dameeeela, in every dimension

 

To properly introduce you, what are your nicknames?

When I used to play sports, "Dameila" was too hard to yell across the field so my friends ended up just calling me D. This now runs through my schooling career where the kids just call me Miss D! My family calls me Ducky but that’s a whole other story. 

 

Do you have any idols? Why/why not?

I have so many idols and sources of inspiration and motivation in my life, from my First Nations sisters, aunties and elders to musical idols where I visualise through any of my DJ sets that they’re in the crowd and if I personally believe they would have liked the set or even a few of the tunes, then I feel satisfied. 

 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up between Ipswich and Northside Brisbane in Shorncliffe, then in high school we moved to Rainbow Beach. 

 

How do you think this has influenced who you are today?

Sooooo deeply. Being a Gemini, I am so enriched by the crazy variety between these places. I get to revisit them quite frequently actually and every time I become so sentimental, acknowledging how much I would not be the person I am today without each place. So many memories that morphed me, I feel so lucky to have been young in that timeline, it was incredibly free. 

 

 

 

 

Do you believe in astrology? Either way, what are your sun, moon and rising signs?

I was raised with a poster of my chart in my room, I’ll never forget it. I’m a Gemini sun, Pisces moon and Scorpio rising. And I live up to my chart sooo heavily. 

 

What are three things you can’t live without?

My family, forest time and dance. 

 

 

 

What’s one skill you’re currently learning?

I just finished my Bachelor of Education and I’ve spent the past few months absolutely lost not studying. I plan on embarking on a certificate in Herbal Remedies when I return from a month in Sri Lanka next week! A topic I’ve always felt really intrigued about, I then want to share the knowledge with my friends and make them all herbal remedies as they need them. 

 

Any favourite sounds?

A kookaburra laughing. Nothing in this world like it.

 

 

What common trait do your favourite people share?

I would say a deep love for music, and how it fuels us. How lucky I feel to be united in something so infinite. How healing it is for us to dance. 

 

Death row meal?

A Vegan KFC style meal with mash, salad, an icy cola. 

 

Still or sparkling water?

Still! Alkalised preferably 

 

Favourite self-imposed rituals?

Morning pages. Hard rule to finish 3 pages a day, not necessarily always in the morning but daily requirement for sure. 

 

 

Something that should be less popular than it is?

Mainstream schooling. Don’t get me wrong, we are so lucky to have structured, readily available schooling facilities in this country but I think as an educator, I know this country could do with some more grey-areas within our learning frameworks. If you don’t agree with the standards our schools have set, then the alternate options to educate our kids differently are seemingly isolating, difficult and overall non-accessible. Particularly in Brisbane we have very few alternate schools and the few we do have are deep into waiting lists. There are many countries around the world that have set examples of offering various options to learning families, with equal accessibility to public schooling. 

 

Your most toxic trait?

I drink way too much coffee. Then wonder why I toss and turn all night.. It’s the billion of kids in my life that make me do it.. I swear! 

 

Ideal dinner party guests, dead or alive?

Obviously, my mum, next would be my daughter and then we’ll sprinkle a little JB as a third to keep things really interesting. 

 

 

What’s the best item you’ve ever purchased?

Probably my Yashica t4. I captured so many precious memories with that camera, RIP to it. I snapped it up in like 2014 for super cheap now I could never afford to replace it haha. I have sneakily found myself something similar though!

Where is your favourite place in the world? Why?

Nepal. I am so drawn to that place, I been there 6 times personally. I worked on school/house there and visited many times seeing the kids grow into full adults now! I’ve ventured through the mountains many different routes now, waking up to the Himalayas. 

 

What are you scared of?

I’m straight up scared of clowns. Anything that even vaguely resembles them makes me feel sick to my stomach. It was sneaking and watching the tv while my mum watched the first ‘It’ movie. I love scary movies though, and I am the biggest lover of halloween, it’s the only time I’ll tolerate clowns because the fun outweighs the fear.