One Door Closes….

You know the saying…

A lot has happened these past 6-8 weeks.

At the end of the rope when it came to trying to re-integrate into the hectic, demanding 7-day-a-week responsibility of being News Director, failing at trying to negotiate a Part-Time alternative and really struggling with the prospect of walking away from the profession I’d thrived in for more than a decade – I made the difficult decision to resign.

This brief description barely scratches the surface really – but you can imagine – it was tough. Although my departure was made slightly easier by the fact that I’d been absent from the newsroom and station for the best part of a year, going in to remove my personal items was so hard. I stood in the chaotic, noise-filled (monitors/scanners/feeds etc.), but empty space – feeling like a foreigner. Cleaning out my desk was one thing – entering the sound-proof booth, with the panel, prompter and headphones I’d used on so many thousands of occasions brought me to tears. I’d reported on and presented so many stories over the years, this is where I’d done it for the past 6-or-so and now – I was leaving. I haven’t really been that angry at the cancer (okay – sometimes when limited physically) – but here I was feeling like it was forcing me out of my chosen career. I was sad, miserable in fact – and pissed off.

Within a few weeks, I’d accepted a fabulously interesting position with Cancer Council Queensland. The application process was entirely different to anything that I’d experienced in the performance and reputation based world of radio! As Cancer Action Co-ordinator I’ll be involved in promotion of prevention and early detection messages and campaigns.

Fancy that!

And – it’s Part-Time! So that time to really get back on my feet, maintain my fitness, keep writing, continue designing and dressmaking is now mine.

There’s more to come of course, but what I really want to share is that I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. The organisation is doing such worthwhile work in cancer control – trying to lessen the burden of this hideous disease (through prevention and early detection, support and professional programs), whilst conducting research which may one day lead to a cancer free world. It’s very early days I know – but this feels like a good fit – I can use my professional skills as a communicator and my personal breast cancer experience to try and make a difference. Everyone in this organisation is dedicating their work life (and then some), to that mission. Lucky huh? Who would have thought?!