| Media item | |
| | Fired up for winter | Castlemaine Mail,
Castlemaine
by Phillipa Gray-Finning
| 28 Jun 2024 | | General News - Page 1 - 818 words - ID 2086677820 - Photo: Yes - Type: News Item - Size: 1080.00cm2 | |
Castlemaine Clay is hosting an incredible array of workshops, artist talks, advice and a special outdoor smoke firing at Lot 19 as part of the Castlemaine Fringe Festival Winter Warmer fundraising event.
Full story page 4.
Hi Phillipa, you and Sean met on the international cycling circuit in Italy. Can you tell us a little about your cycling careers?
Sean is famous for winning gold in the Comm Games in 2006 in the points race. He also represented Australia at the London Paralympics, he was a pilot for a blind cyclist called Bryce Lindores and they got silver in the 4k men's pursuit on the track. Me being from New Zealand, I represented them, so I got to wear the black and the silver fern. I started out cycling when I was 20-years-old, in 2011 I had my big debut on the international scene. I represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Paralympics and I got the gold and the world record in the 3km pursuit on the tandem. The record hadn't been broken for about nine years at that point. It was pretty incredible. I also got a bronze medal in the 1km time trial on the track and a silver in the 30km road time trial.
After we both retired from cycling, we decided to move to Castlemaine, where he was born and bred.
We don't cycle competitively anymore but we do a lot of mountain bike riding with our daughter now, she's four and she's really keen and definitely taking after her dad. But because of my vision, I don't do a lot. I have a degenerative condition, and it just got to the point that it got too hard. I've got the old fat bike now with the big tires and its a bit more cruiser and offers more stability.
Were you born with the condition? Yes. Its a genetic condition called Usher Syndrome Type 2. The hearing is a sensorineural bilateral deficit. My eye condition, called retinitis pigmentosa, so RP for short, is basically like tunnel vision. I was quite privileged in the fact that I didn't look disabled, which is a privilege and a curse at the same time, because when you struggle people expect you to be normal and when your not struggling, people are quite happy with you. It's kind of a catch 22. It's been hard, there's always been challenges about it, but I've done pretty well in my life.
You grew up in New Zealand. What were your early years like? I grew up in a little town called Tairua, a little farming community on the bottom of the Coromandel Peninsula.
During my childhood, I was into swimming and athletics and through high school I was also into rowing, which took me through university at Dunedin. I've over achieved as an academic - I've done a Bachelor of Science, majoring in nutrition. I've also done a Diploma in Exercise Physiology. I've done a Bachelor of Therapeutic and Sports Massage and I've done an automotive Diploma in Business Management now as well.
You won a VACC Automotive Industry Award award last year and are nominated again this year. What categories are they for?
We won Employee of the Year last year and this year we're finalists in the Regional Small Business category for the awards. Fingers and toes are crossed.
How did you come to own PJ's Discount Tyre Service? I moved over with Sean in 2016, so we've been helping out Sean's parents with the business for seven years and Sean and I officially took over last year. Sean's mum and dad started the tyre service when he was about two-years-old.
What are you reading at the moment? Emails! And kids books! No I like reading business culture type books, learning new skills through that. Otherwise, I like a really cheesy romance series. I also really liked the Rosie Project series - I re-read that one quite often.
What music do you enjoy listening to?
Sean likes upbeat stuff and I like quieter stuff. Who would your three dream dinner guests be? Curtis Stone, the TV celebrity chef, Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, and Alexandrina Bojilova. She used to be in the SAS and she's a psychologist. During my training as a cyclist we did some special sessions with them and she's always stood out as a person who is so knowledgeable and would pick your brain apart.
What's one word you'd use to describe Sean? Dedicated.
What are your philosophies on life? To be your best self.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home? At the moment, it's a safe spot. It's where you centre back to. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Caption Text:
Castlemaine Clay Studio Manager Dannielle Wilkinson with Dusty, Vice President Sarah Lambert and President Ella Hughes with Dusky (r) and Teddy (l).
Pictured pots by Katie Jacobs.
Provided for client's internal research purposes only. May not be further copied, distributed, sold or published in any form without the prior consent of the copyright owner. |
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