I was born in Gunnedah in 1949 - such a blessing to be one of eight children of Beryl and Ossie Campbell who spent their lives caring for others. I had a very happy childhood growing up with five brothers and two sisters in the 1950s and 1960s when life moved at a much slower pace.
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My family roots are deep in this beautiful town with my paternal great-grandparents settling in the area in 1855. My grandchildren are fifth-generation students at St Xavier's Primary School where I began my education in 1955.
My wonderful mother was always my inspiration. A city girl, she came to Gunnedah with our dad after their marriage in Newcastle in 1940. During the war years she raised two little boys alone as her husband served with the Civilian Construction Corps in far north Queensland.
Even though she had graduated from the London College of Music in pianoforte,my mother had no great expectations from life. She loved her husband and growing family and welcomed each new baby with great joy.
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My mother had a great faith which she passed on to her young ones. Any trials that came her way were faced with calmness and a strong belief that everything would be alright. Her mantra "be calm and full of hope" stays with me today. My mother instilled in us the need to show care and compassion for others, to always "look for the silver lining in every cloud" and "treat others as you would like to be treated".
My whole life I have been surrounded by wonderful women, my mother my grandmother and aunts who wrapped us in their love. All through my school years I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy who gave us a broad Catholic education, while encouraging us to realise our full potential.
Looking back, I am in awe of their achievements - classes of 40-45 students - the nuns dressed in black habits at the height of summer, filled with faith and a desire to have their students be the very best they could be.
It wasn't until I started at St Mary's College that I really understood the sacrifices they had made to help "spread the faith" and educate generations of children.
The teachers who had the most influence in my life were Sr Judith Carney and Sr Gemma Burke. I preferred to keep a low profile in the classroom but they obviously saw much more potential in me than I knew I ever had. Sr Gemma forced me out of my comfort zone and into public speaking, which terrified me.
Sr Gemma was ahead of her time in her belief that women could, and should be empowered to follow the career of their choice. She believed in "the power of one" and was instrumental in bringing about change at many levels.
Sr Judith believed that I had leadership skills and gave me roles in the college that challenged me every day. To this day these two wonderful women remain firm friends along with other Sisters of Mercy who have been part of my faith journey.
As my own children came into the world my mother was always there for me and my two sisters offering practical and emotional support in so many ways.
When I was growing up, women were the homemakers, the ones who helped out at school, volunteered in church groups, charities and other organisations. Their lives revolved around their families.
The few women I knew who worked outside the home, did cleaning, childcare or nursing or worked in the family business. The majority of married women did not pursue paid work until their children were raised.
Today I am proud that so many women are in leadership roles throughout the world, I see my own daughters and daughters-in-law working in careers of their choice while maintaining a wonderful work-life balance for their families.
I really admire the number of women in Gunnedah who are running successful businesses in a variety of fields - they have recognised their gifts and are sharing them with others. These women support each other in many different ways.
After raising my family I was given the opportunity to become a journalist at the Namoi Valley Independent. This gave me a window into the "quiet achievers" working in successful careers or volunteering in many support groups. I became interested in the role of the Gunnedah Evening VIEW Club in sponsoring disadvantaged students though the Smith Family's Learning for Life program.
This organisation started nationally 60 years ago as a voice for women and expanded as times changed. The women in our local group inspire me every day, they have battled cancer and other sickness, with great courage, supported others through bereavements or other personal challenges, but always they are thinking of others. Many of these women have taken on dual roles in the Gunnedah Can Assist or other organisations. VIEW is a way of "giving back" to the community.
I have great interest in local history and genealogy and this led me to join the Gunnedah & District Historical Society where for many years women have been the backbone of this amazing group, collating information and storing information, setting up displays or answering questions about family history. These women are incredible; when someone is ill, they are there for support in many ways. They volunteer their time for the benefit of the community.
I taught countless boys and girls the finer points of swimming for more than 20 years always encouraging them to believe "that they could do anything". Today I write publicity for the swimming club - every child, boys and girls need validation of their efforts.
As part of my journey through the pages of history, I became involved as one of the archivists for St Joseph's Parish when the centenary of the church was coming up a few years ago. I salute the women who have gone before me, the ones who researched and gathered material, meticulously stored it in folders and files. It made the role of those coming behind so much easier.
All around me I see women "making a difference" in the world. I believe that living outside the metropolitan area has its advantages and disadvantages, with life lived at a slower pace in our town. Young women need to leave home to study at university and often medical services are not available for women giving birth or receiving treatment for female cancers in country area.
Children receiving treatment often spend months in city hospitals with their mother (or father) by their side. This disrupts family life enormously. It would be so much better for everyone if treatment was closer to home. Distance and isolation is detrimental to emotional health and well being.
On a world scale, women have been changing lives every day - St Mary McKillop began education for children in Australia against all odds, St Mother Theresa of Calcutta changed the lives of the poor, impoverished and dying and inspired many other people along the way.
History reveals many other women who rise above the ordinary to help change the world for good. In 2002, Gemma Sissia, a young woman from Armidale NSW started the School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania (East Africa). St Jude's provides a free, high-quality education to more than 1800 children who show academic promise, combined with genuine and demonstrable financial need.
Gemma Sissia founded the school based on the belief that education should be a right not a privilege. St Jude's is located across three campuses, provides boarding for more than 1100 students and employs over 450 Tanzanians - the power of one.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia was founded 61 years ago by pioneering Australian, Dr Catherine Hamlin and her late husband Dr Reg Hamlin when they saw how many women were suffering from obstetric fistula, which can be repaired with a single life-changing surgery.
To date, the Hamlin team has treated more than 60,000 women who have suffered one of these most horrific childbirth injuries. The healthcare network encompasses the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, five regional Fistula hospitals, the Desta Mender rehabilitation centre, the Hamlin College of Midwives and 80 Hamlin Midwifery Clinics across rural Ethiopia.
Women like these are everyday saints but so are the people around us, women inspiring us with their fight against breast cancer, watching their children suffer through months of medical treatment, women caring for their aged parents or helping others through the loss of a loved one, women helping other women through domestic violence.
This reflection on women is in no way underestimating the role of men in our world. My husband Glen has great support for what he calls "the sisterhood". He has always believed women can achieve whatever they desire and always encouraged our daughters to be their best self. My father left this world a better place for having journeyed through.
My five brothers have also contributed in many ways just as my sons and sons-in-law are doing now - out there supporting the women in their lives as they raise their families.
I admire women on a world scale but my greatest admiration is for those around me, my two daughters and daughters-in law, my sisters and friends, my nieces, and now my granddaughters - there is so much more to women everywhere if only we could all realise our true potential.