GUEST SPEAKER - JANE COX
Gordon Curran introduced District Governor, Jane Cox. Jane was born in Sydney but moved to Geelong where she completed her schooling. A career path in banking was followed by an overseas posting in London for five years working with the Australian Department of Immigration.
Returning to Australia, Jane was the Business Manager for a busy medical practice for a number of years, before taking up the senior National Travel Coordinator role with a large, national food services provider.
Jane holds a Diploma of Business (Human Resources).
A member of the Rotary Club of Geelong Central since 2001, Jane has held many positions in the Club including President, Secretary and Treasurer.
As President she initiated and took part in the building of a school for the indigenous in Outback Australia.
International activities have included attendance at the Salt Lake City Convention and participation in a Rotary Friendship Exchange to Alaska.
Jane was selected for, and attended,the Brisbane Future Leaders Seminar in 2011.
At District level Jane has been active on a number of District committees including Australian Rotary Health and served for three years as an Assistant Governor.
Jane is a Facilitator with the Rotary Leadership Institute, and has been recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow and an "Avenues of Service" Citation.
With a love of travel, Jane has visited every continent, including Antarctica, as well as most countries of the world. These travel experiences included a management role with the International Olympic Committee at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Jane lives in Torquay and is a passionate supporter of the Geelong Football Club team: "The Cats".
Jane mentioned that she had just had a good meeting with the new Board and was impressed at some of the amazing projects our Club has been involved with, i.e. Camp Quality Cabin, Eisteddfod, Rotary House in conjunction with other Clubs, the Dinner Auction and Youth Exchange and encouraged us to keep up the good work. Jane quoted from President Peter Smith, "if every young person went to Youth Exchange, there wouldn't be any wars". She also enjoyed hearing about Samuel Rauert's experiences with RYLA.
Jane spoke about our large District of 59 clubs and how she was used to traveling, but will pace herself. She enjoys meeting with the different clubs and the people in them and suggested that if we ever had the opportunity to join a District Committee it would be worthwhile. Jane also encouraged our ongoing association with the Rotary Foundation.
Membership is reducing and although the focus at the moment is on increasing memberships and new clubs, it is still important to look after existing members.
Jane also encouraged members to attend the 2016 District Conference on 18-20 March 2016 in Geelong and if you would like to pre-register your interest in attending, go to the web site: SetSailForGeelong.com.au
"All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: one year to take all your talents, all your gifts, everything that you are and can become -- and Be a Gift to the World."