My interests over the decades . . .

I thought I would organise this page by providing some background on each of my main interest areas and many of my other memberships, hobbies and lesser interests. These are in no particular order.

Family History
I began serious research in 1975, looking at both my own family, and that of my marriage partner. I have been a member of the South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc., since about 1975. I have gathered lots of information and documentation, but have not done much from 1990 to about 2003. For many years, I had a unique, hard coded genealogy site, but I now have too much info and photos that are un-organised. I need to get some structure back, so this TNG site will be my data repository. For more info, click on the link to the right.

Web Design
I am a capable Web designer and specialise in uncluttered but appealing web sites that are quick to load. I have set up a Drupal site, and am currently becoming proficient with PHP/SQL coding. I do receive regular commissions for web projects, but am only able to take on a couple at a time.

Landcare
I live on a rural property and have an interest in Landcare in the Harrogate area. We bought the land in 1983 because it had about 30 acres (12 hectares approx) of natural scrub. More information is at the Landcare link to the right.

I am currently Secretary of the Northern Bremer Catchment Group Inc (since 2003), and the Bremer Barker Catchment Group since 2006. I am currently setting up their web site to organise and disseminate environment information to local communities. www.bremerbarker.org.au

Employment
I currently work part time at Employment Options Inc, a not-for-profit Job Network provider in the Adelaide Hills, where I am Finance Manager and a member of the Board. You can see their web site at www.employmentoptions.com.au.

I have a Batchelor of Economics degree from the University of Adelaide, and am a Certified Practising Accountant and member of CPA Australia. I am an expert with QuickBooks (Australian version), and Excel. I also have considerable experience in the concept of Corporate Governance, where the separation of responsibility and accountability between the Board and the CEO is clearly defined by the existence of Board policies, and adherence to them. I learnt my corporate governance through being on the Board of Employment Options Inc, where we worked through concepts put together by Boardworks International Inc. It is really worth while subscribing to their quarterly journal and checking out their web site at www.boardworksinternational.com

Other memberships
I have been Honorary Treasurer and volunteer accountant of the Down Syndrome Society of SA Inc., from 1995 till 2002. I have a strong interest in the Society, and you can see their web site at www.downssa.asn.au. I still volunteer for the Society at various functions and provide computer support. An important activity is the monthly Rock and Roll nights we host once a month for young people with disabilities, where I am currently sound and lighting technician. One of our great supporters is a local radio dj, Tommy Kaye. Check out his web site, Six O'Clock Rock.

I am a Justice of the Peace in and for South Australia, and a member of the Royal Association of Justices of SA Inc (RAJSA Inc). I have been a member of the Hills Branch since 2002, and Treasurer since 2007.

Friends from the past
This section contains family and friends from my past. I obviously have lost touch with them (or you if you are reading this). If my name confuses you, you need to read the following paragraphs. I would love to make contact again, or at least say hello.

• Roger Foster, Dean Foster, from Torrensville back in the fifties
• Val Benson, from Rose Park Congregational Church in the sixties
• Jim Angus, also from Rose Park Congregational Church
• Roger Wiseman, also from this time
• Bruce Rundle, David Rundle, Jennifer Rundle, cousins on my mum's side
• Bruce Lakin, from Linden Park Primary and Adelaide High Schools
• Judith Wilson and Ian Wilson from Primary school and Beaumont
• PMG, Telecom, Telstra colleagues - will add as I remember . . .
• more to come

Gender Difference
Since you have read this far, I can add a part of my life I kept hidden for many years. I was born Graham Squire, but from a young age, I felt something was not right. I gradually came to realise I felt different to most other boys. I was an adult before I reasoned that if I were female, my feelings made sense. In my forties, I made the decision that I had to live as a female, and began a transition process that was incredibly challenging for myself and my partner. Now, 12 years on, life is good and I am happy with who I am. As this page shows, I have still achieved a lot. There is more about this part of my life at www.jansquire.com /pers /gender.htm (you will need to type this link manually without spaces because it is not for the search engines).

Music
I am mostly a classical music lover, and enjoy most styles, but I struggle with music commonly called chamber music (cannot explain why). I enjoy sixties and seventies music played in a classical style. My favourite performer is Wendy Carlos, and my favourite composer is John Rutter. I also enjoy anything sixties and/or rock and roll. My CD collection is too big to carry around, but it is all on my Laptop. If you are on Soulseek, you can see my music list on user 'harrowing'. You might have to ask for me to be online, though.

Hobbies and Interests

• Predictably, I have an interest in computers, using my first Apple II for work in 1980. My first personal computer was a 'Dick Smith' System 80 with 16k of RAM. I learnt BASIC programming and 'machine language' using the Z80 processor. I wrote my original Family History program in Basic. I upgraded frequently and revelled in the new features, and saw how quickly my needs outstripped the machine's ability to deliver. I have used a laptop for some years now, and my most frustrating experience was when I chose to upgrade to Vista Ultimate 64bit OS recently. I battled for two months to make it work how I wanted.
• In 1967-1969, I spent two years in the Australian Army, as a Signals corp technician. In the process, I gained an electrical trade certificate. I could have used this later to become an electrician, but chose to continue a clerical and accounting career.
• For most of my adult life, I have been renovating and extending my various homes. I have done lots of carpentry work, and have worked with a qualified carpenter on many occasions. I consider myself a competent tradesperson, but try to avoid working the tools now.
• For much of my early life, I was interested in steam railway preservation and in model railways. My preference then was for an 'HO' model railway based on the South Australian prototype, particularly prior to 1970. I started a layout in the seventies, but my interest now has gone.
• In the sixties, I played table tennis competitively for a few years. Do not remember much except I played in a hall at Parkside.
• I used to do crosswords, and regularly did the 'Mr Wisdom's Whopper' in the Australasian Post weekly magazine. I sometimes wish I could find the time to still do them.
• In the seventies, I played 'Contract Bridge' every lunch hour at work. I enjoyed this but never found a regular group since then, that fitted in my schedule. I also liked chess, but that also fell by the wayside for lack of a partner.
• In the seventies, I was involved in Cave exploration and mapping in the south east of South Australia. At one stage, I was a member of CEGSA (Cave Exploration Group of SA Inc), but did most of my work with an informal group of people, and with a person in Mt Gambier.
• For most of the 1980s, I was a member of the Parents' Committee of the Belair Scout Group, and the honorary treasurer.
• In the eighties I was a member of the Australian Postal Institute Caravan and Camping Club (later the Post-Tel Institute Caravan and Camping Club), including two years as President. My camper of choice was a motorhome, and we had a few over the years. I would like to buy another, but the cost of fuel is making that more unlikely.
• I have been a foster parent from about 1978 till the mid 1990s. During that time, we had many short term emergency care children, respite care placements, and two long term children in wheelchairs as a result of being affected with cerebral palsy. The many agencies we worked with included Emergency Foster Care, Interchange, Crippled Children's Association, and CSI.

You now know a fair bit about me, and can wander off to see the pages that interest you. I have lots of work ahead of me to get this site loaded with everything I want to include. I would really like to write my biography, but the Family History stuff is the main motivation for this site.