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Twenty-seven years ago I relocated to the Northern Illawarra – new home, new business and new two-week old baby, an exciting and busy time.
The business was a small take-way food shop situated in Otford, adjoining the Royal National Park. Over the years without changing the ‘country style’ of the Café, the Otford Pantry or Otford Pie Shop has gone from strength to strength and is now world renown with bushwalkers and tourists, it also has a strong local following.
Before my time in the Illawarra, from my Yorkshire origins and education, working in management and catering in the French Channel Islands and London, I immigrated to this wonderful country and resumed my career in marketing with the Westfield organisation. During this time I was also involved in amateur dramatics with the Strathfield Light Opera Company and the Parramatta Musical Society.
The structure of my business hours allows me time to pursue other avenues of interest – when my children were younger I was involved with School Councils and local Sporting Clubs. I am presently involved and play Mid-Week Competition Tennis and am a Director of the Helensburgh Lions Club.
For the past two years I am privileged to have been appointed President of the Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce (the area covered being Helensburgh to Bulli Pass), a terrific business chamber with a motivated, ethical Executive Committee with whom I am proud to be associated.
For the past five years I have also been Convenor or Chair of the (then) Wollongong City Council’s Neighbourhood Committee 1 (Helensburgh and District), taking this committee through the disbandment of Council organised meetings, through the sacking of our Councillors and am presently Chair of the new Neighbourhood Forum 1.
Through my business and other interests I have lots of contact with other women and men from different business circles, government organisations and local citizens and it is pleasing to see the emergence of the female gender rising to higher positions in business and society.
I would advise any aspiring young woman heading into business to be truthful, ethical and honest in all their dealings and not to settle for second best. If they are heading into anything retail (like myself) to provide quality and service at the right price.
My main advice to aspiring women leaders is ENJOY WHAT YOU UNDERTAKE AND DO.
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