Tasmania Residency

Jennifer Rooke travelogue:

I set out early on the morning of the 27th of January to Port Melbourne with my car packed full of clothes,  pencils and cans of food for camping. I was most excited to be setting sail as I boarded the ship and immediately headed up to the outside deck. It was a beautiful sunny morning and I immediately ruined it by going and sitting on a soaking wet seat outside. As my jeans were soaked through suddenly every man and his dog also began to appear up on deck either bearing a camera or video camera. I spent a good half an hour quietly perched on a table outside writing notes and pretending to be busy as I dried off and tried to walk back inside in an unfazed manner.

I felt a little nervous about travelling but I was relieved to be there on the boat and aware that I couldn't back out of the whole operation. I've found it's good to throw yourself into situations like travelling as you are forced to make the best of whatever situation you end up in and you get to meet new people and places and see a greater picture than your everyday bubble.

I remember catching the Spirit of Tasmania about 12 years ago and felt terribly sea sick on the way over. This time I found myself perched up on deck 9 quietly watching the waves for long periods of time and then turning back to look at the room and seeing the carpet begin to spread out in front of me. For a moment I was concerned the whole room was moving but my brain soon switched back on and I realised it was just a trick of the eyes.

I think it was really good for me to have a long period of time on my own on the trip over. Life has been hectic lately and it's been hard to get some headspace and play around in my own little world. I found myself filling up the 9 hours or so of the trip drawing pictures of Bette Davis (I consider myself a cover artist now) and listening to the Beach Boys and the Everly Brothers. Their music just seemed to fit my mood.