Tania Comerford, a native of the small southern town of Riverton in New Zealand, has lived a fulfilling and vibrant life. Born fifty-four years ago, she is the eldest of three siblings and cherishes her childhood memories of growing up in a close-knit community surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles. Despite the region’s predominantly cold climate, Tania fondly recalls spending precious time at the beach, making the most of the fleeting New Zealand summers.
“I was very lucky to have one of those wonderful mums that was always present. She’d have afternoon tea ready when we got off the school bus, and she was always there for a cuddle and a story. I had a very blessed childhood”, said Tania.
During her younger years, Tania learnt both ballet and jazz ballet, however, due to her height, she was always cast as the prince in performances, missing out on the opportunity to wear the coveted tutus she had admired. Despite this, Tania’s love for dance persisted until the age of fifteen.
At sixteen, Tania met a boy who was eighteen; his name was Dean. The pair first crossed paths while running a school holiday program at a local campground in New Zealand.
“We fell in love immediately, even though we lived fourteen hours away from each other. After ten days, Dean proposed marriage. Though we laughed off the idea of engagement at such a young age, we revisited the topic a year later and decided to tie the knot. We then moved to Christchurch to start our married life together.”
Several years later, driven by Tania’s love for sunshine and blue skies, the couple made the decision to relocate to Queensland, Australia. With two teenage children in tow, they embarked on a new adventure, settling in Gympie thirteen years ago. Dean assumed the role of a pastor at a local church, while Tania worked in finance at a local school.
Although they made friends and enjoyed their time in Gympie, Tania couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t truly home. Dean resigned from his job after suffering a mental health breakdown, a fact he doesn’t hide. It was a difficult couple of months which turned around quickly with the TRTP therapy Tania now offers to clients. During this time, Tania had a vivid dream that would change the course of their lives. In her dream, she saw a two-story Queenslander house with rooms for rent and a space for their own residence, complete with a reception area. Tania shared the dream with Dean, who naturally thought she was nuts.
However, fate intervened when the couple visited Hervey Bay the following day to visit friends. It had been a decade since their last visit. It was then that they fell in love with the place. As if destiny was guiding them, they discovered a house that perfectly matched Tania’s dream. Despite being outside their budget, they took a leap of faith, trusted in the miracle, and became proud owners of Villa Cavour two years ago.
When in her mid-twenties, Tania developed an interest in mental health concepts and healthy relationships. However, it wasn’t until her forties that Tania decided to pursue her passion. It took six years of studying part-time, but she believes that if you study what you love, it makes it easier to achieve your dreams.
“I am now a fully qualified counsellor and trauma therapist and have created a wonderful business called Nourish. Mind, Soul, Body. I feel like I am living my best life. It really can’t get much better than this.”
By Kim Parnell
From What’s On Fraser Coast
