Let’s Find Out More About …
 
Lois Flanagan (with grandson George in London)
 
What is your earliest memory?
 
When I was in Primary school there was a family of three girls who lived across the road that I played dolls with.  I still have my almost 70 year old doll, Wendy, who I recently had repaired at the “doll hospital” and still cherish to this day. As her head fell off recently, and my granddaughter announced she was “dead”, she needed to go to hospital!
 
What was your first Job?
 
As a young teenager I worked over the Christmas period in the “returned letters” section of the busy mail room at Christchurch where my father was the supervisor. 
 
What is one of the accomplishments in your life so far that you are proud of?
 
Apart from my husband and 3 sons, graduating with 1st Class Honours with my law degree at age 47. As a mature student it took seven years of hard slog as I also had a young family and was supporting my husband in our busy parish at the time.
 
While my husband was incredibly supportive, others in my family found it a bit strange as there no lawyers in the family. Thanks to the flexibility of the Law Faculty at Canterbury, who allowed me do my Honours course part time, I was able to complete my Honours degree.
 
How did you come to join Rotary?
 
I have Arie to thank for that.  He was helping me manage a difficult client situation and I saw his Rotary badge.  My husband had also been a Rotarian and had suggested earlier that I might join.  Arie asked if I wanted to come to a meeting, he even collected me and the rest is history.
 
As a Rotarian, which of the activities you have been involved in did you enjoy the most and why?
 
Serving as the President was a great privilege.  I entered the role very fearful but thanks to excellent Rotary training on how to run meetings and develop a programme plus the fantastic support of my fellow Rotarians I gained confidence as the year progressed and learned so much. 
 
I also enjoyed the opportunity to attend the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg in 2019, and seeing first-hand the power of Rotary around the world. 
 
If you were able to go back in time and meet yourself when you were a teenager, what suggestion might you give yourself?
 
I would suggest to myself  that I push my boundaries a little more.  This would include reaching out beyond the immediate options plus exploring and trying a wider range of possibilities in order to become more confident at an earlier age.
 
Wendy approaching 70!
 
I am sure Wendy would have helped me with this.