TRANSPORT WOMEN AUSTRALIA LIMITED Inc …work with you during what promises to be a huge 2015 for all of us. Thank you for being a part of Transport Women Australia during 2014 Chairs

Mission Statement: “Transport Women Australia Limited promotes the contribution

Women make to our industry and will pursue their right for input to issues and policy”

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TRANSPORT WOMEN AUSTRALIA

LIMITED Inc WALDODA

Volume 14 Issue 4

December 2014

Inside this issue:

CHAIRS REPORT

FUNCTIONS & EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS

FAMILY BUSINESS ELDERS

BURNOUT

TRAIN OF LIFE

CONTACT DETAILS

Transport Women Australia Limited Newsletters

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Next Issue: December 2014

Deadline for editorial November 15, 2014

To The Administrator

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Website: www.transportwomen.com.au

Christmas Message 2014 has flown by so incredibly fast, that it only seems

like yesterday that we were working on our last

newsletter for 2013.

All of us at TWAL would like to wish all of you, your family

and work colleagues a very Happy Christmas and Safe and

Prosperous New Year, and we will be excitedly waiting to

work with you during what promises to be a huge 2015 for

all of us. Thank you for being a part of Transport Women

Australia during 2014

Chairs Report – as presented at Our AGM

I started off this year working in outback Queensland for

six weeks so Transport Women events did not kick off

until March when Merry hosted a table at QTA’s

International Women’s Day event in Brisbane.

In March, SARTA hosted a great TWAL breakfast at

their annual conference and this was really well attended

by local SA attendees as well as interstate guests. Thank

you to Shaz (Sharon Middleton) for organising this.

In June the ATA Convention was held once again at

Hamilton Island and we held our annual TWAL breakfast

event there which was well attended. Our guest speaker

Madge McGuire was inspirational and Transport Women

Director, Shaz wowed the crowd with her lovely singing

voice. Shaz sponsored Madge’s travel and accommodation

and many thanks are offered to her.

After Hamilton Island we held a get together for

members in Sydney which was a small but productive event

where we heard from The Transport Industry

Superannuation Fund’s Di Caldwell Smith who discussed

Clearing Houses (for superannuation).

Shaz travelled to Alice Springs in August and hosted the

Transport Women Australia breakfast event in my

absence at the annual reunion at the Road Transport Hall

of Fame. I had to defer my trip for a couple of weeks due

to Doug injuring his knee.

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I had missed the ATA March meeting and AGM due to

work commitments but attended June and September

meetings on behalf of TWAL.

Across November and December we have end of year

functions happening in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and

Albury for members and friends.

During July and August, Merry and I along with Doug and

Bill and Rex and Judy Chapman travelled to France,

Ireland, UK and Belgium and whilst there met with a

delegation from Women in Logistics UK. We also visited

Eddie Stobart’s Truck facility in England and Patrick from

O’Donovan’s in Ireland. During our travels we checked out

Volvo and BP facilities. Needless to say much of this year

has been spent travelling and working away so our TWAL

functions have been fewer.

At our last AGM and general meeting we had established

that there was a need for a program dealing with health in

the Transport Industry. We had discussions with various

people throughout the first few months of the year and

had some interest from a health and fitness professional

and a potential sponsor. We conducted a survey amongst

our members and the wider transport community and

established that almost 70% of respondents considered

that they had a health or weight issue. Of these almost

35% had an issue with weight, and 26% had an issue with

health and weight. 57% were interested in a combined

weight loss/exercise program with just over 70% likely to

participate in a health program. The next steps in this

process have yet to be determined depending on how much

support our members want to put into it.

Next year the ATA Trucking Australia convention will be

held in Hobart on March 19 – 21st where once again we will

host a Transport Women breakfast.

Also in March Transport Women have been asked to

provide speakers for a Conference to be held in Albury

called “How Fast is Regional Australia Moving” hosted by

Murray Now. The conference will take the form of

Knowledge Forums with a session titled Women in

Trucking.

In May 2015 the Brisbane Truck show is on and QTA have

indicated that we can share their stand again. This is

always a busy event and we enjoy being there. We intend

holding a cocktail function prior to the show.

