When Vicki Cottee and her family moved to Talgarno in 2000, they sought a better life with good schooling and land for horses. or signup to continue reading The move soon evolved into a journey of community and personal achievement. Mrs Cottee's roles as a correctional officer, first responder, and volunteer have since changed her outlook on life.
To add to her skills, she completed a bachelor's degree in paramedicine at age 64. Her journey is a testament to the impact of community service. "Living in a rural area has enriched the opportunities and the desire to give back to the community," she said.
"It is a necessity for the survival of these communities. "In my case, volunteering has led to me furthering my education and achieving academic success." Originally from Lithgow, NSW, the move to Talgarno was not surprising due to the unpredictability of her husband David's job.
Mrs Cottee has made a name for herself in the region. Her interest in stock horses encouraged her involvement with activities, including the Man From Snowy River Festival, Upper Murray Horseman's Association, and the Goulburn-Murray Stock Horse Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society. "Over those years, I have held committee positions (and) also became an accredited stock horse judge,"she said.
Mr and Mrs Cottee were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in honour of their commitment to the community in 2022. "It was indeed a tremendous honour that could equally apply to many other people in our wonderful community," she said. While it has been both "humbling and uplifting", it hasn't been without difficulties.
"My greatest challenges to date have been very personal in relation to my working career and more recently having four of our grandchildren coming to live with us just before my final exams at university," she said. "How did I get through? "With support from my husband, some paramedic friends, and now also with support from the local school community. "The team at Talgarno Public School is second to none with their support and friendship.
This team includes the other parents at the school." She said she reflects on what she has learned in life so far and encourages others to volunteer. "Get in and have a go," she said.
"The personal reward is beyond measure, and the support comes back." Mrs Cottee is equally passionate about physical fitness, "which cannot be underestimated". "It has been a great outlet and stress relief for me," she said.
She has even started a seniors' mentor group at Wodonga's PT Fitness, which she thoroughly enjoys. Her biggest lesson to others is "don't be afraid to fall or fail". "I have a phoenix tattoo on the inside of my right wrist to remind me that I can succeed, no matter if I fall along the way," she said.
"I can rise from the ashes." Granya's Krysten Clifton's journey is marked by resilience and passion, from winning the Junior Stawell Gift at 14 to competing as a strongwoman. She has always pushed her limits.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Journalism, she struggled to fall in love with the craft. However, through various jobs and trial and error, she eventually found her calling Her career as a captain blends her past experiences with work and life and "I finally found my calling". Captain Clifton said she spent her whole life searching for the missing link, and it wasn't until she got married, had her first child, and found a career she loved that "it all made sense".
"I joined the Army in 2021, but before that, I was working at different publications and in marketing," she said. "I never loved journalism or marketing. There were parts that I liked, but it wasn't for me.
"When I started working for defence as a public affairs officer, it was the perfect storm. I was able to put all I knew together, and it fit perfectly." Her husband, Ben is also in the Army as a captain.
"He was the one encouraging me to join," she said. "He was on deployment at the time and kept nagging me. He was like, 'do it, I think you'll love it,' so I bit the bullet and applied just to shut him up.
" Her previous roles included and Mars Petcare in marketing. "I want my son to grow up seeing both his parents work hard and be happy with what they do," she said. "I want Theo to understand that hard work builds resilience.
" Maintaining a healthy and active life was also important. "I love the beauty of living on a farm, it makes me feel refreshed and clear," she said. Having a sense of purpose meant she was able to enjoy the little things in life.
"I think the world of my son," she said. "But the most influential person in my life would be my husband. We've been together now for eight years, married for five.
"The change from when we met to now in me is immense. "I've gone through many challenges and changes in my entire life in the past eight years." Her advice to anyone looking to join the Defence Force would be, "give it a crack".
"My experiences have been positive, and I would love to see more women in the Army," she said. DAILY DURING PARALYMPICS Get the best news and analysis from the Paris Paralympic Games in a daily update. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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