by Luba Bradford
Julie was born in Hamburg, Germany as the youngest of three children. Frequently, she found herself helping in her mother’s art and craft shop before she started as a sales assistant in a leather goods store.
Her professional life began when she took on a plumbing and gas fitting apprenticeship. Later she moved from the trade to the wholesale sector and from there to a building and construction company. At the same time she attained a Bachelor of Industrial Business and Management.
She met her husband-to-be, Thorsten at a dancing school. They tied the knot in Auckland, New Zealand because they wanted to be married in a warmer climate. At that time, they both decided they wanted to live abroad – when and where was still unclear. Australia was the chosen country and they moved to the Victorian bayside suburb of Altona. Altona was like the German suburb in which they had lived.
What were Julie’s first impressions of Australia?
People were patient and friendly, even though they couldn’t understand her. They repeated conversations and questions with the same wording, without noticing there was no improvement in understanding. Julie always responded with “What is your recommendation?” which became her favourite question.
On one occasion, Julie and Thorsten boarded a tram and headed for the ticket machine, only to find that it would accept coins only, no notes. They were scared and jumped off the tram, only to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Is she homesick for her motherland? Not at all, although she and Thorsten miss the food: smoked bacon, Hamburg-style potatoes and chocolate pudding powder.
Julie’s desire to speak English led her to Toastmasters, where her first impression was of a grumpy and aloof mature gentleman shuffling a lectern: Dick Wilkie at Williamstown.
Julie remembers that first night vividly. Upon entering the Williamstown Town Hall, which was cold and uninviting, she was warmly greeted by Trish Jones who introduced her to other members. Julie won the Table Topics segment that night and joined Williamstown Toastmasters shortly after.
There was a lapse in attendance at Williamstown, a 14-month stint in New York where she attended two clubs. There she was the VPPR for one of the clubs.
She returned to live in Altona and rejoined Williamstown where she took on the role of VPE, a year later the role of President in 2014/2015 and Northern Division Director in 2015/2016. She moved to Sunbury in January 2016 and joined Sunbury & Macedon Ranges club. She also is a club mentor at Aerospeakers in Laverton, which was founded in 2015.
PASSIONS: Lifelong learning, teaching and training, including educating with “Mind Maps”.
WORDS OF WISDOM: You can do anything you desire, if you put your mind to it. It’s easy if you do it, step by step.
TOASTMASTER GIFTS FOR JULIE:
- Knowing how to hold her hands still. She used to knock over glasses and punch herself, because of exaggerated hand and arm gestures
- Learning to be ‘a little less’
- Realising the importance of being authentic and real
- Being herself
IN A NUTSHELL:
Julie is passionate about teaching, training, mentoring others and giving of herself without expectations. Her desire is to inspire and motivate by example.
PHILOSOPHY:
Overcome hurdles and challenges with laughter, and make every role and job your own.
Luba Bradford