Hobart transcriber Pip Nielsen has a front row seat to fascinating Tasmanian stories

“Often the transcripts read like a movie script”, says Pip Nielsen of her work helping everyday Tasmanians tell their stories.

Biographer Pip Nielsen, who creates audio biographies of clients to record their lives Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

PIP Nielsen believes it’s mostly ordinary people who have the most extraordinary tales to tell.

Her work as a transcriber, in which she records in-depth interviews with everyday Tasmanians, puts her in the path of people who are living seemingly normal lives, but have lived through interesting times.

“All of us have stories,” Ms Nielsen said.

“Just about every person I’ve interviewed has had something happen that has shaped their life. There’s always tragedy, whether it’s death or a tragic accident and how they overcame that becomes life-changing.

“Often the transcripts read like a movie script.”

Her inspiration to document personal events - done mostly at the request of family members keen to record an ageing parent or grandparent’s life - came after chatting to a war veteran on a plane.

“It was fascinating. This man who had seen so much, things you read about in history books and it was being told to me first hand. And when I first sat down beside him I didn’t even want to say ‘hello’.

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“It’s amazing what we don’t know about people that we’re sitting next to on the plane, or bus, or even the people we pass in the street. And all we have to do is listen.”

Ms Nielsen’s On The Record audio recordings have been likened to broadcaster Richard Fidler’s Conversations program on ABC radio, for her ability to draw out a subject.

“It’s part counselling for them, and I always take a box of tissues,” she said.

“Some people tell me things they’ve never told anyone in their lives.

Ms Nielsen’s favourite tale is of her aunt Colleen who came from humble beginnings in the north of Tasmania, but later enjoyed society parties in Melbourne as Lady Mayoress in the ’90s.

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“She dined with princes from Monaco, met the Dalai Lama, and with her husband the Mayor [Richard Meldrum] got into all sorts of mischief with visiting dignitaries.

“Her story is remarkable.

“She now lives a very modest life as a widow in the North-East.”

Although the bulk of the life events Ms Nielsen records aren’t as glamorous as her aunt’s the lessons learnt are just as poignant.

“You’re the sum total of everyone who came before you and you take those stories to blaze your own trail.”

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