The realisation that life is indeed very short is motivation enough to reach out, take hold of dreams and try to make them a reality.

Kathleen Davies is an award–winning, published author and artist currently living on a property at Lawrence, north of Grafton in northern NSW. Her life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with an illness that has the potential to rob her of a long and healthy life. At 42, Kathleen has left full-time work to rebuild her strength and rethink her future. Although it has already influenced choices and changes in her life, Kathleen doesn’t want the threat of cancer to push aside her dreams for the future. From her farm, she paints, writes, raises Quarter Horses and pursues activities relevant to conservation and agriculture. After numerous career changes, she is currently working as a casual journalist and photographer for Rural Press. Kathleen has also completed art commissions for government departments and her work can be found in private homes across Australia. She has established an art gallery and an environmental interpretation and tour guiding service at her home. Kathleen’s working life reflects a focus on rural and Aboriginal issues, wildlife preservation and natural resource management, all of which are lifelong passions.

What gave you the motivation/inspiration to follow your dream?

I have a strong determination and inner strength which keeps me motivated. My mixed background, particularly my Aboriginal heritage, is an important gift. It keeps the flame for living and learning alive. I have many dreams, big and small, with new ideas creating an inner whirlpool of excitement. The realisation that life is indeed very short is motivation enough to reach out, take hold of dreams and try to make them a reality. I want to make sure I enjoy everything I do and am able to pass on skills and knowledge while able to do so. I get a lot of satisfaction and inspiration in bringing other people’s inspiring stories into the public arena. The natural world inspires me and our property boasts some of nature’s treasures. One of my aims is to help nature as much as possible in its struggle to cope with human progress—maintaining our small parcel of bush is part of that.

At what point did you realise that your dream was actually possible and what was it that made you think you could really do it?

When I was at school I began to think my dreams were possible despite being vulnerable to negative taunts and having a lack of confidence. As I grew older, I gained confidence and courage to look for opportunities that would help to fulfil my dreams. I choose to live in a regional area so have had to work a little harder for opportunities rather than wait for them to come to me. Over the years I have done volunteer work to gain experience, made sacrifices, studied, moved out of my comfort zone and tackled my shyness. I get to stages where I am about to realise a dream only to have it disappear—that’s when I decide whether to continue, change it to fit the circumstances, or pursue another ambition altogether.

When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up?

So many things! I have always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination. I remember as a child wanting to own a huge property, be a farmer, and somehow combine that with being a park ranger, an artist, a writer and an archaeologist or an anthropologist. Nothing has changed really!

How did your childhood influence you in later life?

I grew up at Londonderry in the Hawkesbury Valley when it was mostly bush. I believe my childhood dreams have stayed with me all my life, providing guidance and a focal point in the pursuit of happiness and a love of learning. My parents taught me to be proud of my heritage. I was encouraged to care for animals and plants and appreciate life while also pursuing my dreams.

Dad worked at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, so I would take every opportunity available to spend time there, watch the blacksmith, visit the livestock, fruit orchards and crop plots—it felt like a second home.

As a family we would often go camping in the Blue Mountains and I would collect insects, rocks, plants, bones, skulls and flowers to draw, paint and study. I was always involved in art, adorning anything that couldn’t get away. It is amazing how these outdoor childhood passions are still relevant today. I helped set up a small garden and environmental program at a local school, which the kids (and adults) have enjoyed over the years. Visits to family properties west of the Great Divide also fuelled my desire for a rural existence.

Who are your role models?

Just about every person I meet is a role model to some extent. Whether good or bad, I learn something from everyone I meet, read about or hear. Many women involved in the Daring to Dream project will also provide me with inspiration and their stories are affirmations I can use as each day dawns.

What does success mean to you?

When the mango tree gets a ripened piece of fruit on it. That was our original plan for the property we’re on now—to grow mangoes. They went really well for the first seven years, until one of the most savage frosts in decades hit. This, combined with drought, meant the poor trees didn’t stand a chance. New leaves have appeared this year, although the trees are now barely knee-high to a grasshopper. Success on the part of the trees symbolises that we can still come back even after so much hardship.

In my other endeavours, if I write a story about someone and they are pleased with it, then that is a good start. It’s impossible to please everyone. If I feel as though I’ve done a good job, helped someone achieve recognition or highlighted their issue, then that counts somewhat towards success.

Enjoying what I’m doing also means I am succeeding. Being recognised for your achievements is an added bonus.

What has been one of the biggest barriers you have had to face, what happened, and how did you overcome it?

The old saying goes ‘life begins at 40’. I was sent to a specialist just after my 40th birthday after being very ill and was given the bad news. I was diagnosed with two potentially life-threatening illnesses. It was a big shock. I had just had a year of achieving dreams. I was part of a pilot conservation project, appeared on a national environmental television program and bought my first purebred Quarter Horses. Although the news knocked me down, it has also made me stronger. I think I landed on a soft patch of grass that day. It gave me the motivation to push ahead with the things I really want to do and not waste time, as that time may be very precious. There will always be ‘bad days’, but focusing on the positives and the unfulfilled dreams stops me from dwelling on what might happen regarding my health, although I fully understand the realities.

Overcoming shyness has been another big barrier which I tackle by continually taking myself outside my comfort zone.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What is your vision for the future?

There is still a lot I want to learn. Making a positive difference to environments, habitats, wildlife and the lives of other people is something I would like to build on, while bringing the stories and images of Australia to a wider audience through many mediums. Fulfilling a few more dreams along the way would be great, so I continue to dream. I am still interested in agriculture and how it fits within the Australian environment, and I hope to continue and expand on trials (and hopefully successes) of crops and livestock in some form suitable for my property, while keeping it in balance with nature as much as possible.

What would you like to say to other women who may be just starting out on a ‘Daring to Dream’ journey?

Dream big, dream small, dream often and don’t think about things for too long before you act. Just go out and give it a go—it’s all part of learning. I have my own goals and ideas about what I hope to achieve and where I’d like to be, but I also tap into the wide resource network for help to make things happen. There are so many opportunities out there—take advantage of at least some of them. If one dream doesn’t work out, don’t dwell on the disappointment for too long. Change the dream a bit and try again. Keep dreaming and don’t let the negativity and insecurities of others get you down. Dreams often keep me going and help me cope with the harsh realities of life. They provide something to focus on and are an escape if nothing else. Dreams are an important part of a healthy life. Many of my dreams may not prove to be money spinners, but they have enriched my life in other ways and that is where the most satisfaction lies for me.