It all began with a 16-year old runaway. She was a farm girl, the oldest of three children. An unhappy soul, unless motorbike riding and accompanied by her dog. She had big dreams about who she would be in the world, but was constantly told that her dreams were not possible because she is a girl.
The day after her 16th birthday, she got free. She thought she had fallen in love with a boy and ran away to a nearby town to be with him. She had naught more than the clothes on her back and big ideals.
Within a few days, she secured a fulltime job working in the fruit and vegetable section of the local supermarket. She earned $110 per week. Within a few months, she moved into hardware and managed two departments – plumbing and paint. A few more months on and she secured a management position with an earthmoving company. She had not yet turned 17.
It wasn’t the done thing back then – a young girl living away from her family, running her own household. This girl simply wanted to work. She excelled at school, but didn’t enjoy it. Independence called to her and she did it well.
The townsfolk knew of the girl. They seemed to take care of her somehow. They fed her when she had no food in the house. They helped her raise money when there were bills to be paid. They provided sanctuary when things were not going right. Even the police pulled her over to check up on her, but never charged her for driving too young and without a license. Their generosity led her to want to pay it forward.
She started taking in stray and runaway kids. Even though she lived in a tiny single bedroom house, she made room for them and had them feel safe there. She cleaned them up; fed and watered them; got them off drugs; listened to their trauma; and, eventually got them jobs.
She didn’t think anything of it. She was doing what she wanted someone to do for her – she was simply being there for them, arms extended in friendship and support.
Who knew that she would go on to lead a life that shaped the futures of so many others?
Who is she? Click here to meet Tracy Wilkinson.