Work began earlier this year on our 2015 “Finding the

Balance” conference to be held in Melbourne on 5-7th

June. A lot of the sponsorships were snapped up but we

still have some available. The draft program needs to be

firmed up and speakers confirmed but it is once again

looking to be a great weekend for members and interested

attendees.

In August it will be the twentieth Reunion at the Alice

Springs Hall of Fame and at this stage Transport Women

will again host a breakfast.

Unfortunately Shaz has resigned from the board due to

her work and industry commitments and I have really

enjoyed the short time she spent with us. Her boundless

enthusiasm and generosity are unending and the work she

put in this past year even while she was unwell was

appreciated by all. Her work as the Chair of SARTA and in

running her own business rightly needs all of her time but

we know she is there if we need her. Thanks Shaz.

I would also like thank Steve who has been unwell and has

stepped down from the TWAL board. Steve was awarded

our first Life Membership and I know he will still be there

in WA working with our members.

Merry – your Vice Chair is remaining on the board as is Liz

Schmidt. Liz stepped down from the Livestock & Rural

Transporters Association and is running for the seat of

Dalrymple in her local area. We are hoping she is

successful with this next year and feel she will be a great

advocate for transport in parliament and especially for

Transport Women.

We have had no new nominations to the board and this has

disappointed me immensely. We need a larger team to

achieve great things for women in our industry and with a

minimum of three directors on the board we can “keep the

fires burning” but cannot “light any more fires” without

some more committed women to put up their hands.

Membership has remained steady this year with new

members coming on board and others leaving for various

reasons and I am hopeful that there will be some potential

board members there for the future.

Our administrator Fiona has done a great job this year

considering she has been on crutches since April when she

injured her knee followed by surgery in June. She keeps

up the enthusiasm and liaises with our members whilst we

all get on with our “real” jobs.

I would like to thank our Foundation Business Partners BP,

NTI and Volvo for their annual and ongoing support, the

Transport Industry Superannuation Fund who sponsor our

newsletter annually, and all of the advertisers on our

annual planner. Apart from membership fees these people

are the source of Transport Women income and allow us to

be what we are for the women in our industry.

Pam McMillan

Did You Know? That honey is the only natural food that never goes off!!



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Functions and Events

Melbourne EOY Our Melbourne End of Year Function held on November 17,

was a cracker. We had 23 ladies and 3 gentlemen join us

at the Mercure North Melbourne for our Victorian end of

year wrap up event. There was a lot of networking going on

as well as some extraordinary catch ups. We had two

ladies that grew up as neighbours, get the chance to have

a thorough catch up on what was happening in each other’s

worlds now. Our guest speaker Bette Phillips gave a very

interesting presentation on her work as a counsellor with

Griefworks.

We had a lucky door prize giveaway with six of our

attendees going home with either some yummy chocolates

or wine, (although one winner left the wine under the table

when they left, we have since reunited them :P).

Our Melbourne get together seems to be growing a little

bit more every year, and they are always a great bunch to

spend the night with. It was lovely to meet all of you, and

I for one, hope that you are all able to attend our

conference in Melbourne in June. That way, we can catch

up again.

Thanks for a great night guys and girls Fiona Riley

A group picture of all the great guys & girls at the Melbourne EOY

One of the tables at the Melbourne EOY Function

Jacquelene, Vanda, Christopher, Catherine and Ashley doing a bit

of networking at our Melbourne EOY Function

Some Happy snaps from the Melbourne Function

Brisbane End of Year and AGM Our AGM and end of year breakfast in Brisbane was held

at The Greek Club on November 21. The NTI Qld Road

Team supplied some giveaways to add to our TWAL goodie

bags and some lucky door prizes were supplied by NTI and

BP. Thank you to both of them for once again supporting

us in so many ways.

Thanks also to Emma Manton for getting us into the spirit

of the season by decorating the tables. It was really great to see Julie Russell, QLD Trucking

Woman of the Year in attendance, also one of our newest

members Maria Cooper from Fruithaul, along with lifetime

member Shirley Fuller and her crew from K&S Fuller

Transport and David Stock from rt health fund.

BP was well represented with Simon Cook, General

Manager Bruce Jones as well as Joachim Sawkins and

Rebecca Maden.

The venue was really good and we have tentatively booked

it for our Brisbane Truck show cocktail party on May 13th

next year.

We kept it informal after the AGM and chose not to have

a guest speaker, but had quite good discussions on the

need for some more board members and involvement from

members.

