hervey and their daughter, actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey, share his love of the arts.

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Jun 12, 2020
My South Australian Life

“I don’t want people to be fearful about what they don’t know”

Jane Russo is the kind of person who can’t sit still for too long. The City of Unley councillor accepts all challenges head on, and this persistence has been on show when campaigning for a cause close to her heart – awareness for the rights of transgender and non-binary young people.

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May 31, 2020
My South Australian Life

“It has been far better to be locked down with artworks than without”

Diana Jaquillard is a recognisable character around Adelaide, with her signature short, blunt fringe and stylish, eccentric glasses. One of the greatest loves in Diana’s life is art, and the retired graphic designer is always championing new talent as a board member for the Helpmann Academy Foundation. Here’s her story.

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May 24, 2020
My South Australian Life

“I loved and craved the interaction with the audience”

Alex Ward is a barrister who’s held leadership roles in the law nationally and internationally. But the 56-year-old is also a funny bloke who could have carved out a career in comedy, just like his mate Shaun Micallef. Here’s his story.

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Apr 26, 2020
My South Australian Life

“I love working through a crisis”

Meet Hitaf Rasheed - responsible for many of the state's biggest events as the leader of Events South Australia. She is passionate about her family, the Port Adelaide Football Club, where she worked with for almost a decade, and promoting South Australia. And there's a lot more to her story.

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