Our newest member, Madeleine, gave us a lovely insight into her life history, from her idyllic sounding childhood through to her current position as our newest Treasurer. One of eight children from a small village in the Netherlands, spending time cycling everywhere, including to Germany for holidays, and to school through the snow.

She described earning pocket money by doing chores at home and by helping local farmers, which she and her siblings could take to the Fair. Later at eighteen, working in Home Help and meeting her husband Adrian while working in his parent’s restaurant.

Madeleine studied P.E. at Teachers College and played all manner of sports, excelling at volleyball.

Her working life began as a Primary School teacher, 38 students in a Jenaplan School, comparable to a Rudolf Steiner model. At the same time, she studied and became a Secondary School Biology teacher, continuing part time after the birth of their first child.

In 1982 the family came to Australia, where Madeleine gained qualifications in Social Work and Relationship Counselling. She worked extensively in Aged Care, Physiotherapy and Community health services, and found time to volunteer in a vast array of pursuits, including but not limited to: Vicswim, Meals on Wheels, Scouting, Little Aths, Palliative Care, and Fossals (Landcare).

It's difficult to work out how she found the time to become our treasurer, but the saying “If you want something done, give it to a busy person” has never rung truer. We are fortunate to have her smiling face and friendly manner in our presence and thank her very much for sharing some of her story with us.

Chris Purton