It has been three months now since I stepped down from the Chair role at Transport Women Australia Limited, and two months since I exited my role at Wodonga.
I have used the timeout to rest and recuperate from the long hours of commuting for the last three years as I look for my next role closer to home.
It has allowed me to meet up with friends and colleagues and help a few friends with businesses, do lots of reading and other activities that I missed because of lack of time over the years.
I have been watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix as we head into the end of the season, I have not spent so much time and been so invested in the Formula 1 since the 1980s and 90s I could not have spent so much time doing this if I was still working long hours, so it has been fun.
I had the good fortune recently to attend the TWAL end-of-year Melbourne dinner hosted by our wonderful new Chair Coralie Chapman who presented me with a certificate of service and lovely speech to thank me for my time and efforts over the past eight years.
I was also on hand to see Nola Bransgrove OAM presented with the 2025 Trish Pickering Memorial Award. This award is very dear to me as it was established with the incredible Wes Pickering at our 2019 20th anniversary gala dinner and some amazing women have been presented with it since.
I keep getting asked “What next?” so I am hoping that one new endeavour will be more writing, start trying to spread more positivity about the industry, maybe a different perspective on some issues and to expand my speaking and emceeing.
This will also help spread a positive image about our industry, I will also be doing some more mentoring but first a new role!
I have had multiple people tell me that I should write a book and maybe I will do it someday. It would not be like my friend Ellen Voie’s book about the building of her organisation but more about the stories and the people I have met over the years throughout my journey within the transport industry and all the fun I have had along the way; working for various companies and organisations, time will tell.
Some of my colleagues and I are planning a Lewington Transport reunion for the fourth quarter 2026 and will be posting a date and a venue as soon as we have secured both. We are looking forward to welcoming the drivers and staff who are able to join us, and to catching up with everyone.
It will be held in Wodonga, the headquarters of the old company, and we are having a lot of fun as we start to organise the event. I will keep you posted.
- Jacquelene Brotherton is the Immediate Past Chair of Transport Women Australia Ltd.