Meet your vendor.
I grew up in Salisbury until I moved to Wallaroo when I was about five. I was in special classes at school. We did all sorts of activities and things.
I left there when I was 18 and went and worked at Phoenix, it’s a disability employment place, where I was packing stuff. I was there for about eight years, and then I went to Bedford, another disability employment place – and I was there for five years, I think. And after I left there, I had to go back to Wallaroo to look after Mum because she was sick. My dad died when I was 17. And my mum’s only just gone four years now. I looked after her because my brother works, he does security. My brother has kids: my nephews are married now, and we’ve just had a new baby in the family. I’m a great-aunty!
I was in a relationship for 12 years with my ex-husband. We’ve only been married for three years, and we’re getting a divorce. I was going through a bad patch because of the break-up with him.
I started selling The Big Issue in April. A friend brought me here. I try and get out on my pitch once a day. It gets me motivated a bit more. Before, I didn’t really have a job. I was just sitting at home, lying down and going to bed all the time. I got sick of it. I like that you get to meet people and earn a little bit of extra money that helps pay the bills. At the moment, I’m trying to bank some money because I need to get a new bed.
I knock off a little bit earlier on Friday nights – I play tenpin bowls. We have five in the team. I also do a lot of diamond arts, where you get little circle pieces and you stick them on the fabric that’s got numbers and letters on it, and you put it all together. I’ve just done a big tiger one. I’ve got a couple hanging up. And I’m going to start going back to wrestling – I used to go all the time. You get to give the wrestlers a bit of crap, there’s a bit of heckling.
I always keep an issue every time there’s a new magazine out. I keep a copy for myself. I like some of the cooking that’s in it – there’s been some good recipes.
I’m under the NDIS and I’m living in Better Care – they’ve supplied my housing. I’ve got a house to myself, and I’m happy here. I get support every day, they make sure I take all of my medication and I have someone come down and clean.
I have a dog as well, named Betty Boop. She’s cute. She’s a shih tzu crossed chihuahua. I’m trying to get one of those passes so I can bring her to work with me, so that I can bring her on the bus. And I’ve got a cat, Missy. The two of them get along.
Jane sells The Big Issue on Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Interview by Amy Hetherington
Photo by Ben Liew
Published in ed#748