ABOUT
In this series, I sit down in the home of a person recently settled to Australia in the hopes of capturing a fraction of their story. It is a chance to play both the role of the guest and the host.
About Me
I grew up and live in the most beautiful place in the world (big and subjective I know). Here, I grow pumpkins and surf each morning; I love my home. I am fascinated with the stories of those people within my community; recently settled refugees, migrants and who have called this place home for generations and our First Nations community.
I am a professional historian, holding a Master of History and Bachelor of International Relations in History and Government and International Relations. I have conducted my own research thesis titled; A Connection to Country: Understanding the Cultural Importance of Sites of Significance of the Gumbaynggirr. My study background in oral history as a methodology.
Professionally, I work in the Indigenous education space.
So for me, this interview series is my small part in continuing to make my home the most safe, beautiful and enriched place I know, for those from long ago and those that continue to make it their home.
The Stories
These stories come from the diverse community that makeup the vibrant tapestry of a coastal town’s community. I have interviewed people from the Yazidi (Iraq) community, women fleeing the Taliban, Gumbaynggirr storytellers and doctors oppressed by the Apartheid.
This series is my small antidote and contribution to challenging the fast paced, not-knowing-your-nextdoor-neighbour times of modernity. Whether you’re commuting from Potts Point to Wynard or Hammersmith to Embarkment, we can part from ourselves, our algorithms and for one moment go beyond ourselves. To play the role of the guest and the host.
The Name
In French, the word ‘hôte’ can mean both guest and host. Algerian French philosopher Albert Camus' novella of the same name tells of the complexities of having dual identities and finding your place within displacement.