Meet Kerrie

I have had an addiction to change, travel and discovering new experiences for more than 20 years. I'm not unique. I meet like-minded travellers all the time.

What I guess makes me a fun pen pal is the range of my curiosity.

I have a love of history, gastronomy and landscape, I am also intrigued by characters, culture and creative industries.

In 2024, I completed a Masters in Anthropology at the Australian National University and soon after took a flight to England to begin my Doctoral studies in Cultural Anthropology.

So now I split my time between England, Australia and completing my field work in Marseille, France.

Between studies I have the time to explore and write and one thing I have found missing from my travelling life in recent years has been the exchange of letters, which used to be a common hobby I would share with friends and family.

Now with digital technologies at our fingertips, the art of letter writing has become a little lost.

So no matter where you live in the world, I'd love to write a letter to you!

Simply select the option which best suits you and fill in the customer form. Let me know the things you'd like me to share with you - from what I'm eating and drinking to hikes I'm exploring, villages I have discovered or what it is like to live day-to-day in places like Marseille.

I'll also collect items along my journey which I think you'll enjoy.

Every letter is hand-written and tailored to you.

You can write back if you choose to, or just sit back and wait for your post to arrive with tales of my latest travels and encounters.

Where have you lived?

  • I was born in the Yarra Valley, close to Melbourne, Victoria Australia
  • My family moved to Port Douglas, Far North Queensland in 1985, where I attended school and had a carefree up-bringing
  • I went to University in Brisbane and Canberra
  • I later moved to Cairns for a gap year
  • I got the bug and moved to Dublin, Ireland when I was 26
  • My next move was to the Alps in France for a snow season
  • My travels in France included fun jobs in Burgundy, Provence and Poitou-Charantes between back-packing across Europe
  • I tried to live in London but the grey, dark skies got to me and I moved back to France
  • I returned to Australian at 30 to take up a big job in Sydney
  • I left the corporate world and good money for a wine job in the Hunter Valley
  • I found myself back in the Yarra Valley working in Marketing and Communications for some of Australia's best wineries
  • I came to live between Melbourne and the Yarra Valley pursuing my own business goals as a wine and drinks marketing consultant. Go to totemmarketing.com.au to find out more
  • I finally moved to Hampton in Bayside Melbourne, to set up an office. Covid-19 brought some tough times to drinks industries and I reached another stage of burn out managing the business on my own
  • Academia called me back and I returned to Canberra to put my head into a whole new discipline
  • Over the past two years in England I have lived in New Alresford, Hampshire with some time spent in Surrey, the Cotswolds and Winchester
  • I currently reside in Marseille, France

Where have you travelled to?

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Vietnam
  • England
  • Scotland
  • Ireland
  • France
  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Italy
  • Andorra
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Czech Republic
  • Croatia
  • Malta
  • United States + Hawaii
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Guatamala
  • Belize
  • Cuba
  • Cayman Islands

What 's your story?

I have spent a lot of time either with my head in books and writing academic papers or travelling.

I have owned two businesses, I have worked for big brands and events in Australian food and wine, worked in three government departments in Sydney and Brisbane, and overseas I have had jobs in the UK public service, in the English wine industry and while backpacking Europe working on boats, in ski resorts and as a bicycle guide.

Right now however, I am open to where academic life might take me - into research, teaching, publishing or something else entirely. I am due to finish my PhD in 2028 so we will see what comes next!

My qualifications so far include:

  • Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science and Economics (ANU)
  • Graduate Diploma in Journalism (QUT)
  • Project Management Certificate IV (AIM)
  • Masters in Wine Business (Uni of Adelaide)
  • Doctor in Philosophy (Anthropology), University of Southampton (in progress)

With a love for meeting people, travelling to new places, and taking the long way around, there's always so much to write about. My understanding of history, culture, wine and food, plus a love for words means I always have a lot to share.