Joachim Sawkins with the crew from K & S Fuller Transport

Simon Cook, Merry Manton, Rex Chapman, Julie Russell, Maria

Cooper and David Stock



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Rebecca Maden and Bruce Jones from BP with Pam & Doug

McMillan

Upcoming Events Date Saver – Next TWAL Conference will be held in

Melbourne from June 5 to 7, 2015. Put in your leave

requests at work now

Congratulations

In October QTA held their annual Awards night and this

year the award for Queensland Trucking Woman of the

Year was won by Julie Russell from RB Russell Transport,

who incidentally is a long time member of TWAL.

The following is the citation as it was read out on the

night of the awards –

Julie originally started in the family business in 1997.

While gaining valuable experience in human resources

management, she completed a Management Degree.

Seeking to broaden her work experience, Julie then

embarked on a career in financial services where she

strengthened her project, risk and people management

skills, as well as completing another Bachelor Degree.

In 2007, Julie confidently made a decision to go back to

the family business. Her dad Phil was overjoyed to have

her back. Some say that he drove a truck to Sydney to

move her personal belongings before she had a chance to

change her mind!

Now responsible for the strategic direction of the

business, Julie’s role of Manager of Support Services

plays an integral role of the function and operational

capacity of the company. Julie is also Director of the

company, and is dedicated to ensuring that RB Russell

Transport remains one of the premier ‘Master Carriers’ in

Australia.

Julie is a dedicated business professional with expertise

in risk, project and people management. She is a self-

motivated, articulate and responsible person with a strong

commitment to quality improvements. Julie is quietly

confident and has an enthusiastic work ethic. Her

autonomous management style, Phil says dictatorial,

coupled with her outstanding communication skills; make

her perfectly suited to her role at the RB Russell

Transport business.

In addition to performing her role in the company, Julie

gives freely of her time in actively participating in a range

of Industry and Government Consultative Committees.

Examples of her contribution include the Transport and

Logistics Working Action Group, 2014 ATA Conference

Working Group, ATA Safety Truck Committee, Port of

Brisbane/Gateway Transport Safety Network.

Julie’s talents have been recognised in her inclusion in

industry consultative groups established by the

Department of Transport & Main Roads, Workplace Health

& Safety Queensland and the National Heavy Vehicle

Regulator. Julie is a current Director of Queensland

Trucking Association Limited. She has held that role for

the past five years.

Dinner conversation with Julie leads to unique stories

about her adventures tornado chasing in the United

States and visiting the orangutan orphanage in Borneo –

and that’s Julie, always pushing boundaries and looking for

the next challenge. We understand that Julie was a part

time babysitter for her niece Madeline until Ken and

Alison discovered that she failed nappy changing 1-0-1.

Putting them on backwards proved a disaster.

Just one more thing….think twice about messing with

Julie, she has a Black Belt in Karate!

Congratulations Julie

Ben Clark from Cummins South Pacific, Julie Russell, Scott

Emerson Minister for Transport & Main Roads

Proper congratulations must also to Lynne Jack for

winning the ATA’s Trucking Industry Woman of the Year

at Trucking Australia on Hamilton Island in June.

This excerpt is from the ATA’s citation on the night –

Lynne first entered the trucking industry working for her

father’s Volvo dealership in administration and the spare

parts department. She took over the running of the

business in 1984 and was elected as a member of the Volvo

Dealer Council six years later.

A founding member of the Newcastle and Hunter Road

Transport Awareness Day, Lynne has assisted in raising

more than $1.4 million for charity through this yearly

event. Lynne also assists at the Hunter TAFE to provide

heavy vehicle and plant apprentices with hands-on

experience and access to mentors within the industry.

Congratulations Lynne



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Lynne Jack giving her acceptance speech after winning her award

Big congratulations to you both on such wonderful

achievements in the industry

Respecting Your Elders in a Family Business – Article

by David Harland

Many family business leaders who have transitioned out of

the daily running of a company may still have more to

contribute to the business.

Creating an emeritus status for your elders has the

benefit of keeping them involved, retains their valuable

experience within the firm, and can ease the transition

from full-time work to retirement. All family businesses

encounter challenges and it can be helpful to have an

experienced advisor who knows the business to act as a

sounding board.

