SI Joondalup – New President Report

no images were found

Soroptimist International of Joondalup Members Welcome New President Bobbi Buckle, immediate past president, welcomed incoming president, Kate Haydock, by handing over the ‘Jewel’ of office at the January 2011 Annual General Meeting. Kate told the members that it was a privilege and she felt confident that she had the backing of the club appreciating that she had a different personality and qualities to previous Presidents. Kate went on to say that “Our sunburnt country has commenced 2011 living prophetically up to its reputation for flooding rains, droughts and fires. I am from Queensland and these last weeks have been anxious but my family are all safe and well. I hope it is the same for members tonight who have also had anxiety for their families in the five states affected. As Soroptimists we are right there for our fellow Australians. This is what it means to be a Soroptimist. We are a world wide family with all the obligations that being a family entails. We are caring and compassionate sisters who will be there for the long haul when people are in need of our help”.

Kate told the members that her ‘president’s’ project had not been finalized but her prime motivation will be maternal and child health. The rate of maternal morbidity and mortality particularly in our nearest neighbours is extremely disturbing. Sierra Leone has the highest rate in the world and I am proud of the effort made by this club to help in this dire situation with the events held to date. Kate said that she is also committed to Education and Leadership with young women with mentoring from the Club Kate’s aspirations for the coming years are both simple and complex. She said, “I start from the premise that we live in a troubled world even as we hope for peace. Many people are well fed but many are hungry. Many of us have more than adequate shelter but some of us are homeless. We are warm (and in W.A. we are very warm) – but many of us are cold and long for material and emotional warmth. We are there with help in Projects for disaster and overwhelming deprivation. As a club I would like us to aspire to help as well in the small needs of people which often go unnoticed in the wider sphere and to alleviate the suffering which takes many forms eg the lack of education for women and girls in many areas”.

Kate aspires to words of Henry Ford when he said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success”