NATURAL EVOLUTION OF A STORYTELLER
BY ANNABELLE BRAYLEY
I grew up with four brothers on a small farm on the western Darling Downs in Queensland , Australia , and all I ever wanted to do was head further west . I also wanted to train as a hairdresser but my father thought that nursing or teaching were better options , so off I went and started my nursing training in Brisbane . I bailed out and , after a break of two years , transferred to Charleville Base Hospital in south west Queensland where I finished my general nursing certificate .
Although I loved living out here , I really didn ’ t enjoy nursing whereas ‘ real ’ nurses clearly love what they do . They are passionate about caring for people , about looking after them and guiding them to better health , about advocating for them and rescuing them when required . Me ? I just wanted to sit on their beds and chat ! I definitely should have been a hairdresser ! After all , doesn ’ t everybody tell their hairdresser everything ? They are the world ’ s natural counsellors and I ’ ve always been curious about other people ; why they choose whatever it is they do , or don ’ t do , in their lives .
Happily for me , I fell in love , married my lovely husband Ian and , in 1980 , went to live with him on his family ’ s sheep
station 130 km from Charleville . Although I ‘ nursed ’ our children when they needed it , I never assumed a clinical nursing role after that . I spent my days multitasking through the broad job description that is the pathway of most women on the land . We sold out in 2001 and moved north a couple of hours to the Morven district , where we now live .
I pretty much fell into storytelling after pitching a story to RM Williams ’ OUTBACK Magazine , about the centenary of the Victoria Downs Merino Stud , in 2006 . Located here in the Morven district , since the Stud was established , the Lord / Roberts families have played an important part in the wool industry in Australia and I thought it should be recognized . One thing led to another and I discovered an aptitude for telling other people ’ s stories . I think it is vital that we record stories for future generations , especially in this modern , fast-changing world .
I don ’ t believe in luck as such , unless it ’ s winning the lottery . Even then you have to make it happen by buying a ticket . I believe that hard work teamed with making the most of opportunities lays the foundations for good things to happen . That said , in early 2012 I was stunned when I found a
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