While Goulburn was shivering in recent weeks, local artist, writer and part-time teacher Kim Morrison was enjoying the opportunity of a lifetime on the other side of the world.
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After submitting an exhibition proposal earlier this year, her photography was selected for exhibition at the Greenbelt Festival, currently held every summer in the grounds of Boughton House, Kettering, in Northamptonshire.
"Greenbelt is sort of like the thinking person's Glastonbury," Ms Morrison said.
"As well as music, art and performance, it features current heavy-hitters in areas such as social justice, activism and theology. You could describe Greenbelt as liberally Christian, but it is attended by about 20,000 people of all faiths and none."
Headlining this year were cartoonist Michael Leunig and comedian/social commentator Russell Brand.
"To give an idea of the diversity of issues and opinions represented, the Archbishop of Canterbury and expatriate Sudanese- Australian media presenter Yassmin Abdel-Magied both led discussions," she said.
As well as exhibiting her photographs, other, unexpected opportunities presented themselves once she arrived.
'When I was looking at the program online the night before the festival, I noticed that a storytelling group - Tenx9 from Belfast - whose podcast I listen to, was to be holding a session on the first night, and were looking for another storyteller, as one of theirs had dropped out," she said.
"For some reason, just as I had left home in Goulburn, I grabbed a notebook that had a story for performance in it from a comedy storytelling workshop I did at Goulburn Library back in 2017. I had no idea Tenx9 was even connected to Greenbelt, as I found out about them through the Moth, a New York storytelling podcast with followers in the hundreds of thousands.
"I quickly sent an email to the organiser, poet Padraig O'Tuama and, after reading screenshots of my handwritten story, he put me on the program. It was easily the biggest audience I have ever performed in front of, but despite my nerves I had a blast and the story was really well received."
The fun didn't stop once the five-day festival was over. She was asked by festival organisers if she would like to bring up the Australian contingent and display her work at an evening 'in conversation' with Michael Leunig back in London the following week. She didn't hesitate.
"It was a gorgeous night, starting with a garden dinner before the more formal proceedings. The evening was attended by London writers, BBC radio presenters, artists and even an MP," she said.
"It was an amazing experience. The whole trip exceeded expectations.
"'But in the words of Hilary Clinton, it takes a village."
She said that having been a regular exhibitor and finalist in the Goulburn Regional Art Prize and the Milson's 'Art in the Woolshed' gave her quite a strong application.
"A glowing reference from artist and critic Peta Thurling also didn't hurt. 'Tech support from Brianna at Optus and my son Alexander Zecevic, plus Matt at Top Shot's great printing were pivotal in making this happen, and I'm really grateful to them all," she said.
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