My name is Dianne. I began my tertiary education through Griffith at age 54 and completed my degree at age 63. Completing my degree is right up there as one of the best things I've ever done in my life.
My journey to studying at Griffith
I was a mature age student with a keen interest in what was happening in society and the natural world from global warming to climate change. It was so critically important then and of course we are really seeing some of the worst effects of it now. I have three adult children who are all living their own lives. After a marital separation twenty something years ago, I was bringing my then young children up.
I became increasingly passionate about trying to do something about making a contribution in the protection of the planet, realising the significance of trying not to add to the ever-increasing concern of the degradation of our natural world.
I involved myself with groups and like-minded people and worked in agencies whose priority was precisely what my passion was. Whilst pursuing this and bringing my children up, I'd also commenced a fitness course and specialised in teaching Tai Chi - which I still do today. In the same year, after deciding to study a degree, I commenced my Bachelor of Communication via distance education. I'd only got to Year 10 back in the 1960s so this was the first time studying at a tertiary level.
Why I chose to study Communications
I did my degree online with Griffith University through Open Universities Australia. It's been right up there as one of the best things I've ever done in my life. It was incredibly challenging, but I loved it, especially the Philosophy units which I would still like to pursue further study in.
I chose a communications degree because I thought it could help me learn how to get my message out there on how passionate I feel about helping, not just the planet's plight (if you like) but also helping people. My degree included journalism which proved perfect for me as far as interviewing and recording in various organizations such as Vinnies, Oz Harvest and Aboriginal Youth Suicide. It provided me with an idea of what is required in preparing to submit work when it comes to interviewing, research and final preparation. We were also required to write a screenplay and a documentary.
The documentary subject I chose was the perfect platform to create a message that could even be shown on TV, which was one of the requirements in the preparation. My documentary was about 'Transition Towns' referring to towns and cities and anywhere I guess, preparing themselves for the effects of climate change; i.e. if the trucks stopped rolling in with food and scenarios unfortunately not totally unlike what we've all been witnessing on TV from the devastating effects of the bushfires and how it can impact on all sorts of things to do with food, transport and communication.
In 2009, I'd completed a Transition Leadership Course held at the Australian National University, which quite a few people as leaders of the group, had come from what is now the devastated town of Cobargo. This was truly eerily close to me because it was as if the very scenarios they were predicting could happen, were happening now in front of our eyes.
So, as that group was fervently keen then to get the message out there, especially after the February 2009 catastrophic bushfires, never had, or has there been, a more critical time to inform people of the dangers and risks of catastrophic global warming and climate change that has and now is, an ever increasing threat in it's reality. I believe there needs to be a change in consciousness and as Dr Suzuki, the Canadian environmentalist said, "we have to treat everything as sacred" - how right he is.
The experience of all the subjects in the degree was so interesting and fascinating and sharing my work online which I'd never done before, like sharing poetry, although daunting, was wonderful to get feedback. I've always enjoyed writing and trying to express myself and doing all my study in my degree was invaluable after submitting assignments and checking feedback to help in future writing.
I also found one particular unit almost cathartic for me because of my age, family circumstance and what I was trying to do and achieve. It was incredibly valuable in so many ways to get my thoughts, feelings and perspectives on the world as a woman (on her own with her own goals) written down.
I have so many fond memories of my online study experience and the discussions with students and tutors alike, again especially in philosophy.
The accomplishment of graduation
As I completed my degree online, I had never been to a Griffith University campus. The closest I got to that was going to graduate in Brisbane in 2013. I attended a ceremony so my son could watch his mum graduate and I've got to say it felt so good!
I use my degree virtually every day you could say. In 2013, I had the opportunity to finally leave where we had been living for 27 years, which had unfortunately for the middle part of those years, been very unpleasant due to bullying and harassment of my eldest son. He ended up moving to live with his father and his sister followed shortly after as she was missing him.
I desperately tried to keep some cohesion up between my children and me but they were extremely difficult times. Dislocation and stress of course for all of us was high. This is also where I found some of the units in my degree so cathartic, as I was always highly conscious of the fact that I was their role model and wanted them to know you can do things if you really put your mind to it.
My parents had both passed away and I was able to finally move and live in a country environment close to nature where I got a strawbale/rammed earth home built on 5 acres of land. I've been living here for six years now, applying all my natural principles to trying to 'walk the talk' and live as sustainably as possible. I involve myself in the small town community garden, teaching Tai Chi and gently, if anyone is interested, talking about what I've been trying to do, sharing my philosophy on living in these times, the planet and vision for where I live.
I also support the 'Green Team', a group who come together and are led by two professionals from Greening Australia. They help plant tree seedling on land whose landowners have applied for and been accepted, like myself, to help in local region projects. This and with a past Greening Australia initiative, I now have 800+ tree seedlings. These make a contribution to creating wildlife corridors, the need for more trees and of course, the wonderful carbon capture they do to help reduce greenhouse emissions.
Advice for future students
Absolutely give it everything you've got and always look for and at the bigger picture in everything. My experience in studying online with Griffith University has enhanced my skills and given me the drive to apply a thorough observation on a variety of subjects. I am now able to present my ideas and thoughts to a wider spectrum in a more concise and informative way.
As I said, I'd only got to Year 10 back in the 1960s and studying has been on of the best things I've ever done in my life. It’s never too late to start, it’s never too late to be a role model and it’s never too late to follow your passions.
Meet the author
Dianne Hore (Class of 2013)
Dianne was a mature, online student at Griffith University through Open Universities Australia. She is a mother of three, grandmother, passionate advocate for the environment and lives her life by implementing her learnings daily and 'walks the talk' in her country town of Marchmont NSW.
