Certainly not me, or anyone who knows me well.
12 months ago to the day, it was just like any other day (Friday) at work. I was fulfilling my role as News Director dealing with the station’s operational requirements, then methodically assessing releases, doing interviews, editing grabs, writing content, pulling together rundowns and presenting news during the drive show (I was covering Ange’s leave in this timeslot) with Mal Lees and Luke Bradnam.
The 6pm bulletin came and went – at the end of which, Luke – with whom I’d worked since day one at Hot Tomato, casually said (whilst still on-air) “so that’s it Katie, another week?” My response was an off-the-cuff “…yeah, this is my last bulletin with you guys”. “Whadda ya mean? EVER?” Luke quizzed. “No, I’m just off for a couple of weeks, on leave”, I replied.
I was going to have those bi-lateral lumpectomies on the Monday. Surgery booked. No big deal. Just wanted the lumps out.
Despite the four months of backwards-and-forwards, different scans, mammogram, biopsies etc. I think there were two things going on at that point; I may have known deep down there was a lot more than just a fortnight’s leave in store, and perhaps – somewhere in my consciousness I did realise that yes – that may in fact have been my last bulletin.
There’s part of me that is still obviously grieving for that ‘some sort of normal’ that I was so comfortable with. I do miss being on-air – it’s a tremendous buzz and something I worked very hard at, I always tried to do well, then do better.
Today however, as I mourn that particular career (and let myself indulge in a little moment of ‘geez, it’s sad…..I really loved it’), I began a trek down another path. I did my first media interviews as the spokesperson for the Gold Coast office of Cancer Council Queensland. Here am I answering the questions rather than asking them, crafting a response in order to push a key message, rather than searching for a compelling and easy to understand statement (grab), and having a good old belly laugh at the irony!
Who Would Have Thought?
16 AprFeatured posts
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Australian Transplant Games GC 2018
Big thanks to the team at MyGC for the opportunity to have a chat about the upcoming Australian Transplant Games.
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Transplant Athlete High Performance Camp – the inspiration, hurt & fun….
Picture this – a sweltering Gold Coast afternoon, 25 individuals who have been to the brink and not only recovered – but are thriving examples of what organ and tissue donation, and a health focused life can be. Last weekend, a very special event occurred and I was lucky enough to be part of it. […]
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Better out than in…
This body is so capable – but it’s been through enough. I truly believe that, which is why I’m not completely terrified of a ‘suspicious mass’ recently discovered in my mouth. It’s coming out in a few days time. The surgeon is highly experienced and during the necessary scans and tests of late has become […]
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Fights don’t have to be loud…
Sometimes the most difficult battles require a peaceful, gentle focus. A huge shoutout to my Mum and friends Nerida, Lina and Ian for letting me have this lately while I’ve been unwell. Sincere apologies to everyone I’ve unintentionally snubbed. Please know when I say I’m ‘average’ or ‘not the best’, I’m not just looking for […]
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Tap, tap, tap.
KATE CARLYLE is weighing-up the best way to document her experiences with BREAST CANCER, LEUKAEMIA and BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT.
After years of blogging, she’s now finding it too taxing and believes social media updates are probably enough. However, the 38-year-old is often encouraged to write a BOOK.
KATE will continue sharing her story of survival via appropriate awareness campaigns and charity events, but wonders why so many people think she should put fingertips-to-keyboard, what is it they really want to know and what they hope to get out of such a work?
Encore Performances 
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