Life Stories.

This is an ongoing series that I am doing to highlight stories and experiences of people, and give them the attention that they deserve.

Sue.

This one is about Sue Westover.

Sue was kindly donated a Pay it Forward photoshoot by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.

Sue is pictured here with her gorgeous 5 year old pup, Milly K

This is Sue’s story:

“I have been a wildlife carer for the past 35 years. Over the years I have cared for possums, kangaroos, all species of birds, echidnas, lizards and microbats.

In 2010 the Grey Headed Flying Foxes arrived in Adelaide from interstate. I was always fascinated with flying foxes but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be lucky enough to care for them.

In 2019/2020 Adelaide had 2 massive heat stress events causing thousands of flying foxes to perish. Many of them carrying live babies that were now orphans.

I was advised to euthanase 100 of them. I was horrified and refused as the Grey Headed Flying Fox is on the vulnerable species list. I saw then and there that a new volunteer organisation was desperately needed to be created to specialise caring for them and to protect them.

So myself and several of the carers (volunteers) formed Bat Rescue South Australia Incorporated. Becoming a registered charity in June of 2020. We saved 247 flying foxes that year.

From there we have grown into a well respected organisation. We currently have around 60 volunteers helping bats all across South Australia.

This season alone we have undertaken just over 500 rescues. I am the coordinator manning the “bat phone” and coordinating rescues on a daily basis.

Forming Bat Rescue SA was a monumental time in my life. The stress I was previously under trying to save a vulnerable species lifted and I was and still am surrounded by a wonderful caring team of volunteers.

Suffering quite badly with depression and anxiety around that time I found that starting Bat Rescue was therapeutic and my faith was restored in people who truly cared about bats. People willing to fundraise and help educate the public about bats.

Why do I want to care for bats?

- They are listed as a vulnerable species

- They are one of the most misunderstood animals because of all the myths and lies portrayed through Hollywood horror films and the media.

- It is up to us to re educate the public about bats with facts not myths.

- Bats can carry Lyssavirus (not rabies). However Lyssavirus is fatal. All our rescuers are vaccinated to handle bats. Less than 1/2 % of the bat population carry Lyssavirus. More people die from falling off a horse than getting bitten by a bat.

- Bats are highly intelligent, more intelligent than a dog.

- They are extremely clean animals, spending much of their day grooming. To toilet they invert and hang by their thumbs to keep themselves clean.

- Flying Foxes are seed dispersers and pollinators. They are the only pollinators of our night flowering gums. Bats help forest regenerate after bushfires and floods.

- Enjoy chocolate or Tequilla? Bats are the pollinators of the plants used to produce these products.

- Farmers are now placing bat boxes to encourage microbats to live on their farms. Now known as “the farmers best friend” one bat can eat hundreds of pest insects per night protecting the crops.

Quite simply bats are not evil, they are just sky puppies to us, a keystone species that need our help.”

This is the Facebook page that Sue and her fellow volunteers use to educate around the world about their precious bats; https://www.facebook.com/adelaidebatchat

How beautiful is she?! And how passionate about what she does!!

Thank you for agreeing to be featured, Sue, and also for giving me photos of the little bats that you’ve helped rehabilitate a

Give it up for Sue, everyone!

Mary.

I met Mary recently when she came in for a boudoir photoshoot with her best friend, Judi Bemmer.

Mary has a quiet and serene grace to her - and also a very subtle naughty side when she smiles J

This is Mary e

In Mary’s words:

“Born in Dublin and raised across three continents, Mary’s life is a story of resilience, reinvention, and quiet strength. After moving to England at the age of three, she made her way to Australia as a teenager — a brave leap that would shape the rest of her journey.

A mother to two sons, Danny and Michael, and a proud grandmother, Mary built a successful career in real estate, eventually becoming a published author — not just of one, but three books. Her works span from business-building and professional insight to something deeply personal: her long journey through depression.

Mary has faced mental health challenges most of her life. Writing her book on depression was both a heartfelt offering to others — filled with practical advice and lived experience — and a cathartic step toward healing. Through years of personal growth, self-reflection, and mindful living, she’s worked hard to reclaim peace and purpose.

Never one to sit still, Mary has run mindfulness groups and now channels her natural gift for organising into coordinating friendship circles. Her goal? To bring people together and tackle the isolation that so often feeds poor mental health.

Mary is a quiet force for good — someone who turns her own story into a source of strength and connection for others.”

Please give it up for Mary!!!

Judi.

I’ve met Judi twice now, and she is absolutely unapologetic about who she is - which I LOVE - and so full of life that you can’t help but feel happy around her. Everything is possible with a little Judi Bemmer.

This is Judi’s story:

“Being a grown up is hard, especially when you realise your parents are mortal and aging and fragile.

13 years ago mum had a brain stem bleed. It was a catastrophic stroke that I was informed was almostimpossible to survive.

Survivors were always left vegetative. Being the strong Irish woman my mum is, she informed the doctors she had no intention of going anywhere and did just that.

At the time, mum was raising my niece who had just started high school. Overnight I became the full time primary carer for mum and my niece. I was working full time so took long service leave initially before going back part time.

Any spontaneity disappeared from my life, replaced by a harrowing schedule of looking after those around me.

Mum needed help with every aspect of her life from toileting and showering to physio and eating.

I worked my life around a roster of carers, cooking, cleaning, toileting, school drop off and pick ups, budgeting, and managing a home and mortgage on a drastically reduced income.

My art was my salvation. I converted a garden shed into a tiny studio where I could still see mum but could lose myself in moments of creativity. I painted and drew pictures, sometimes intricate paintings, sometimes doodles on paper.

Save for the drive to and from work, those were my only moments that were exclusively mine.

After 8 years, mums care needs increased and I reached a point of having to give up work.

Unfortunately those responsibilities led to a shoulder injury necessitating a full reconstruction, meaning I could no longer provide care and Mum had to move into a care facility.

The guilt I felt was crippling. I knew it was the only option but I still felt I had let mum down.

Thankfully, I had made the decision in the last few years of caring for mum to do something for me and me alone. I became a wildlife carer. I joined Bat Rescue SA as it was starting out and learned how to raise, rescue and rehabilitate Grey Headed Flying Foxes.

This has been a journey that allowed me to continue caring for other lives while allowing me to use my skills and knowledge to raise money and awareness of these precious creatures.

I am back to working full time and still spend 6-8 hours a week with mum. My niece is now an adult and while my life may still be highly scheduled, I have been able to be much more spontaneous.

I spend time every week working on art or craft and produce some epic doodles during my many work meetings.

My friends are my rocks and have been through all the highs and lows of the last dozen or more years and we take every opportunity to create fun experiences and memories.”

Judi’s PHENOMENAL art work is included here. I’m honestly blown away by the talent of this beautiful lady - and I think she needs her own Facebook art page.

Please give it up for the amazingly talented, and incredibly resilient Judi! And let’s get her a website sorted!!