Kylie Neill is now
Kylie Collins

Kylie and her children
Kylie and her children - Emma (7), Mason (4) and Lucy (7).

I moved to Melbourne to live with my husband Michael in 1997. Michael was born here and we met on the GC. When I started visiting Melbourne with him, I thought it would be a great place to settle and raise a family as the GC had changed considerably since I was young. Our twin daughters arrived in Feb 98 as a result of a 'first attempt'. They are identical and, yes, it was hard work, but you manage. They were born at 31 weeks which was a bit of a struggle, but both pulled through without any residual problems and were home by their due date. Our son then arrived (second attempt) in March 01. By far my best achievements thus far!

My husband Michael is a boilermaker by trade and works for a large Earthmoving company. We have lived in our current home for almost 4 years. It's a weatherboard on half an acre in Mt Evelyn which is at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges (N NE Melbourne). It is very quiet and private and I just love the lifestyle. Having just returned from the GC, I don't know that I could move back now. It's just too busy and congested, with satellite suburbs springing up everywhere.

After school I did a course at Christine Percival's Business Girls' Academy in Southport which then led me to work within the legal field as a paralegal until I moved to Melbourne. Since living here I haven't really returned to full time work but have just landed a part time job at my local hotel doing waitressing in the Functions Department. It suits me at the moment to work evenings and not disrupt my life at home. Lucy and Emma are in Grade 2 and I love being involved in the school with canteen, classroom helper and also with a forthcoming Fete. Mason is off to Pre-School next year and will then start school in 2007 (yippee).

I lost my father in 1991 to a Brain Tumour which was devastating for me. Then my father's mother died last March after suffering from Dementia for about 8 years. My mother is suffering the same and has been a resident at a nursing home in Labrador for the past 12 months. Thank goodness I was adopted..... I don't have any brothers/sisters so I rely heavily on my husband's family and my close friends for support when needed.

Michael and his children
Michael with the kids.

Kylie can be reached by email (mandkcollins@optusnet.com.au).