I didn’t plan on becoming a ceramicist.

For years, my life revolved around being a personal trainer, climbing, and working with steel — pursuits that demanded strength, focus, and a deep connection to the body and materials. When I was forced to stop climbing and undergo a full hip replacement at 38, I lost more than a physical outlet.

Stopping climbing left a huge hole in my life — physically, mentally, and socially.

With climbing suddenly impossible and a long wait ahead of me for surgery, I tried a ceramics class in Geelong. I was hooked from the intro session. Monday nights that once belonged to climbing became hours at the wheel, and what began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession.