Writer, filmmaker and educator Tracy Sorensen lives in Katoomba, located in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Over the past ten years, she has fought a lot of health obstacles. In 2010, she learned that she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. To lower her risk, she made the difficult decision to have surgery to remove her breasts and her ovaries. Unfortunately, even with these preventive steps, Tracy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. After eight and a half years of cancer free living, the cancer came back in October of 2023.
Sorensen’s life has long been defined by not only being sick, but by being able to build a career and life outside of her illness. She eventually moved to Katoomba, bought and renovated a house. There, she built a warm little home for herself, her cherished cat Prince, and her four productive slicing hens, all of whom laid great eggs. It turned out, her chickens were prone to scaly leg mite (SLM), a condition that would need Susan’s immediate care and attention.
Tracy’s daily routine was demanding. She commuted to work in Sydney, waking up at 6 am and often returning home around 9:30 pm. This routine posed its own challenges, particularly as she dealt with her own health concerns. Sorensen’s strength was evident as she managed through and shared her work life and life-changing battle.
Besides her health struggles, Tracy Sorensen is an award winning author. Additionally, “The Lucky Galah” and “The Vitals,” novels published by Skylark, deal explicitly with her life as a scientist. Her work has now gained acclaim from critics and readers alike, cementing her place on the literary map.
Tracy’s journey has as much to do with her personal life as with her professional pursuits. When she was still living in Brisbane, she met Steve, then a national parks ranger based in Bathurst, at the Royal Bathurst Show in 2002. It was bushwalking on their second date that further enlivened their connection. The experience sparked their mutual appreciation for nature and drew their family closer than ever.
While still on her journey to overcoming these unique ailments, Tracy is determined to live life to the fullest. Her story is one of incredible strength and perseverance. It underscores her talent for championing the difficult struggle against adversity and uplift of life’s basic pleasures.