Linda Cockburn
SURGES BAY,TAS
Summary
Passionate about crafting dynamic stories, informative articles. I'm proficient in researching, writing and editing diverse content. I work with minimal input to produce engaging, authoritative and error-free work to a deadline.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Writer/Author
Self-employed
01.2004 - Current
- Researched and wrote Living the Good Life, How One Family Changed their World from Their Own Backyard, Hardie Grant, 2006, republished by Snowbooks UK, 2008.
- The book was based on our families 6-month adventure in domestic sustainability. We grew all our food, eschewed fossil fuel transport, generated our power and water, and produced 95% less waste than the average. Diary style the content is packed with succinct facts. call out boxes on a range of topics from growing soapwort for shampoo to water saving devices.
- Eat My Shadow - 2022 - Shortlisted for the UK Fiction Factory Award.
- The Quiet Revolution - Debt free and working less, how our species survives. Research intensive non-fiction - just completed.
- Shortlisted for the 2022 Tasmanian Writers Award.
- Maintained informative social media to help further storylines and promote books.
Freelance Writer
Self-employed
01.2004 - Current
- Utilised writing, editing, and proofreading skills to produce engaging and error-free content.
- Brainstormed ideas to create useful content for editors.
- Wrote and edited high-quality content under deadline pressure.
- Followed company policies and editorial guidelines to craft thorough, well-written content.
- Researched and wrote original content for case studies, emails and newsletters.
- Interviewed individuals by phone, video chat and in-person to write news stories.
- Incorporated review comments and corrections into existing documentation.
- Translated technical terminology and jargon into plain, clear language.
- Developed and pitched story ideas to editors, particularly ABC Organic Gardener Magazine. I've been working with Steve Payne for close to 20 years.
- Written for mainstream newspapers and magazines in NZ and Australia for 40 years.
Seed Freaks Owner
Self-employed
01.2015 - 11.2021
- Researched and sourced rare seed varieties.
- Grew plants organically, harvesting, processing, seed saved and stored heirloom seed.
- Utilised graphic design skills for all Seed Freaks packaging and merchandise.
Designed and maintained business online sales website. - Organised and promoted a popular annual tomato seedling sale (10,000 seedlings - 130 varieties) and held garden tours.
- Wrote and presented seed saving training events and workshops.
- Promoted the Seed Freaks via original content on social media platforms.
- Presented/guest speaker at festivals and events.
- Interviewed by Tino Carnevale for Feb 2021 ABC Gardening Australia segment.
Huon Producers' Network Coordinator
Huon Producers' Network
08.2013 - 12.2018
- Social Media content and admin
- Graphic Design - posters/flyers/social media
- Events Management
- Coordinated and promoted training opportunities.
- Organised and coordinated backyard blitzes.
- Designed and managed the organisations website for memberships/events/training and online farmers' market orders.
- Coordinated the weekly Farmers' Market, plus integrated online orders packing and delivery logistics.
- Membership manager
- Bulk Buy organiser
- Fundraising and writing and acquitting funding applications.
- Media liaison & Networking
- Policies and Procedures
Market Gardener
Self-employed
01.2013 - 01.2018
- Bed preparation, including no-dig, regenerative soil processes, compost, green manures, compost teas, worm castings, irrigation installation and management and fencing.
- Inspected plants to identify for signs of disease or infestation and address problems early and organically.
- Worked and communicated within the local market gardening scene as well as collaborated with online groups across Australia working to produce local food for local people.
- Attended local council and other events on food security.
- Developed and shared a creative commons market garden planner via an automated excel sheet for succession plantings, financial forecasts and rotational crop planting with market gardeners across Australia.
- Attended the Huon Producers' Network weekly farmers Market, sold to local restaurants.
- Lost weight and grew muscles.
Geeveston Community Centre Coordinator
Geeveston Community Centre
04.2008 - 12.2012
- Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff and volunteers.
- Monitored program performance and outcomes for successful delivery of services.
- Participated in community events to promote services and engage with public.
- Assessed community needs and identified resources for social and service programs in conjunction with members of the community.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
- Researched best practices and developed strategies to improve program outcomes.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders.
- Implemented strategies to increase public awareness of social and community service programs.
- Created and managed budgets.
- Managed volunteer programs focused on providing community services to underserved populations.
- Conducted community workshops/events/festivals.
- Utilised grant writing skills to secure additional program funding. (over $500,000 in 4 years).
- Wrote monthly reports and juggled multiple timelines and budgets.
Geeveston Online Access Centre
Education Department
04.2006 - 04.2008
- Provided one on one and group training, including staff training.
- Designed, wrote and implemented educational programs.
- Applied for and acquitted grants.
- Worked within a team environment to provide the local community access to and support with computers.
- Reported monthly to a community management team.
QRWN - BridgIT Project IT Trainer
Queensland Rural Women's Network
01.1999 - 01.2003
- Wrote training materials for ease of understanding for beginner to intermediate IT users in a collaborative online process with the BridgIT team.
- Travelled around south-east QLD providing one-on-one and group training.
- Mentored new trainers.
- Coordinated within the team to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
- Produced monthly reports.
- Attended promotional/networking and speaking events.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Professional Writing (incomplete)
Curtin University
Perth, WA2013
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology, Psychology & Philosophy
Deakin University
Geelong, VIC1999
Market Garden Masterclass
Jean-Martin Fortier
2017
Skills
- Unique Content Creation
- Research and Fact Checking
- Informational Outlines
- Idea Brainstorming
- Precision and Accuracy
- Proofreading Abilities
- Precision and Accuracy/Proofreading Abilities
- Editorial Calendaring
- Video and Teleconferencing
- Social Media Content Writing
- Excellent Interpersonal Communication & Active Listening
- Dependability and Cooperation
- Deadline Attainment
- Microsoft Office (attained Microsoft Master 2003)
Hobbies - Growing unusual plants
This year: flax (to make string), trialling perennial wheats, perennial cotton and 'naked' oats. Experimenting with chickpea and sesame seed varieties from temperate northern hemisphere climatic zones (seeds sourced from Genebank). Seabuckthorn, gojiberries and kiwiberries. Continuing to breed 20 new lines of beans crossed from heirloom varieties and trialling an automatic black soldier fly larvae system for feeding chooks. Continuing to grow the bulk of our own food on 2.5 acres, with dairy goats, bees, chooks while trying every legal means possible to put off the possums. (Trial number 12: water guns loaded with dilute chilli sauce).
Timeline
Seed Freaks Owner
Self-employed
01.2015 - 11.2021
Huon Producers' Network Coordinator
Huon Producers' Network
08.2013 - 12.2018
Market Gardener
Self-employed
01.2013 - 01.2018
Geeveston Community Centre Coordinator
Geeveston Community Centre
04.2008 - 12.2012
Geeveston Online Access Centre
Education Department
04.2006 - 04.2008
Writer/Author
Self-employed
01.2004 - Current
Freelance Writer
Self-employed
01.2004 - Current
QRWN - BridgIT Project IT Trainer
Queensland Rural Women's Network
01.1999 - 01.2003
Bachelor of Arts - Professional Writing (incomplete)
Curtin University
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology, Psychology & Philosophy
Deakin University
Market Garden Masterclass
Jean-Martin Fortier
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