A good role for an elder is that of an advisor or a

consultant. This role is important because it leverages the

skills and experience gained from years in the business

while keeping them out of regular operations. Removal

from the grind of running a company can give them the

mental distance necessary to focus on the long view of the

business, something that current executives, mired in

daily operations, may not have the ability to do.

Elders can also play valuable roles as repositories of

family history and as stewards of the family legacy. Part

of an elder’s responsibility is to help define the family’s

mission and create a legacy for the future generations.

Every family has a unique history that they would like to

preserve and promote in future generations.

However, that preservation process doesn’t happen by

itself. It requires elders to tell the stories of how the

family began and keep it alive among the younger

members.

A legacy needs active stewardship and continual

investments of time and energy in promoting the family

mission in the younger generation.

When thinking about your family legacy, it can be useful to

ask yourself questions like:

~ What are the qualities that have made your family like it

is?

~ Why have you been successful?

~ What mistakes have we made along the way? What have

we learned?

~ What qualities will keep us strong as a family and

successful as a business in the future?

~What is the enduring legacy you want to leave to your

children and grandchildren?

Giving elders a mentorship role can help ease succession

by including them in an advisory role while allowing the

next generation to take the reins. It’s important to honour

the experience of elders and respect their willingness to

continue to contributing to the business. Keep in mind

though that honouring one’s elders doesn’t mean that the

next generation of leaders won’t be making important

changes to lead the business into the future. Defining

mentorship roles and establishing expectations can help

maintain critical boundaries between welcome advice and

meddling.

Therein lies the crux of the matter. How do next

generation leaders encourage the presence and advice of

elders while maintaining their independence and autonomy

as managers? It helps to have clear separations between

working and non-working family members and to establish

advisory roles that do not fall into the formal hierarchy of

the business.

It’s also useful to assign elders specific projects that

make use of their skills and knowledge, while leaving

executives free to manage daily affairs.

To be frank, not all family business elders are suited to

the role of an advisor. In order to be successful as an

emeritus, an elder has to be willing to fully embrace

succession and give up control over the business.

Ideally:

~ elders stay above the fray, using their wisdom to help

the family manage conflict

~ elders do not engage in gossip or undermine the next

generation of leaders

~ elders understand the delicate balance between

mentoring and taking over

~ elders are focused on the long-term good and legacy of

the family

~ elders take an active role in supporting business

leadership and mentoring younger family members

~ elders have a good grasp of group dynamics and

recognise the emotional needs of family members.



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Regardless of what role an elder takes on after

retirement, giving them the opportunity to actively

contribute can build esprit de corps within a company.

When employees see that former leaders (for whom they

may have a great deal of respect), are still involved in the

business, it can foster pride in the business.

There are also pragmatic business reasons to keep elders

around after formal succession. Even if a great deal of

training and preparation has gone into a transition,

employees, customers, and other key stakeholders may

feel a sense of comfort in knowing that the previous

leadership hasn’t completely abandoned ship.

Thanks to ATN’s Fullyloaded.com.au for this article

Quotable

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you

love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the

things you love doing and then do them so well that people

can’t take their eyes off you” – Maya Angelou

How we’ll encourage young women to get

ambitious about leadership – by Chelsea Lewis from Women’s Agenda

One whole Australian generation has now grown up with

female political leaders having led in every state and

territory and even one as our prime minister – with the interesting exception of South Australia.

It’s interesting due to South Australia’s pioneering past of

being the first Australian jurisdiction to not only allow

women to vote, but also to stand for parliament, and gain university degrees.

It all started with Rosemary Follett as ACT’s Chief

Minister in 1989 and here we are today with a just retired female Governor General.

Some people can therefore be forgiven for thinking that

enough progress has been make and as one young woman

said in a YWCA survey in 2011 – “It (equality) was done

ages ago, so stop going on about it!”

There are, however, young women who are struggling to

cope with the gendered nature of attacks on Julia Gillard

during her prime minister ship and the same young women

who are feeling vulnerable about their own leadership

ambitions.

One woman told me recently that the day after the June

leadership spill, not one person in her workplace uttered a

single word about the events of the previous night.

At YWCA in Adelaide, our 2013 University of Adelaide

Arts Intern is currently undertaking research that

explores the impact of the treatment of Julia Gillard on

young women’s engagement with politics and leadership

aspirations. To provide an element of hope, she will also

find out what we need to do to reinvigorate leadership aspirations for those who have been disillusioned.

