Jenny Hughes always wanted to be an infant teacher, but the commercial
subjects took her interest and this change of mind took her on the path of being an astute and accomplished club and
organisation administrator.
Soroptimist International caught her interest while teaching in Whyalla and she became a charter member in 1977.
When her career brought her to Port Pirie she was an attached member, as Port Pirie did not have a Soroptimist Club at that time.
Already she showed an enthusiasm for the organisation so in 1983 she helped form the Port Pirie club and it was chartered the same year with a membership of 40 women.
Unfortunately, like many service clubs, numbers have declined and now the club’s membership stands at 14.
Miss Hughes has held every position at club level and there are 10 clubs in the region of South Australia where she has held every position at regional level except secretary.
She was a federation councillor, a link between regions and the federation, which is made up of 12 countries.
The avid soroptimist has held the position of federation program director for two years and had assisted the previous director from Malaysia for two years.
The federation program director automatically gains a seat on the International Board, which consists of four federations – the Americas, Great Britain and Ireland, Europe and South West Pacific which is Australia’s federation.
The International Board meets every year and in 2009 Miss Hughes travelled to Copenhagen. Then, while in England in 2008, she could see Windsor Castle from her accommodation.
The Soroptimist International convention is held every four years, when the blueprint for its program is developed.
In 2007, proving to be a highlight, Miss Hughes went to the convention held at Glasgow as a silent observer and met Princess Anne who spoke at the convention and shared lunch with the members.
As a delegate for the region she attended her first convention in 1999 and while on this overseas trip Miss Hughes made an emotional visit to the War Memorial in Valetta, Malta.
She shared a poignant story about her grandmother whose son died in World War 11 and she was chosen to open the memorial in Malta representing all mothers of men from the Royal Australian Air Force who were lost.
“It was emotional and spine-tingling seeing it,” she said.
Miss Hughes, 64, was born in Cowell and moved throughout the Mid North with her family, then to Adelaide where she attended Brighton High School.
“I was shell-shocked going from a class of four or five to 35 to 40 students,” she said.
She went to teachers’ college in 1964 and her first teaching position was at Whyalla High School where she taught from 1967 to 1969 then moved to Eyre High from 1969 to 1977.
A transfer to Risdon High in 1977 saw the amiable teacher stay until the two high schools’ amalgamation in 1992.
This followed with one year at the John Pirie Secondary School and then between 1994 to 1999 she taught at the Gladstone and Jamestown High Schools.
All the while she lived in Port Pirie and commuted then at the end of 1999 a brave decision saw her retire.
“At first it was with uncertainty, but I am now glad I retired when I did,” Miss Hughes said.
“I was teaching through the good years and things had become much tougher.”
They were fulfilling years at John Pirie and when her father died, Miss Hughes received tremendous support through that difficult time from principal Ken Whalley and deputy principal, the late Denis Crisp.
Her advice to teachers starting their careers is to be themselves and be honest with the students.
“Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know the answer to a question, but tell the students you will endeavour to find out,” she said.
Golf is Miss Hughes sport, starting in 1994 at Gladstone, and for the past three years she has played at Port Germein on a 24 handicap.
She has been chairwoman of the Women’s Northern District and is its country delegate and on the interim board to Golf SA.
Meanwhile she is the Zone Councillor for the Northern and Eyre District.
This extraordinary woman has been on the board of UnitingCare Wesley for 20 years and held the position of chairwoman for the past seven.
She acknowledged she enjoys the role and will often wander through the office and talk to the staff.
“I enjoy that because I am not faceless like many on boards,” she said.s
For the past four years she has been the representative for Minister John Hill on the Port Pirie Regional Hospital Health Board now the Port Pirie Health Service Advisory Council.
Miss Hughes has been the chairwoman of the Uniting Church Parish and for 20 years been involved in some capacity.
She now attends Wandearah Uniting Church and belongs to the Women’s Fellowship and the choir.
For eight years she was a counsellor for Intertrade and Industry Mission in government agencies, giving pastoral care in the workplace.
Time is found to lend a hand in the Soroptimist Bookshop where funds raised have been donated to aged care facilities in Port Pirie and have bought a pony for Riding for the Disabled.
“I am retired, but I haven’t really,” Miss Hughes said with a smile.
When this extraordinary woman does something she does it properly and gives more than is expected.
With eagerness, in 2011 she is planning to go to a convention in Montreal as a member.
“It will be good coming back and not having to report about it,” she said.
A life member for the region of SA Soroptimist, Miss Hughes engages the organisations beliefs – “A global voice for women, helping them to be the best they can be.”
“It is about making better lives for women, but it reaches out to men as well,” she said.
The sisterhood of Soroptimist has made a huge impact on the life of Miss Hughes.
“I am an only child, but I have sisters all over the world,” she said.
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