Susan and Edward Coleridge live on a farm west of Ballarat, but they and their sons, Fred and Alex, consider Lorne a second home. Susan’s family, the Hurleys, have a long connection with the town and have been spending summers here since the 1960s.
Susan began her career as a secondary English teacher. She taught for a few years in country areas, then at Lauriston Girls’ School in Armadale. When the Coleridges lived at Deans Marsh, Susan taught for a while at Geelong Grammar. She now teaches Professional Writing and Editing at Federation University in Ballarat. Her early teaching career was often interrupted by overseas trips and working holidays, usually in the UK and Europe.
Edward, whose roots are in the West Country of England, originally trained as an architect and came to Australia on the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage in 1988. At sea he gained the role of the unofficial fleet artist, thus avoiding tedious deck duties, and exhibited his paintings in both Sydney and Melbourne during the Bicentenary celebrations. Then he met Susan and when he eventually returned to England he was a married man, and it was from their new home in a log cabin near Deans Marsh. Although Edward has recently embarked on a Ph.D., he continues to paint the landscape.
At home they struggle to control their rural garden, which has spread into the adjoining paddocks and enjoys views of Lake Burrumbeet and the tail end of the Great Dividing Range. Susan likes planting trees and mowing, while Edward tries to create sight-lines in the landscape, keep the home dam weed-free and their sheep happy.
Susan stays fit by walking, swimming and playing tennis, while Edward bikes after the dogs, Samba and Mungee, and runs up the hills of Lorne.
Retirement is not on the agenda but if it ever is, Susan said Lorne would be an attractive option.
