I started rowing with my girlfriend Catherine Donato when we where 17. She thought it would be a good way to meet some nice college boys. It was here that I met my husband Gerard. After a four-year courtship we were married at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on May 11, 1985.

So back to 1989. Gerard, myself and our two young children - Benjamin, 2, and Emily, 9 months, packed up and headed to Broken Hill. Gerard worked as an obstetric registrar on a roster with one weekend off in three. The children and I spent one of the three weeks in Adelaide with family, often travelling by train. It was here in Broken Hill that Gerard gained invaluable experience in obstetrics, paediatrics and emergency medicine that has certainly benefited the Cummins community.

We lived in Broken Hill in an iron house where the weather conditions where harsh and extreme. During winter it was so cold that the children and I would spend most of the day in the lounge room in front of the only heater, while in summer it was so hot that I would frequently take the children to the shopping centre that was air conditioned for relief. On one occasion just before Christmas I returned home to find the Christmas candles had melted on the table.

One night while watching the ABC news we saw the story about the lack of doctors on Eyre Peninsula with special mention of Wudinna and Cummins. We were already thinking that maybe it was time to make a move and hence Gerard made a phone call to the Cummins and District Memorial Hospital. The following week we where flown to Port Lincoln and met by the chairman of the hospital board Neville Starke and chief executive Robert Ryan. They took us on a tour of Port Lincoln and then onto Coffin Bay before heading into Cummins.

I must admit my first impression of Cummins wasn't great. It certainly wasn't the prettiest town I had ever been to, with the railway line splitting the town. Thelma Holman greeted us; I remember thinking how scary she seemed. How quickly first impressions change, Thelma and her husband Fred are two of the loveliest people we have been fortunate to know. They still come up to Cummins regularly to say hello and always keep a keen interest in what Gerard, myself and the children are up to.

We were taken on a tour of the hospital and then the hospital house, which we later moved into once we took the job. The hospital auxiliary put on a lunch for us that gave us an opportunity to meet committee members and staff.

Once back in Broken Hill Gerard and I decided that we would move to Cummins for five years. Well 19 years and another four children later here we still are, and not going anywhere in a hurry.

We drove into Cummins on Friday, March 29, 1990 and I can still recall the apprehension I felt as we drove past Skippies Crash Repairs. Had we made the right decision? Gerard started work at the Cummins Medical Clinic on Monday, April 1, 1990. I was still a little unsure of being so far away from home, family and friends and remember suggesting that maybe we could tell them it was an April fool's day trick and we were not staying.

The hospital community were very helpful and friendly; they had cut wood and painted the children's bedrooms pink and blue for us. The kitchen staff had left a necessities box of food for us when we first arrived and Margaret Griffiths, hospital auxiliary president popped over with a welcoming cake. Sue Parsons came around to introduce herself with her daughter Rachel, who became Ben's first friend in Cummins.

Next door neighbours Janette and John Maxwell, along with children Ben and Tara, constantly had us over for tea and helped introduce us to the community. I recall going to many APEX functions where I met many wonderful people, many of whom are still great friends.

As we settled into life in Cummins I got involved with the running of the practice, which I am still doing today. Our third child, Hannah, was born in the December of that year so life was busy. Ben had started kindy and a grant application to the Kindergym Association was successful so I started a weekly Kindergym session at the Cummins Area School Community Complex.

I kept busy with the children and became involved with the Cummins Child Parent Centre for the time I had children attending, which seemed to go on forever. In January 1993 Sophie was born. Trish Clarke, a midwife at the hospital, delivered her while Dr Graham Fleming from Tumby Bay snoozed in the kids ward "just in case."

Gerard was again in the practice by himself so time off was irregular and precious. As the children grew I became involved in whatever it was they were doing; hence I became a gymnastic coach. I had many memorable trips to competitions in Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Broken Hill and Adelaide and was lucky enough to be involved with the Cummins Gymnastic Club for over 10 years, enjoying the company of the many wonderful coaches, committee members, children and parents.

Like Sophie, Alice and Matthew, were born locally at the Cummins hospital and I know from first hand experience how important it is to have these facilities and services available to our town. Two of our children have been retrieved to Adelaide with medical emergencies, which again gives a different perspective on the importance of medical and volunteer services.

As my children have grown I have been involved in different aspects of the community: School council as the children went through school; Boarding House Parent Support Group when the children have attended school in Adelaide.

The parish of St Andrews has provided my family with spiritual guidance and support, and it was with sadness that we recently farewelled our parish priest Fr Shaji.

I have been lucky enough to be involved in some great community events in Cummins such as Wildeloo, Cummins Under Canvas, the Airshow and most recently the Music Hall 'As Time Goes By.' The lesson I have learnt from my involvement with these events is how much I get out of them. The friendships made certainly makes the work worthwhile.

The Rambler Netball Club has been a great source of friendship for both myself and my daughters and I currently hold the position of president. Sport continues to be a strong focus of the town and it is pleasing that the netball and football clubs have a close association, allowing the whole family to enjoy their sport together.

I mentioned earlier that Cummins wasn't the prettiest town I had seen but it certainly is a community in the true sense of the word. I feel fortunate to have lived and raised my family in such a welcoming, enthusiastic and positive town.

Who would want to live anywhere else?