A council update to our members.
We are temporarily without an AFMW President. This is bad news and good news.
The Bad News. Dr Sarah Coll resigned from the AFMW presidency position last week, shortly after the August AFMW Council meeting. This was unexpected by all of us in the Council. Change is hard, sudden change harder, we are grieving and are a bit at a loss on our next steps. We will miss her.
The Good News. A few years ago we would have been acting like a bug with one leg removed but in the past few days, we have rebounded, we have given her our love and started our regrouping process. Our rebound has been largely because of the influence of Dr Sarah herself who has inspired the remaining Executive to work positively together.
The Executive (made up of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, two elected office bearers and the National Coordinator) met almost immediately after the resignation. Vice President Madhura Naidu stepped in as acting President, and the Executive have called an all council meeting for the 19th September to determine how to fill the Presidency for the remainder of the triennium and continue with the business of AFMW.
Current projects include our weekly ebulletin (what you are reading now), the web-based interviews initiated by Sarah as “President’s Chat”, publishing stories of Medical Women “Herstory” and representing Australian medical women in policy matters with governance and government bodies. We continue to strive for a strong Australian presence at the international body of Women doctors, the MWIA. 2027 is a big year for us as we are preparing for our centenary – the big Western Pacific Region of the MWIA will be meeting here on our home grounds.
Another bit of good news, our Council has a lot of new councillors willing to volunteer their time and bandwidth for your Federation.
Part of the good news is that Change is an Opportunity. To quote Eckhart Tolle,
“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realise that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”
The Council of the AFMW is seeking change. Painful as change may be, it is these opportunities that give us a different focus.
The first change is that we are seeking a new President. Please keep your eye on this space as we find the right woman for this important position.
Another change is this Council Update in the Newsletter. I have been given the job of reporting to you after each Council meeting, to keep you aware of the business at hand.
Dr Sandra Hirowatari
The Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW) is a not for profit, politically neutral, non sectarian, non government organisation that seeks to improve the health of all Australians, especially the health of women and children.
Events and Updates coordination by AFMW, on behalf of the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW), its affiliated Australian state and territory partners and international networks and supporters. If you have an update or event you would like to share with us for Australian medical women, please contact us with details. Thank you.
