A Brilliant New Career

To say my life has taken a major detour this year would be the understatement of the century. All my carefully thought-out plans have gone completely pear shaped!

But, in a good way.

Let me explain my journey so far ...

I am a 30-year-old Perth girl, raised by a Melburnian mother and an Irish father. And for all my adult life (and most of my teenage years) I have been known as "Amber, the rower". I first picked up an oar as a 14-year-old schoolgirl and basically didn't put it down for 14 straight years.

In that time, I represented Australia at two Olympic Games (bronze in 2004 and sixth place in 2008) and 10 World Championships. And as rowing is a summer sport, I have basically enjoyed an endless summer for my entire adult life.

After the Beijing Games of 2008, I was eager to get on with my life. Elite rowing had given me so many wonderful experiences and opportunities, and the very best of friends, but unfortunately it didn't pay the bills! And at the ripe old age of 28, I was keen to catch up to the rest of my peers who all had/have secure jobs, secure life partners and a secure roof over their heads).

Having recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Psychology and Journalism, I took up a cadetship position as a sports reporter at the Albany Advertiser. I remained at the paper for nine months and during the editor's farewell speech to me he wittingly suggested I had "given birth to a career".

Indeed I had. Though as it turns out, it wasn't a very long career. I continued in the media industry for six months whilst I completed a contract position as the Western Australian Cricket Association's (WACA) Communications Assistant.

Working at the WACA was a wonderful experience and I was fortunate to work with some great people. Soaking up the atmosphere during the two international Test matches was the highlight of my time there. The charismatic and fun-loving West Indies brought a taste of the Carribean to town, while Pakistan brought their well-known brand of controversy (recall captain Shahid Afridi treating the cricket ball like a Granny Smith?)

But, while working at a professional sporting club had its obvious perks, I really felt like I wanted to be the one running around and playing games.

So, I guess that's why an Australian Institute of Fitness adveritsment, published in The West Australian, caught my attention. Surely I would be well suited to a job where I got to keep fit and healthy myself and inspire others to do the same?

Roll on another nine months and I have given birth to another career, one which I expect to be much more long lasting.

I am now six weeks into a job as a personal trainer at Renouf Applecross, a boutique gym in the well-to-do Perth suburb of Applecross. So far it has been a richly rewarding experience (despite the 4.30am wake-ups) and I am so thrilled I have finally stumbled upon a career that I absolutely love!