Our job as an organisation is to support young women who

will be the next generation of leaders in this country. We

achieve this by financially supporting members to do

things like attend the annual Commission on the Status of

Women event in New York, as well as facilitating programs

that build positive body image among girls in primary school.

Of note, a group of young women who have participated in

our inaugural year-long SHE Leads Program graduated on

August 9. They raised a glass to their achievement having

a firm understanding of the presence of the glass ceiling.

Many questioned its existence at the outset of the

program and it has been our responsibility to elevate their

awareness, increase their ability to transcend it, and

continue our daily advocacy to tackle the structures that

hold the glass ceiling in place.

Jane Sloane recently generously offered a glorious list of

50 tips for young women on Women’s Agenda which

included everything from learning stillness and reading

books, to seeking out a mentor and (a personal favourite) ‘embracing a cohort of ethical leaders’.

Number eight is about strategic networking and 42 tells

us to learn public speaking skills – excellent tips for our

next generation of female leaders who we need to

continually make aware of some of the challenges that still

exist, but also the possibilities for change.

Thanks to Women’s Agenda for the article which appeared on their website in

August 2014

A quick snippet article written about another one of

our members

Industry backs Turner over Asixa’s response to crash

tragedy.

Asixa’a new CEO, Simone Turner, has been praised by the

transport industry for her professionalism when dealing with crisis.

Only a month into her new role, Turner was faced with a

fatal accident that rocked her company.

Four members of the same family died at Catani, Victoria,

in February when Asixa’s subcontractor allegedly failed to

obey a stop sign and give way to an entering vehicle.

A nine-year-old boy was the sole survivor.

Victorian Transport Association (VTA) President Brendan

Hopley told the VTA annual conference the industry could

learn from Turner’s clear thinking.



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“What good hands we are in with a brilliant woman like

that, who under such tragic circumstances behaved so

professionally”, Hopley says.

“What I got out of that was to be prepared, have

processes and procedures in place to what we hope is an

unlikely event but an event that may happen to you – so

please be prepared”.

Speaking at the conference, Turner says it’s crucial to

ensure that thorough and accessible records are in place

when tragedy hits.

“You need to ensure your staff records are in order, compliant and readily accessible”, Turner says.

“You might think that something like this will never happen

to your company and I certainly hope for your sake that it

doesn’t. Asixa certainly didn’t either, but we now know what it’s like and we certainly wish we never did”.

Hopley called on the industry to provide support to the

crash survivor.

“What can we as VTA and Asixa do for nine-year-old Sam Beckett?” Hopley says.

“I’d like to think that we can work together with Simone

(Turner) and others in this room – maybe there is

something we can do as an industry to look after young

Sam”.


Research Backs Caffeine Effects

Australian research into the effects of caffeinated

drinks on the performance of long distance truck drivers

has been published in the British Medical Journal.

The study found roughly that, while there was no

substitute for proper sleep, those consuming caffeine to

stay awake and alert and reduce the likelihood of crashing by 63 percent compared with those who did not.

Of those surveyed, 43 percent reported consuming

substances containing caffeine – tea, coffee, caffeine

tablets, or energy drinks – for the purpose of staying awake.

Only 3 percent reported using illegal stimulants such as amphetamine (speed).

Researchers surveyed 530 long distance commercial

vehicle drivers who were recently involved in a crash

attended by police and 517 control drivers who had not a

crash while driving a commercial vehicle in the past 12 months.

“While comprehensive mandated strategies for fatigue

management remain a priority, the use of caffeinated

substances could be a useful adjunct strategy in the

maintenance of alertness while driving,” the study

concludes.

Its authors add that: “Napping during breaks when tired

is also strongly recommended; yet this is obviously not

enforceable.

“In our study, only 70 percent of drivers reported having

stopped for a nap when tired…..the numbers suggest that

it is not a strategy considered as favourable as others for the management of fatigue.

“While it is clear that taking breaks is a vital fatigue

management strategy for long distance drivers, it is

possible that the different activities undertaken during a

break would contribute differently to a driver’s fatigue or

alertness level.

