Gina Hall (Regina Wood)

(The following is Gina's entry for the Federation 'Peoplescape')

Gina Hall developed a great love for children in her teenage years, so attended Burwood Teacher's College and graduated with a Trained Infant Teacher's Certificate. Her first school was on the RAAF base at Point Cook in Victoria, where she remained for 13 years. Whilst living in the Air Force quarters, she became very friendly with many of the serving female officers and listened with interest to their stories of service life. When it was time to move on from teaching, it was only natural that she should join the Royal Australian Air Force, where she spent 22 happy years as an Administrative Officer. During her Service career, she also completed a Bachelor of Arts by correspondence.

On her retirement in September 1994, she was fortunate to obtain a position as a Guide at Parliament House, where she is very happy conducting tours for both adult tourists and tour groups. During this period, she was also employed as an EASYslim lecturer and thoroughly enjoyed helping many women in the Canberra area to lose weight.

Gina feels she has had a very fortunate life and would like to give something back to society. As her Parliament House position is part-time, she is also a volunteer for both the Arthritis and Heart Foundations and gives many lectures to community groups on how to cope with arthritis and the risk factors for heart disease. This enables her to indulge at length in her passion - lecturing.

She is also very interested in Art, Politics, the Prime Ministers, Federation, Military and Australian history, and undertakes many courses on these subjects through the Australian War Memorial and the University of the Third Age. Gina also attends all lectures given by the historian, Dr Michael McKernan.

Her other interests include reading, cooking, movies and most particularly, the theatre. Last, but not least, she is a passionate supporter of the Swans AFL team and is sure that a premiership will be theirs - soon!

Gina Hall (centre) in her uniform, with two friends, organising her 'Peoplescape' in the Parliament House cafeteria

Gina with her Peoplescape figure on the lawns of old Parliament House