I arrived in Australia in 1993 in my late 40s to join a local business wanting to get in to the market.

They wanted to supply colour pigment samples to the concrete and construction industries of Australia and New Zealand. The colourful city of Melbourne, with all of its sporting and cultural activities, encouraged me to spend more time in the company of others working in the world of colour. I was influenced by my new friends to embrace a more colourful outlook and discard the daggy clothes I brought over from England. The natural progression for me was to join the Colour Society.

Here I met even more colourful people.

I’ve participated in seminars, conferences and congresses both here and overseas that celebrate our world of colour and its multitude of uses in cultures around the world. The International Colour Association is made up of 26 organisations including The Colour Society of Australia. Together they nominated March 21 as International Colour Day in an effort to raise the awareness of the important role of colour in our lives.

Colour is an international language and a fundamental part of nature.

It contributes to our health and wellbeing. We react very positively to its role in entertainment, family gatherings, sport, leisure and also the places where we live and work. We in Victoria embraced this idea wholeheartedly. With the active support of Federation Square and our local members, we conducted our annual celebration. We were able to take our positive message to the people. They got to witness the colourful media and other visual experiences we prepared for our free exhibition.

Colour brings out the joy of being alive. I enjoy expressing that joy in my own unique way, and love being able to share that with others.