About Shani Graham and Tim Darby

Shani Graham
I was born in Jamaica, lived most of my early life in Canada and have Australian parents.
An early goal of mine was to teach children with disabilities, and I spent the first part of my career working as an Education Support teacher, Visiting Consultant and Principal.

Several years ago I transferred to Fremantle Primary School and just love working there. I’m passionate about keeping school fun and dress in silly clothes every Friday, just to remind everyone that we should be having a good time.  I’m currently on leave from school.

Tim Darby
I’ve been a “multidabbler” all my life. I’m a stone mason and wrought iron sculptor at heart, but years of working and playing hard have left my shoulder unable to cope with that occupation.

I have degrees in Fine Arts and Recreation and whatever I do I make sure my creativity is able to be expressed. I’ve recently rediscovered painting, and am looking forward to creating more art work for the Painted Fish. And yes, I did design and build the studio and renovate the house and carriage!

We have several goals for The Painted Fish. We want to:

  • provide a haven from the noise and busyness of the city that is relaxing and inspiring for visitors and ourselves
  • provide short term accommodation for travellers wishing to reduce their environmental impact on the planet
  • provide a living example of ways of being more sustainable
  • promote the sharing of information on sustainability
  • promote small family owned local businesses in our community
  • showcase local artists and craftspeople
  • combine our different skills and resources to create something positive together
  • make enough money to allow us to live a positive, relaxing and sustainable life.

We hope this will leave us with the time and resources for Tim to make art and create a space for other local artists to work.

Shani hopes to work motivating others by speaking about what we can learn from the stories in our lives, and find interesting and hands on ways to educate children in sustainable living.

Our dream in the long term is to make The Painted Fish a place and a space for travellers to stay, for creativity, for learning, for motivation, for connecting to the earth, for protection of the earth, and for economic connectedness.

By staying here you help make this possible—so thank you!

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