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father's day with tom linwood
tom linwood, his partner montana lower and baby blue, live a more alternative lifestyle than most; moving into an off-grid converted bus earlier this year, just as most of us had our homes turn into the office, schoolyard and studio, spending more time indoors than ever before. ahead of father’s day, we spoke to tom about the family’s new initiative ‘on the way’, staying connected and being a new father to blue.
follow tom, montana and blue’s journey online at on-the-way.com.au.
name and age of your child?
my baby’s name is blue valerie linwood, she’s just over 8 months old and full of curiosity.
what creative projects have been keeping you busy?
the last month has been a massive metamorphosis both spiritually and emotionally. navigating these times, I have become more in-tune with my masculine connection with emotion.
creatively, my partner @montanalower and i have been working on our new company; on the way, which is a social enterprise aiming to connect people living an alternative lifestyle and educate people on how the decisions they make in the consumer space can set the direction for the planet. part of that entails compiling brands that align with our values and building a directory to connect with people wanting to make a change.
2020 has been an unusual year for a lot of people – how are you staying positive and inspired? has there been much of a change in the way you work and live?
2020 has been a really challenging year – from the fires and confusion about where to donate money, to the first case of covid in australia. there has been a lot of uncertainty and anxiety inside everyone, which is really taxing on your energy.
when the lockdown in nsw began, our lease ended with no chance of extending, which was the plan…so our only option was to move into our un-finished, converted coaster bus. this wasn’t an easy move with plenty of freedom, it was a constant mental battle asking ourselves if we were doing the right thing – legally and ethically.
i have been staying positive by being surrounded by nature and taking the time to really connect with myself and family. I make an effort to stay up to date with current events, but I make sure my consciousness is not saturated by them.
there has been a big change in the way i work, but that goes back further than 2020. i was badly injured back in February 2019, so my work life has shifted quite dramatically since then. we used to live out in goonengerry, quite isolated and surrounded by nature, so that part of the way we live and work hasn’t changed.
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…so our only option was to move into our un-finished, converted coaster bus. this wasn’t an easy move with plenty of freedom, it was a constant mental battle asking ourselves if we were doing the right thing – legally and ethically.
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the personal sacrifice he made, just in the hope that his child could make more of himself, is the purest form of love. something i hope i’m capable of.
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who's your favourite on-screen father from a film or series? why?
that’s challenging! for me i’d have to say William’s father in ‘a knights tale’. he wanted the best for his son, even when it meant so much pain and uncertainty. the personal sacrifice he made, just in the hope that his child could make more of himself, is the purest form of love. something i hope i’m capable of.
what’s your favourite thing about fatherhood?
looking into the cheeky little eyes of my daughter! it was such a special moment watching my partner bring her into this world and feeling the true power of birth.
what is the best piece of advice you ever received from your father?
“everyone makes mistakes. what’s important, is how you fix them.”
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by seeking out materials and items already in circulation such as vintage textiles to create a new sofa or an antique chair or artwork, you are not only keeping these materials in circulation, but you are creating a look that is completely bespoke.
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tom and baby blue's edit.
tom and blue linwood, photographed at the latest stop on their travels by montana lower.
follow tom, montana and blue’s journey online at on-the-way.com.au
follow toms’s work on instagram @tom_linwood
follow montana’s work on instagram @montanalower