You couldn’t find a more true-blue local then Wendy O’Hanlon. Born and bred here on the Sunshine Coast, Wendy enjoyed a carefree childhood on a cane farm on the Maroochy River. Her childhood memories are of exploring, riding on the cane loco, billy tea, hours playing outside and home cooking. Wendy enjoyed writing from an early age, in particular poetry and short stories. She also filled scrap books with newspaper articles of stories that intrigued and delighted her. Those newspaper articles were her connection to the outside world. They fuelled her imagination and were the inspiration for choosing to do a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in journalism when she graduated from Nambour High school.

Although she spent time working for newspapers in Brisbane and even Fleet St in London, Wendy moved back to the Sunshine Coast in 1989, married and started raising a family. Wendy felt it was important to give her sons the type of carefree and spacious childhood she had known – and what better place than the Sunshine Coast.

Wendy has worked for many of the local newspapers, including the Sunshine Coast Daily, Nambour Chronicle and Noosa Journal. Her roles within the newspaper industry have been just as diverse –editor, sub editor, photographer, journalist, sports writer, feature writer and book editor. Wendy found the world of journalism extraordinary. It was like a magic key that opened the door into people’s stories and motivations, their dreams, accomplishments and pains. For someone like Wendy who has an insatiable curiosity about the world and the people in it, this was a wonderful and honouring gift.

But with two young boys, Wendy made the decision to leave full-time journalism and work freelance from home. This gave her the opportunity to be more available for her children. It also meant she could write about things that had meaning and heart for her. She began to write for publications like Acres Australia, a wonderful magazine promoting sustainable agriculture. Wendy continues to write for them 15 years later. Her other long-term commitment is as a freelance manuscript editor and book reviewer for Sid Harta Publishers. Twenty-seven years of Wendy’s life has been dedicated to journalism.

Wendy is a firm believer that everyone has a gift, and writing is certainly one of hers. Another is her commitment and dedication to the Sunshine Coast Community. She has been involved in numerous community projects and committees. From 1997, Wendy has been a pivotal member of the Yandina Street Fair committee, the longest running fair on the Sunshine Coast and one that just seems to get bigger and better each year. The volunteer committee and event was even nominated for the Australia Day Community Service Award last year.

In the last two years, Wendy’s passion to be involved in the community extended to the world community. In 2007 she became a member of the “World Expeditions Peru Community Village Project” to build infrastructure for an isolated village in the northern Andes and in 2009 a member of “No Roads Expeditions Borneo Orangutan” fundraising trip to Central Borneo. The team raised $13,000 for the Australian Orangutan Project and funds to support patrols for 6000 hectares of forest (through Safeguard).
It was while she was sitting on a mountain in Peru that an ‘Ah Ha’ moment occurred. She was surrounded by people just like herself all sharing the same passion, stepping out of their comfort zones and wanting to make a difference. ‘So why not shout about this’ she thought, ‘why not tell everyone about how people are living their dreams?’

Two years later, the first edition of ‘Click! A Cultural Connection’ was uploaded as an ezine. Tired of the often negative, cynical and money-driven world of media, the focus of Click! is on the positive, empowering things people are doing all over the world - the ways people are giving back, fulfilling their dreams and inspiring others. It is a culmination of Wendy’s years as a journalist, photographer and community worker.

Click! is an expression of Wendy’s passion to connect with people. It provides opportunity for networking, sharing and meeting. It supports and fundraises for Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors and the Australian Orangutan Project. The feature stories are interesting and stimulating and incorporate adventure, the environment, health, travel and culture. Wendy says Click! is about giving and giving back. She feels it will evolve and grow as the Click! community does. Her ultimate goal is to be recognized as a global citizen and for making a difference in people’s lives through fundraising and project travel groups.

Wendy wants warm and fuzzy, she wants to celebrate the amazing things that are happening in the world. She wants to bring stories of joy, empowerment, assistance and community to a wide audience. Wendy is just a local girl who is embracing the global family and encouraging us to do the same. Join the Click! Community at www.clickaculturalconnection.com.