Born into a family of four children, Gloria grew up with three siblings. Her mum was born in England, and her dad was Australian. At school, Gloria’s favourite subjects were art, music, and sport.
In her career, Gloria spent time as a shop assistant but also had a joy of caring for dogs, something that felt less like a job and more like time spent with friends.
Gloria is the kind of person who lights up when the topic turns to animals, especially dogs. “Oh god yes”, she said with a chuckle when asked if she’s a pet lover. “I love them all!” Gloria could not pick her favourite breed of dog when asked she said “I’ve seen so many different ones”. Her love for animals is deep, constant, and heartfelt. Whether it was big dogs or small ones, they’ve always brought her peace and happiness, “I’ve always loved being around them. There’s something so comforting about them, especially when you’re feeling down or lost. They know what’s wrong when something is wrong. People should listen to them a lot more”, Gloria explained.
Even now, Gloria always carries with her a special companion, a plush toy, a little curly hair black dog, that she keeps by her side, sitting in her walker. It’s a small, friendly presence, something that gives her comfort no matter where she goes. Her love for animals was matched only by her early love for her garden. She recalls the backyard she once tended to, it was full of flowers she had planted herself, with a fruit tree standing proudly among them. Over the years, Gloria raised four children, two boys and two girls, and now has grandchildren as well, she is clearly proud of her whole family. When talking about her children Gloria said “I give them all I can. When they went to school and when they got older. I taught them to try and keep doing the right thing. I’m so very lucky that they are all very good at that. The four of them”. When asked what her children might have taught her in return, she let out a laugh. “Nothing! They had to listen to me”. She’s joking, of course. Gloria admits that these days, some of the finer details slip away from her; there are some memories that she can’t quite reach. However, the important things that remain part of her story are her love for animals, the pride in her children and the joy she experienced when tending to her garden.