“The varying extent to which activities such as taking a

nap, drinking a cup of coffee, or going for a short walk

contribute to subsequent vigilance behind the wheel are

not well understood and are recommended for further

study.”

Lead author Lisa Sharwood of The George Institute and

the University of Sydney says the results should be interpreted cautiously.

“Caffeine may seem effective…but it should be considered

carefully in the context of a safe and healthy fatigue management strategy.”


Don’t get burned

– Karen Barker provides some tips on how to recognise

the signs of burnout and to help yourself or others

overcome it.

Almost 25 per cent of executives and many directors are

experiencing burnout – some without even realizing it.

What’s more, the more senior the sufferers are, the less

likely they will tell someone, lest they are though incompetent.

Burnout not only affects the efficiency, profitability and

morale of an organisation, but also the health and personal life of the director or executive experiencing it.

Only last year, UK bank Lloyds made world headlines when

CEO Antonio Horta-Osorio began an enforced break after

being diagnosed with extreme fatigue and stress due to

overwork. Doctors ordered the 47 year old to rest for six

to eight weeks. His sudden departure, preceded by no-

shows at important committee meetings, had a severe

effect on the banking giant and couldn’t have come at a

worse time in the deepening economic crisis. In fact,

immediately after his departure, shares plummeted and almost 1 billion pounds was wiped off Lloyds market value.

Signs of Burnout

Some of the signs are easy to recognise, either in

yourself, fellow directors or executives. People might be

highly emotional about small, incidental things, for

example. Or, their behavior might change in an obvious

way. They might do things out of the ordinary for them,



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like come in late, skip lunch, miss a deadline or become

disorganized. In some cases, they may appear to be

working excessive hours but have little or nothing to show for it.

However, some signs are a little trickier to recognise and

are often very personal. Without proper monitoring or a

bit of digging, they can remain hidden under the surface

and escalate to a point where the condition is noticeable in

their results and in their health and personal life.

Sufferers might have frequent feelings of being

overwhelmed, for example, or be in a constant state of

denial in which they regularly maintain they are fine and

everything is okay. In many cases, executives believe

nothing can happen without their involvement.

Preventing Burnout

With high work-related pressures, stress and the

emotions arising from long working hours, meetings,

multiple board positions and erratic travel, it’s no wonder directors get burnt out so easily.

So when you realise you or one of your associates are

burning out, here are some ways to diffuse the situation

and restore some balance:

~ When feelings of being overwhelmed arise, stop! Go for

a walk outside or do something other than the task at

hand. Be present in a different moment for a while.

~ Accept that things are not okay. Don’t judge yourself or the person; just accept it.

~ Talk to someone you trust about how you feel and what

you would like to do about it.

~ Take a day off to reflect on what is going on. Go to the doctor or your health practitioner.

~ Incorporate some exercise into your daily routine or, if

you’re up for it, research some meditation techniques.

Listen to relaxing music in the car on the way to and from work.

~ Ensure you have regular breaks or annual leave booked.

Research suggests that having a holiday or something to

look forward to increases your happiness level at work and

therefore your productivity.

Overcoming Burnout

While chairmen and board members expect directors to

be able to manage their own stress as part of their roles,

this should not be confused with trying to handle it on

your own. Overcoming burnout is not about avoiding stress

– it’s about taking steps to actively deal with it in a way

that makes it easier for you to be efficient, healthy, passionate and interested in your work.

Most good, employee-centric organisations have a range of

resources available for employees experiencing burnout.

So, if you recognise any of the above signs in yourself,

don’t be afraid to ask for support in the form of

additional resources, guidance or a reduction in your workload for an agreed time to get back on track.

While this might seem like the opposite of productivity,

for as long as you are experiencing burnout you are not

performing at your optimum and could even be negatively

affecting your organisation.

Ensure your executives understand the same

considerations will be made for them if they are suffering

from burnout.

Finally, try to remain positive. Feelings of being burnt out

generally pass once they’ve been addressed, are out in the open and you have the support of your peers.

Helping Others

Most directors are experienced senior executives, and

should use this understanding to recognise what signals

could herald burnout in executives, particularly if the

board is aware of rising workloads through changes such

as market pressures, mergers or retrenchments. Good

governance includes doing what you can to see an

organisation adapts well to growth and change, making the prevention of executive burnout important.

Be on the lookout for signs of burnout in fellow directors.

