It took me more than half a century to reach that happy point in life at which I can confidently say I’ve worked out what I want to be when I grow up: a writer. A story teller, if you will.

Not that I haven’t been writing since I could hold a pen. It’s just that now, I’ve worked out how to pursue the passion while making a humble quid out of it, while at the same time indulging my other love – helping others to tell their stories, develop their communities and work towards making the world just that little bit better place to live, work and play.

I’m excited to see what the coming decades have in store, both for me and for my communities and the world at large. I’m keen to put more than half a century of experience and all its highs and lows to work – for family, community, social justice, travel and the beauty and power of the written word.

Born and raised in the Australian “bush”, it doesn’t matter how far or wide I roam (and I’m a bit prone to roaming), the central west of NSW will always be home – it’s where my heart is.  It’s also the inspiration – the landscape, the people, the communities – for much of my writing, which I reckon is as important to me as breathing is to most people.

I’ve had more starts than Phar Lap. I’ve been a spin doctor, a retailer, a trainer, a journo, an editor and most points in between – but it’s as a writer, social commentator and community developer that I feel most comfortable.

In June 2019, I was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal (and the post-nominals “OAM”, which is surreal, but nice!) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the community through a range of organisations. In the midst of feeling deeply humbled and not a little taken aback by the honour, I received a phone call from a gentleman who also wears those post-nominals with pride. He told me that while it feels a little strange to be singled out, those letters come with a voice, and a responsibility to use that voice to help others who don’t have one. Wise advice.

If you’d like to know more about me, feel free to have a sticky beak at my LinkedIn …   (Here) . And by all means, take a look around my website at some of the work I’ve done and some of my musings.

If you’d like to connect, you can find me through Facebook (Jennifer Cowley) – or you can email me – jencowley@live.com – call me or take the old fashioned (and quite lovely) way and write me a letter.