Donna Clayton-Smith

Occupation/s? Tell us what you have been doing

I left UHS and attended Don College then 6 months of teacher training in Hobart before I returned home to Ulverstone. I started work at the Ulverstone Library at the end of 1980.

After moving to Hobart when I met Stephen in 1982 I continued to work at various libraries until 1984 when I started at the Department of Social Security which evolved into Centrelink and then Department of Human Services

I have worked on the front counter, in processing teams and in IT and technical support areas but in 2011 I found my dream job when I moved to project management. I transferred from Centrelink to Medicare at the end of 2016 and am continuing to work on programme and project management

What would you tell your 1977 self if you could send them a message now?

You only regret the things you don’t do

Be direct, be straightforward, don’t fall for nonsense, but be kind

Love at first sight is a thing. Yes, really

Boys are wonderful, mysterious creatures – especially when you made them

What would you like to share about the last 40 years?

I met Stephen in January 1982 and we married in May of that year. We have lived in Hobart, Adelaide and Hobart again before settling in Townsville in North Queensland – a little piece of paradise that the tourists have not found.

We have four sons aged 28, 26, 22 and 16. I am nearly at the end of over 20 years of school book shopping and parent teacher meetings – it’s been a long haul. I have been the parent of a teenager without a break since 2002.

Since 1993 I have been a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association and I also put some years in as a director on the ABA board as well as a stint as national vice president

In my spare time I cook, read, crochet, walk my dog, write short plays and see as much in theatre and movies as I can afford to (trips south can be expensive) I have also done some directing.

What are you proudest of about your life? What have been your greatest achievements?

My four sons are my greatest achievement – all so wonderful and strong in their own ways

Lobbying for over a decade for paid parental leave and then being part of the team that saw it come to fruition was amazing

My biggest buzz has been directing Stephen in plays and seeing the characters we created together take hold of people’s hearts and minds. One huge night we won 5 awards – Best Director, Actor, Actress, Sound Design and runner up best play in festival. That night was a total buzz.

Mind you seeing our 16 year old totally nail a performance to an audience of 1000 last week was a massive thrill too. 

Any regrets?

Just one that I can clearly acknowledge was an error of judgement.

Around 1986 Stephen and I were offered the opportunity to buy lifetime memberships to the Qantas Club and Ansett Golden Wings for $75 each.

We had a conversation that went something like “It will never take off” “How would we know which one to choose?” “That would be $300 then” “Let’s go out for dinner”

Big mistake. Even allowing for Ansett going bust the Qantas lifetime memberships were last sold in 2009 for $4200. Oh well!