If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to ask if they are

okay and support them in resolving the underlying issues.

Burnout manifests in many shapes and forms. The Lloyds

example is an extreme one, but there is no doubt all cases

have serious consequences for those involved and their

organisations. The good news is that burnout can be

appropriately managed or avoided altogether, with the

right recognition training.

This article was written by Karen Barker from the Company Director

Magazine.

CAN DRINKING TEA LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND

DECREASE THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE?

According to the results of a German study, there may be

something to this. The study found that drinking black tea

had a significant effect on artery dilation. The ability of

arteries to dilate, or expand, is important to the

maintenance of normal blood pressure levels.

How can the consumption of black tea protect against high

blood pressure? The researchers found that molecular

substances in black tea known as catechins help to expand

arteries by producing nitric oxide.

Interestingly enough, many British tea drinkers may be

unknowingly giving up the heart health benefits of tea.



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How is this the case? The German study group found that

adding milk to tea, the habit of most British tea drinkers,

introduces caseins (caseins are proteins found in milk)

that block the ability of catechins to dilate blood vessels.

A light hearted laugh for you The boss returned from lunch in a good mood and called

the whole staff in to listen to a couple of jokes he had

picked up. Everybody, but one girl laughed uproariously.

“What’s the matter?” grumbled the boss. “Haven’t you got

a sense of humour?” “I don’t have to laugh” she replied,

“I’m leaving Friday”.

Thought for the Day “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking

how you do it” – Maya Angelou

Administration News ~ If you are worried that your email has not been received

by admin, try cc’ing it to [email protected]

[email protected] as well as to admin. Between the

three addresses you are bound to have success with at

least one of them. Don’t forget, if you want to contact us

urgently, a phone call is always the best method.

Updated your details lately??? We have been told in the past that “I haven’t been getting

anything from you”. In most instances, it is because we

have an incorrect email or postal address for you. If you

change yours, please let us know, or you will be one of

these people that miss out. If your details change, let us

know so you don’t miss out on anything good. Also, don’t

forget to let us know if you have a name change, for

example, get married, so we can keep our records up to

date for you

New Members We welcome the following new members to TWAL:-

VIC Marina Thunyin

Simone Turner

Nicole Rosa

Ana Travers

NSW Terese Gaffney

Nicki Mulvey

Kisten Baldini

Kaye O’Donnell

WA Samantha Cox

Glenis Dickenson

Julie Gooch

QLD Maria Cooper

Mel Cosgrove

The Train of Life

A little something from the internet for you. We thought

it was a beautiful way to look at life’s journey, so thought

we would share it with you here too. Hope you like it as

much as we did

The Train of Life Life is like a journey on a train…with its stations…with

changes of routes…and with accidents!

At birth, we boarded the train and met our parents. We

believe they will always travel on at our side. However, at

some station, our parents will step down from the train,

leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and

they will be significant: our siblings, friends, children, and

maybe the love of our life. Many will step down and leave a

permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we

don’t realise that they vacated their seats!

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy,

expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success

consists of having a good relationship with all the

passengers…..requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: we do not know at which

station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the

best way – love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes

for us to step down and leave our seat empty – we should

leave behind beautiful memories for those who will

continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap

success and give lots of love.

Thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!





10

Another Thought for the day “One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was

that until I changed myself, I could not change others”

- Nelson Mandela

Contacts

Chair

Pam McMillan

[email protected]

Ph 02 6041 6244

Vice Chair

Merry Manton

[email protected]

Ph 07 3816 0499

Director

Liz Schmidt

[email protected]

Ph 07 4778 4488

Administrator

Fiona Riley

[email protected]

Ph 02 6041 6244

Again we would like to wish

you and yours a safe and

restful Christmas break.

Eat too much, relax like

your life depends on it, and

don’t forget to fit in some

dancing like no-one is

watching. Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year to you

all

Please note that the Transport

Women Australia Office will be

closed from Tuesday December

23, 2014 until Wednesday

January 28, 2015.

We would like

to thank our

Foundation

Business

Partners for

their ongoing

support:





Documents

TRANSPORT WOMEN AUSTRALIA LIMITED Inc …work with you during what promises to be a huge 2015 for all of us. Thank you for being a part of Transport Women Australia during 2014 Chairs