Nancy, a lovely resident at SummitCare Smithfield, has always had a story to tell. Born in Timor and arriving in Australia in 1975, she carries a rich tapestry of experiences that span continents, languages, and careers. “Writing is good because you can keep in-touch with all the things you’ve had in the past. If you don’t write, you can forget,” she said.
Her love for storytelling led to her book, “A Woman of the Village”, which chronicles her childhood memories and life experiences. “It took 11 years to complete,” Nancy recalled. But writing isn’t her only creative outlet, Nancy is also passionate about art, crafts, and even keeps a colouring-in scrapbook tucked in her walker, filled with drawings, stories, and photos of life at SummitCare Smithfield.
Beyond her creative passions, Nancy’s life has been shaped by learning, service, and care. She’s worked as a bank teller, in various office roles, and as a social worker, always finding purpose in helping others. Whether singing in her church choir, tending her garden, or cooking for loved ones, Nancy approaches everything she does with heart. She raised a son who has since blessed her with three grandsons, and speaks Tetun, Portuguese, and English, skills she proudly attributes to her father, a journalist who instilled in her the love of education.
“Education is very important,” she said, echoing her father’s wisdom, “and I love to pass down what I’ve learnt through my experiences. It’s important for them to learn and pass down their learnings to future generations. That’s why I love to write.”
Whether through the pages of her books, the colours in her sketches, or the stories she shares over a cup of tea, Nancy continues to inspire everyone around her, proving that a life well-lived is a story worth telling.
