This writer first met Liz Headland while preparing to go on the Reitman and Mueller radio show in Sydney, Australia, during the 2000 Olympics.
A producer for the show -- an attractive, perky female Australian -- addressed my wife and I, and gave her name. It dawned on me that she was the woman that John Holmes, then a media instructor at Marshall High School where I did a media literacy program during my years at UWM, had said I should track down Down Under.
I started going down that road, when the woman said, "You're that guy." We soon realized John also had mentioned us to her, and the bond almost was instantaneous. Headland served as sort of a guide when we visited her native Melbourne later in our trip. We've stayed in touch via email since.
Staying in touch with Headland has been like getting a virtual world tour, since she has traveled to many parts of the globe. Milwaukee remains one of her homes, however.
"I was in Milwaukee for 2 1/2 years altogether," Headland recently said via email. "The first time was August 1989 to June 1990, when I was an exchange student at John Marshall High School. I lived in Shorewood with my host family (David and Janet Kirkbride), who I consider my American family and my 'other Mum and Dad'! I'm lucky to have two families!
"The second time I was in Milwaukee was July 1994 (to) January 1996, when I attended Marquette University to do my masters degree in broadcasting & electronic communication. Again, I stayed with my host family."
Headland hooked up with Reitman and Mueller while at Marquette. "I started chatting with Reitman & Mueller in 1994," Headland explained. "One morning they mentioned something about Australia and I called up to comment on the subject. I became 'the Aussie correspondent' and even called several times after I came back home.
"When Bob and Gene visited Sydney during the 2000 Olympics, I was their unofficial guide and showed them around Sydney and helped them with the language. It can be a bit strong for some people!
"It was an exciting time. Both really enjoyed Australia and it was great to have them in my home country. I popped into the studio once or twice when I was visiting Milwaukee, which was lots of fun. I still keep in contact with them via email, and was able to listen to them over the net before they retired."
Headland has been back to Milwaukee several times, and in fact might just be here as you read this. "Just can't keep away!" said Headland, who works for IBM Australia. "Once or twice I've had business trips which allowed me a few days to visit Milwaukee, and in 2002 I had Christmas there with my family. I'm about to head back to Milwaukee in late February 2008, as I'm doing some volunteer research in Canada and wanted to stop in Milwaukee and Chicago to visit friends and family.
"I'll be staying with my American parents again. It's always great fun seeing them. They are very kind and take me to my old haunts, such as Marquette, and indulged my cravings for Kopp's custard, bratwurst, Benji's deli and a good American breaky (breakfast)!"
Headland also has traveled beyond Milwaukee. "I've traveled a lot in the US, especially when I was living there, also B.C. in Canada," Headland said. "I've been to England and Wales for holidays, and also about eight European countries on a short tour in 2003. I've also been to Vanuatu (South Pacific island nation, great diving and snorkling!), South America, including Peru, Bolivia and Chilean Patagonia, some travel in Australia doing nature holidays and most recently, New Zealand and Antarctica.
"Antarctica was the most amazing. I left from New Zealand on a ship, visiting the sub-Antarctic island and Commonwealth Bay on the continent, including Sir Douglas Mawson's hut. Sir Douglas is Australia's most well known Antarctic explorer and his hut still stands at Cape Denison, 'the home of the blizzard'. My next trip is to Churchill, Manitoba, where I'll be doing an Earthwatch volunteer holiday, helping with climate change research. I prefer holidays which include more wildlife and less people!"
Headland started with IBM in the media area and now works in project management. One of her passions is the environment, so she might gravitate to a position in that area in the next few years. For now, many of her travels are related to volunteer environmental work.
Headland has become an accomplished photographer, and obviously knows others who fit that description. You can view some of her Antarctica photos here and here.
It's now been eight years since my wife and I met Headland during that exciting time in Sydney. We're glad that she has stayed in touch. You can tell she loves Milwaukee. She comes here in February when it is summer in Australia!
That's proof that while she's traveled well beyond Milwaukee, she still considers this one of her homes.
