After more than 40 years in senior government roles, Kate Jamieson could easily have chosen a quieter retirement.
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Instead, she now brings a lifetime of experience to two not-for-profit organisations helping improve the lives of people across our community.
Spend a few minutes with Kate, and it soon becomes apparent that she is not someone who seeks the spotlight.
Se is warm, quietly spoken and and genuinely interested in people.
Yet, behind her calm manner is confidence shaped by decades of leading large government departments and making decisions affecting thousands of Australians.
When asked about her decision to retire, she smiled.
“It was time,” she said.
COVID helped confirme the decision, and her husband, Col, fully supported it.
In fact, he was delighted.
Kate; however, knew retirement would not mean standing still.
“I wanted to keep my mind active and continue using the skills I’d developed,” she said.
Working away from Cobram for much of her career and often returning home weekly or fortnightly, she had little opportunity to become involved in community life and retirement finally gave her that chance.
She was equally clear about one thing: she wasn’t looking for paid work.
She wanted to become involved with not-for-profit organisations making positive contributions to the community and offer whatever support she could.
Today, Kate chairs two such organisations, Cobram Regional Care and Cobram Community House.
While their roles differ, both are dedicated to improving lives in the community.
Her involvement has also given her a deeper appreciation of the people who quietly make these organisations work.
“You hear about the good work organisations do, but until you're actually involved you don't realise how many unsung heroes there are," she said.
“It just blows you away – their passion, their commitment and the extra mile they go every day."
Kate began her career as a 17-year-old clerical assistant with the, then, Department of Social Security.
From there, she built her career by stepping into unfamiliar roles and embracing every opportunity.
Over four decades, she progressed from helping communities recover after floods and bushfires, to leading national drought programs and major government initiatives across Australia.
She eventually led workforces of more than 2000 staff, working with governments of the day and gaining first-hand insights into the challenges facing rural communities.
Along the way, she also saw the vital contribution made by local community organisations.
“Community organisations fill an incredibly important role," she said.
“They often achieve extraordinary things with limited resources."
This belief has underpinned her volunteering decisions ever since.
Cobram Community House is one of those organisations many know by name, but don't fully appreciate until they use its services.
Every week, its doors open to people from all walks of life; some wanting new skills or qualifications, others needing help accessing government services, and many seeking friendship, connection or the confidence to try the many activities on offer.
Kate describes it as “a fantastic organisation", and says joining the committee opened her eyes to the breadth of its work and the dedication of its small team of staff and the wonderful volunteers who back them.
“It provides so many opportunities for people," she said.
As chair of Cobram Regional Care, Kate helps guide an organisation entrusted with one of the community's greatest responsibilities, caring for our older residents.
Kate believes this responsibility extends beyond excellent clinical care.
It is about treating residents with dignity and supporting them to make personal choices about their daily lives.
“I want it to feel like their home," she said.
She is particularly proud that a recent resident survey found every resident reported feeling safe in “their home".
For Kate, those results point to a culture where residents feel respected, valued and secure.
In turn, families can feel assured their loved ones are in capable, caring hands.
Her leadership style has changed little over the years.
She believes strong organisations are built on good teams, sound governance, ethical decision-making and the wise use of resources.
She values inclusiveness and accountability, believing both are essential to fulfilling an organisation's purpose.
Kate also continues to mentor women she worked alongside during her career and takes great pride in seeing many now holding senior leadership positions.
“It's not always about going up," she said.
“It's about looking for opportunities."
A favourite place to unwind is on river walks with her beloved chocolate Labrador, Molly.
A keen traveller, golfer, gardener and long-distance hiker, Kate often combines her interests with giving back.
She was hands-on in helping build a home in Cambodia through Habitat for Humanity, and completed a Larapinta trail hike through Central Australia while raising funds for charity.
For Kate Jamieson, retirement has not stopped her love of life and adventure.
Instead, it has added a new sense of purpose as she continues to contribute to the community she calls home.