Is there anything that our club doesn’t know about you?As a child, I was the cheeky one of my five siblings. Looking at old photos and thinking back, I feel for my poor mother with her Box Brownie camera having to contend with me as we lined up for photos. I’d be the one with the tongue poking out or wagging my ears.
My birth came after three boys and in my father’s eyes I was a bit of a princess, that is until four years later when my youngest sister arrived. I might have gotten cheekier because of it. I’m happy to say that I still have that element in my personality.
People at the club probably notice that I enjoy a bit of laughter and tongue in cheek commentary, but mostly I think they tend to see me as being responsible and capable. Being the Sergeant last year gave me the opportunity to make comments that might not have otherwise been well received. I remember being at the microphone and making a comment about our incoming President Maurie. In preparation for the role, he’d been looking for the next Sergeant. He called me for some feedback on the role saying, “Who else is intelligent and funny and… a woman?”. As Sergeant, I couldn’t help but repeat that over the microphone. I wondered aloud, “Was that the gaff of the week or was Maurie just a very brave man?”.
Are there situations where you think, “You have to be joking”?
Years ago, we’d often talk about those who ‘would be’ or ‘could be’. I believe in being as authentic as we can when I see people trying to be something that they’re really not cut out for, like climbing the social ladder, I have a bit of a chuckle. No matter what you say, we’re a country divided by class and there are plenty of people attempting to be something they are never meant to be.
I don’t see that much in Rotary because Rotarians are generally pretty authentic people. Certainly, they are good people.
People say you’re a giver. Does that come naturally?
I’m very privileged in many ways and it brings me joy to give my time, energy and experience to help improve and add value to the lives of others. This is a legacy from my upbringing; being one of five I learnt to share and we were all encouraged to be of service to others.
My parents were farmers in country Western Australia and they’d always help others when the opportunity arose. For example, Mum had a friendship with the wife of the local GP in our country town. He became very ill and had to be hospitalized in Perth, so we took in their two little boys for a few weeks. You just absorb that kind of behavior into your being.
Does getting stuck-in to Rotary have benefits?
I’m grateful to Rotary because I’ve learnt so much by being involved. During my three-year term on the board, I learnt a lot about governance, which made me aware of the responsibilities of being a director and everything that the club has to conform to.
It’s also given me the opportunity to grow personally – I’ve always felt very supported. I laugh when I think about how I was when I first joined Rotary in 2013; there was no way you would have got me in front of the microphone. Being a Rotarian gave me the confidence to speak up about what I really believe.
Are there areas of our club that could do with a spruce up?
Rotarians are mostly perceived as being male, pale and stale. I just accept that; it’s a fight I’ll leave to others. However, the thing I really have difficulty with is what I call closed thinking, when people come up with the words, “We’ve always done it this way.” That’s a big challenge for me.
Is being in Rotary like a fountain of youth?
Yes, because you’re out there doing things in the community. The contributions you make are an intrinsic reward. It doesn’t have to be dollar rewards; your time and energy and life experience are just as valuable. For instance, when we did the Mongolian student exchange program, I loved it because I was with the young ones. They energized me. Giving the students that opportunity was fantastic because travel is one of the best educators.
Implementing the program was a team effort, and with the club’s support and strong risk management strategies, I knew we could keep the students safe as we journeyed to and from Mongolia.
What insights does your profession give you?
As a retirement coach, I see how unprepared we are for all the milestones in life, and retirement is a big one. Retirement is something we all look forward to, yet, it’s one of the top ten life events on the Holme and Rahe Stress Scale. My role is to listen to the client’s dilemmas – when should I retire/I’m retired but unhappy, and ask thought provoking questions. This enables them to devise their own solution and have ownership of that rather just taking my advice.