For the first time in decades Central West locals will fly the flag as President and Secretary for International organisation Inner Wheel Australia.

With over 4000 members in 13 districts and 130 clubs, Elizabeth Tooke of Blayney took over as President from July 1, with Maria Bargwanna of Orange inducted as Secretary. Due to COVID restrictions, the usual handover evening wasn’t on the cards, though thanks to technology Elizabeth was still able to give a speech with several hundred people watching on.

Elizabeth stood proud as she detailed her vision for her year as Inner Wheel Australia President.

“It puts a heck of a lot of responsibility onto you,” Elizabeth laughed. “Inner wheel Australia has always been one of the biggest women’s organisation internationally. We have a vision to bring about change to the lives of women and children. I just felt that, to do that, we need to be on board and target a new way of thinking, especially in this new COVID-19, in the world we are finding ourselves, we need to become innovative, we need to find newer members, younger members with a new way of thinking. We can’t sit back and get left behind. We need people with a passion to change something and I think that’s how we will continue to grow.”

Elizabeth continued, “Inner wheel has been my passion and I felt I needed to give something back at some stage and this was my way of doing it, and I was flabbergasted actually, that I was voted President.

In the last 10-12 years it’s been such a leap forward for Inner Wheel Australia. We’ve been able to give out grants annually to two or three people in the research field, and they are coming up with new treatments. Where it used to be based in city areas, now we are seeing it as a regional thing and that is what’s important. For example, the Oncology unit are getting to be able to use all of these lifesaving treatments from the money that we are able to give. We have given nearly 3 million dollars collectively to different services. My job is to support those who are fundraising, because those are the people who are making a difference.”

Whilst Inner Wheel Australia is widely known as a friendship group, it’s through service that they stay together.

“It’s service within our local communities, whether it’s by fundraising or by caring about what’s happening to people within the community, then we also have an international part where we support international groups.

In Australia we have donated to those affected by the floods in Queensland, we’ve given to ‘Buy a Bale’ for the drought and this year we have been collecting money for the bushfires. Recently, $125,000 has been given to every state that was affected by bushfires.”

Evidently passionate about the organisation Elizbeth explained, “I think the things that have happened through my life, it’s been a difficult journey sometimes and I’ve learnt a lot through it. Through those times you see a lot of things, and how people struggle. In a moment during my life there was a lady from Inner Wheel who was very good to me and she said to me, ‘Would you like to come to Inner Wheel?’ and I did, that was in 2009. From that moment I had people who would support me through whatever happened in my life. It allows me to give back to my own community. It also allows me to get the support that I need, when I’m in a crisis. It gives me goose bumps to think about it,” Elizabeth laughed.

“I know Elizabeth thinks things through carefully and is very dedicated and committed to the Inner Wheel cause,” Maria added, “That’s someone who we need as President, a strong, dedicated person.”

Maria has been a member of Inner Wheel since 2003 and describes it as a truly inspiring organisation, “I was asked many times though I just couldn’t commit to it fully, so as soon as I retired from my Teaching career I joined straight away.

I’ve enjoyed the great friendships  I’ve made from across Australia and Internationally, we have a lot of fun and always have activities or fundraisers happening, it’s just a great organisation.

“We are all dedicated women working together, sharing friendship for community service and take action to create a lasting change to improve lives.”

As Inner Wheel is dedicated to moving forward during these unprecedented times, they continue to engage in Zoom meetings and are moving a lot of their donation opportunities online.

If you would like to read about Inner Wheel Australia’s latest donations or their next objectives, head to their website www.innerwheelaustralia.org.au/news