We are two adult life partners, Matthew and Catherine, living with our daughters, Sophia (13yrs) and Angelique (11 years) and a variety of animals, in beautiful North West Tasmania. We left a rather conventional life in Melbourne approximately eight years ago, yearning for a deeper, lived experience of community and a life rich with human-earth connection. This yearning led us to the beautiful, off-grid and remote community of Lorinna in Tasmania’s Cradle Valley country.
We live in a small intentional community set on approximately 100 acres. The wonderful neighbours of our intentional community, the members of the wider community, the diverse helpers and guests we have hosted over the years, and the incredible natural beauty – the rainforests, local lake, the wildlife and the expansive mountain horizons of this Valley – have been some of our ‘river guides’ during an exploration of what it means to live happy, connected and meaningful lives in a small community.
Whilst we have been building our earth house and developing garden systems, we have also explored: contemplative practices and spiritual growth learning, including meditation, alternative and non-violent communication and conflict transformation; permaculture and regenerative agriculture; small scale animal husbandry; home educating our children, particularly from a ‘natural learning’ and ‘unschooling’ philosophy and living with different possibilities to the monetised economy.
We have come to understand that no matter how well intentioned an individual or group’s motivations are, a personal willingness to be vulnerable and live from the ‘heart space’ – to openly explore the dynamics of the ‘inner’ and ‘intra-personal’ human landscape – is fundamental to nourishing positive and caring community relationships, and to sustainably working well together. This insight planted the seed for WholeSky.
Work and Professional Background
Catherine has completed University studies in Arts (Hons) and Law. She has a professional background working as a University Tutor, Lawyer, and senior policy officer for the Victorian Department of Justice. She completed her Permaculture Design Course nine years ago, with David Holmgren as one her teachers. She recently completed the ‘ Design for Sustainability and Regeneration’ with Gaia Education. This twelve month program explored the four dimensions of regenerative human systems: social, ecological, economic and worldview.
Matthew began his professional career with a medical degree and specialist training as an emergency physician. Within this sphere he has an interest in paediatric emergency medicine, public health and simulation in medical education. Accordingly, he has had the privilege of working in some wonderful workplaces ranging from the Alfred Trauma Centre in Melbourne, to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Darwin Hospital and practising retrieval medicine in the Northern Territory. He currently works at Launceston General Hospital. Recently, he has been exploring the interface of an individual’s health, the health of their community and the ecosystem. An exploration grounded in the question of whether an individual can be considered healthy in isolation from considering the health of their community and environment. While living in Lorinna, he has been able to focus on the quality of the relationships that we inhabit. And from this space, he is now working on unpacking the foundational qualities that inform the little (and big decisions) we all make day to day that give rise to the society and world in which we find ourselves. To inform this journey, he has completed a Permaculture Design Course with Geoff Lawton and has a strong interest in topics such as social change, regenerative gardening, the soil microbiome, permaculture and group facilitation.