I was born... in the Hamilton Base Hospital, Hamilton, Victoria on 2nd October, 1976. Caroline Odgers.
 

I grew up on a farm... just outside Glenthompson, Victoria with my mother (Margaret), father (Daryl), sister (Judy), and twin brothers (Richard and Andrew).  Judy is 7 years older, Richard and Andrew 6 years older.  We started off growing sunflowers, which were absolutely gorgeous (from the photos I saw), grew some oats, then switched over to Merino sheep.  They were good for soft woollen clothing.  Glenthompson only had a population of about 200 at the time and was fading fast, so don't worry if you haven't heard of it.
 

I started school... at the Glenthompson Primary School when I was in Prep.  Unfortunately we had such a horrible teacher, who believed in corporal punishment, that Mum and Dad agreed to send me to Hamilton College Junior School.  My brothers and sister went to the senior campus.  I enjoyed it there much better. I stayed there until the end of Grade 3, learning the piano on the side.  Then, for whatever reason, I moved back to Glenthompson PS.  I think it was mostly because it was going to be easier travel wise, the scary teacher had left, and it was more economical.  I remained at Glenthompson to complete my primary education. I didn't continue learning the piano, but recorder lessons were fun!  I also loved drawing; apparently  like my grandpa, Lance Sullivan.  He had exhibitions all over the place.
 

My dad... was my idol.  I know, sounds kind of corny, but I always wanted to be with him.  He was fairly strict and had definite morals with his Christian (Anglican) beliefs. This was felt more by the others as they grew up. I must have still been a bit young to test him out or question him. The main thing I remember is that I felt loved ...and how fun it was sitting on the petrol tank with Dad riding our orange ag-bike.  It was so fun - "Wheeeee!"   Anyway, as you can see, I'm typing in past tense. This is because Dad died when I was age 12. 

When Mum was pregnant with me, the doctors told Dad that he had a tumour behind his nose.  The operations chopping it back kept it relatively clear until I was 11 years, when they said that it had grown too close to the brain to cut any more.  By then he was losing his eyesight, hearing and balance; also acquiring a few head aches.  In May, I think it was, Dad was apparently told he had 6 months to go.  By October 3 he was dead.  In those last few months his health declined drastically.  He was fainting more frequently, was on heaps of pills and powders, and could barely walk.  So I missed him like crazy when he died, but at least he didn't have to suffer any more.
 

Life went on... to my secondary education, which started off at Monivae College, Hamilton.  It was a Catholic co-ed school with about 800 students.  It was a pretty good school. Year 9 was especially fun! - just the usual Year 9 terrors.  I stayed there until the end of Term 3 in Year 10 when we moved to Melbourne.  I started off at a near by Catholic girls school, Mercy College, in Coburg.

I didn't last long at Mercy, I stayed there until part way through Term 1 in Year 11, before switching to Fawkner Secondary College.
 

We moved to the city... when Mum had decided to marry her new man, Rob Stevens (this was in '92), we moved into a house in Campbellfield and I went to Mercy College.  Unfortunately, the transition was not so smooth.  The life changes for both Rob and I were substantial, and we found it difficult to adapt.  This brought out the fact that I had not mourned my father's illness properly when he died. 

I remember crying about him dying and working through that, but part of that was me blocking out all the memories of his illness to the point where I simply couldn't remember certain situations and facts.  So when I was in conflict with my new 'father figure', the memories of the comparison came back and hit me hard.  I remembered what Dad's legs looked like under the bandages, what pills and powders he had and at what times, how he fainted on me in the lounge room,  how he couldn't even walk to the toilet by the end...   It made my teenage years rather trying. 

All this took it's toll on my education and then my self esteem. I ended up quitting school to give me time to work everything out; which I did! 
 

I returned to school... as an adult student at RMIT TAFE in Melbourne where I completed Years 11 & 12.  During Year 12 I also attended the Melbourne School of Philosophy (affiliated with the London School of Economic Science).  It isn't an academic type institute where students gain a certificate at the end, it was purely to explore what some people believed about life and anything else they happened to talk about.  Well worth trying - no pressure, no homework, and some really cool ideas! 

To gain a few extra points for university entrance I completed two more year 12 subjects at Box Hill TAFE.  I also worked a lot that year doing market research (surveys mostly over the phone) and saved up enough money to leave home for the following year at uni.  It was going to take 2.5 hours each way, which was going to be way too far for my liking.
 

Then I went to uni... in Burwood, another suburb of Melbourne, at Deakin University.  I started my bachelor of Teaching (secondary)/Applied Science (Psychology) in 1998 and am still there, slogging it away :)   I started off in 1998 living at home in Campbellfield, but moved to Brunswick to be closer to be between work and uni.  Then work moved to Moonee Ponds, so I moved closer to uni - Hawthorn.  Both of those were share houses.  They were okay at the time, but I wouldn't really want to go back.

I'm not sure whether to go for the teaching or the psych. I'm just giving it all a go and see what happens at the end.  I could also do something with my second stream in the Applied Sci degree, Family and Consumer Studies. I'm keeping my options open.
 

Now I live... with my boyfriend, Tim and life is good!  We live in a flat in Richmond, near the tram line that takes me to uni.  It's also near the Bridge Road shopping strip and the Vietnamese restaurants along Victoria street.  Oh, and I get on really well Mum and Rob now :)
 

What I've learnt about life...is that nothing is guaranteed.  Life presents us with situations - some are very confronting - but it's up to us to make the most of what we have.  There is always a way through.  Sometimes it won't be visible, and maybe time is the only way, but never give up!  Anger, hatred, jealousy and other such negative emotions are a waste of time and energy and don't help anyone.  There we go,  I've done enough preaching.