Dorothy Sloan

This week I caught up with the beautiful Dorothy Sloan. “I can’t talk about anything but farm life, because that’s all I knew, I loved it.”

Age: 93
Where and when were you born? On the NSW and Victorian boarder, in Tocumwal in 1926.

What are the most important lessons you've learned in life? I think the most important thing is to always be kind to people and help those in need.

What is your favourite childhood memory? Growing up on the farm and having a lovely carefree life. I had marvellous parents, they owned a farm, we used to all buck in and help when it was busy, hay carting and harvest time in particular. I wasn’t particularly clever, especially in arithmetic, but all other subjects I was very good at, I really enjoyed school.

What took you a long time to learn? I think to be patient... I was such a get up and go person, I want everything done yesterday *laughs*

Describe yourself in three words. Easy going, and happy go lucky

What life advice would you pass along to your grandchildren? To do their best in life, and always consider other people to a certain point, and don’t be selfish.

What could you tell me that I would be surprised to learn about you? Well I am fairly versatile; I can put my hand to almost anything.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I didn’t have any ambitions to be quite truthful.

What was your first job? When I left school, I worked in a ladies’ department store. That one would have to have been my favourite, seeing all of those pretty clothes. *laughs*

What are you most proud of? My family, they are all so great and caring.

What is something you are proud of achieving? I was always an amateur writer, I had some of my stories and poems published in the Weekly Times- which was a Victorian paper. I loved writing stories and poetry, I was always good at that, I had a vivid imagination, a bit like Danielle Steel. *smiles*

What did you get up to when you were young? I was the eldest of six children, I used to kick the football with my brothers, play hide and seek, all of that.

Who is the person who influenced your life the most? Why? My parents, they always put me on the right track, the right path in life… taught me to do the right things.

What is your favourite thing to do for fun now? I love knitting and crocheting, I absolutely loved cleaning my home and looking after my family which was very important.