Sally Campbell, 66, 'Getting sick was the catalyst I needed to quit the film industry.'

Beyond the silver screen

I’ve always considered myself a creative person. In the mid-1970s, I got my break in the Australian film industry, doing everything from set decoration and art direction, to costume and production design. It was plenty of fun, especially because in those days there weren’t mobile phones or computers to rely on so I was forced to be inventive, spontaneous and ‘think outside the box’. When I needed to source amazing props and fabrics, I’d drive around the country to visit antique stores, meet with local shop owners and, back in those days, even blacksmiths. While it was a stressful job, it was also a wonderful, wild period of my life that I’ll never forget.

My health wake-up call

More than 10 years ago, a shock diagnosis of throat cancer pressed pause on life as I knew it. I had two operations and a year of radiotherapy. It was a horrible time because I didn’t know if I would live or die. As it turned out, though, I survived and have been clear of cancer cancer for a decade. And not only that: getting sick was the catalyst I needed to quit the film industry, look after myself and make my health a real focus. During my recovery, I spent time in India and fell in love with the culture, colours and textiles there. I was fascinated by everything they did, from spinning their own thread to hand-dying and stitching. I decided to put together my own textile collection using traditional methods with a modern twist, have an exhibition and sell them—and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since (sallycampbell.com.au).

The secret to true fulfilment

Nowadays I am extremely self-disciplined when it comes to my health. I eat well, walk regularly, meditate and practise yoga—exercise is so important, especially as I’m getting older. Running a textiles business keeps me busy and I don’t always have work-life balance, but I adore it—especially when my husband Greg and I take trips to Japan, Turkey and Italy for inspiration and ideas. In many ways, it feels like I have a second chance at life and I feel so fortunate to be doing what I love.

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