It doesn’t matter what angle you come into Lorne it is just beautiful says Jillian with passion. Of course most of us know exactly what she is talking about.
Introduced to the town by her partner for holidays originally, she has retired here. She wasted no time in involving herself in the community. In fact she and her partner Alvis, a keen tennis player, run the popular Hot Shot program at the Country Club for those from Kindergarten age upwards. Although I have played tennis all my life, he is the expert and I am the organiser.
She loves her volunteer community work. The list is long. I’m a bit old for the CFA trucks but I’m on the Fire Brigade Auxiliary. She really enjoys her time helping at the Information Centre, with FOPA, Amy Gran Fondo and Lorne Sculpture Biennale. With others, she is working on a program to reform the safety of all road users of the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road.
Melbourne born, bred and educated, she has had a varied career. In nursing on and off, real estate, crisis counselling and training, and disability services instructor are some of the areas she has been employed. She is well qualified for the babysitting she does for families in the town and although she doesn’t have a dog, she loves to mind other people’s.
Jillian and Alvis have travelled widely – France, Spain, Latvia, Finland, China and Italy included. Since Alvis was an architect, they have also taken architectural tours, which to Jillian’s surprise, she loved. Although challenging they made a bike tour of the Pyrenees. It was phenomenal. Next on the list is a Jewels of Europe Tour which will include plenty of cycling.
Walking on the beach, reading and travelling to Melbourne regularly to catch up with her two children and two grandsons takes up any spare time she has.
