So this is my story…my life so far.

As a child growing up I always felt safe and loved by two wonderful people who just happened to be my parents…. I think they were “soul-mates” as they showed constant unconditional love to each other and their children.

 

The values of fairness, honesty and a willingness to help others was instilled in the “Jones Kids” at an early age and as we grew into adulthood my older sister and I both joined the “caring” profession of nursing after leaving school. I completed my studies in 1976 in both General Nursing and Mental Retardation ( what a horrible term and label  that is, thank god they don’t call it that here anymore !). I so enjoyed working with the children and parents during the 13years I spent nursing in ward-based care. At a very early stage in my career, I decided that I would let my clients teach me as much as I could absorb each day, much to the distain of the charge sisters who were more concerned with my text book knowledge than the day to day care and management of those in my care.

 

I took those words “In my Care” to heart and made an emotional connection with clients, family members and other staff at every opportunity that came my way. I was sure it would help me understand their frustration and pain. A lesson learned, maybe a little too well.

Ah, shift-work, what a blessing and a nightmare all at the same time.  Does absolute wonders for your social life…..(maybe if you were a vampire) I think my body is still trying to recover, but what a joy when a client took their first unassisted steps or said your name or even just smiled.

These beautiful souls in the bodies of children, then teenagers moving forward to adulthood, became my second family and the bonds were stronger than I could’ve imagined. How do they see their world ??

I tried so hard to get inside their world as often and for as long as I could, sometimes the visit would bring such happiness and sometimes such sorrow, I still felt very honoured to have shared each day with “My Travellers”. This is what I called my charges and we were all on this incredible journey, just to get through another day….There are so many experiences so many stories I could share, but this isn’t the place….maybe a journal or a book in the future.

After 13 years I needed a break and I travelled with my long-time partner to the USA for a year- long holiday. It was here I was given my American Indian tribal name as there is Cherokee heritage in our family and I wanted to  acknowledge this and claim it for me. (Always wanted the Indians to win in the Westerns) now I know why. Not bad at building a fire either…..love tents !!

SO Chakinta and Clouddancer are my chosen names and the whole experience has given me such spiritual peace. On returning from the States we bought a house in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory and moved from my birth State of New South Wales in 1991.

Living the dream ?? I thought so but it was not to be and I lost my partner to breast cancer not long after we settled into our new home. You know your world shifts a little at such personal loss and you draw on whatever strengths you have, to get through. I think it was around this time I went searching for books, films, anything on LGBT community to make me feel connected again.

In life we can always find things to help us overcome , heal and move forward and for me the inspiration came from watching films created by Nicole Conn.

I had lost not only my passion for love and work but perhaps even for life. If you read her Bio’s, read or watch interviews, see her films you will all say she touches you in some way and even sometimes life changing experiences occur.

This happened to me and it is one of the reasons I decided to become a Donor and supporter of Nicole’s films and champion the future of Indie Wimmin’s Films. But I digress, woven into life altering decision-making comes just living and the cold reality of, the world keeps moving even if you really want to stand still….so more training, back to University I go to get a Degree in Social Sciences, in preparation for moving from ward-based care to community life, sell my home and move to the south coast of my birth State. I felt like I had been so much inside my head for a number of years now and given so much     O U T and now I needed a better balance…..SOOOOO How about Race Car Driving ?? I’m in and 6 years on and with the Ladies Championship in hand, I’m feeling pretty good.

Have I known happiness ? Yes and absolute Joy ? Yes and heartache ? you bet , just like anyone else, but if you think you’ve lost passion, then that is the loneliest I have ever felt and I am so thankful to have found Nicole’s films and books.

SO with Claire of the Moon, Little Man, Cynara, Elena Undone and A Perfect Ending, all viewed several times I might add….my life is as it should be, calm, peaceful, inspired and full of hope and optimism. Nicole makes a wonderful connection with her audience by portraying REAL stories on the screen, beautifully sculptured and so believable….they are OUR stories.

I spoke to Nicole some time ago about my concern that without constant, regular funding, her films may not be finished for the new generations to see in the future. To that end I made a bequest of some of my estate to go to Nicole Conn Films, hopefully starting a Foundation that would ensure funds are available not just at pre and post production times but ongoing. I could think of no better way to honour her work and guarantee many more will get to see her incredible creations.

 

The more you learn about Nicole, the more you come to understand that the details, nuances, rawness and sophistication with which she creates her films is an integral part of WHO she is. What a brave woman to leave so much of HER SELF up on the screen every time she creates her films. What strikes me the most is her dedication, firstly as a mother and then Writer / Director.

Her love for her children is unwavering and I guess that’s what made our connection so special. For 13years Nursing and another 19years working with clients with disabilities and their families, I admire Nicole greatly for her pursuit of her son Nicholas’s happiness and wellbeing…..and with “Nesting Doll” just around the corner, I’m sure her relationship with her daughter Gabrielle will be explored and portrayed with all the beauty and tenderness Nicole gives to all her films.

SO this is me up to this point, pretty much the same as most, nothing too spectacular but I am passionate about helping to create a legacy to ensure a film library is established and that it continues well into the future

Maybe, after all these years it is still about “In My Care”, still about providing some kind of support, love, appreciation to others. I am so grateful to have found this CONNection with Nicole and through watching her films (as I said before more than once) I found my passion again, hoping you do too !!!!!

Wrapped in Love and Gratitude

Chakinta