A note from Jodie’s desk

I cannot say just how humbled I am to receive this award. Awards are not something you ever think about because there is so much more work to be done. You do things for outcomes, not awards. I see this more as an award for bees and for all the organisations and people I’ve worked with.

On so many fronts bees are so incredibly important. Recognising from childhood that bees are way more than just honey seemed so fundamental. As I began my Beechworth Honey journey I soon realised that most other people don’t understand that bees are fundamental to food, biodiversity, soil health, water quality and planet health. Let alone do most understand the precarious situation and challenges for bees and beekeeping both in Australia and globally.

Early on I recognised that parallel to Beechworth Honey, there was a job to be done. To have bees and beekeeping better understood and position them for improved sustainability in the future. To make inroads in this would ensure one of the key fundamentals to protect nature, global food supply, biodiversity, and the planet.

Then you look around to see who’s doing anything about the really big things that are keeping you awake at night. These things will bring the whole food system and nature down if nothing is done. You look outwards, those you see are few, most are working the best they can to do what they can, but you still see more to do. And so the journey begins. Early involvement, turning up, being there, listening, sharing ideas and then doing things.

If you ask my husband Steven he’d say I often see things differently from other people. I think that’s because I am by nature extremely risk averse and I will often see the worst-case consequences of actions or inactions. I guess you could say I’m a deep thinker, I probably care way too much and have a tendency to worry quite a bit about things when I perceive them to be not as they should be.

By nature the work ethic instilled in me from childhood, growing up in a beekeeping family, and my ambitiously positive desire to be able to ‘change the world for the better’ have all combined to set me on a path of participation which has spanned beyond the scope of building Beechworth Honey over the past 30 years.

My indignation has been fostered, supported, and encouraged by Steven at every juncture. When I doubt the path, question the logic, analyse the tactics he is my sounding board, my reality checker and my encouragement. My niggling and early ideas combine with his big picture (which he always makes look so simple) and visions for a better future are conjured. From there hours, weeks, months, and years pass as the details come together, collaborators are sought out and a life’s long work unfolds learning and growing every step of the way. Little by little achievements and contributions are made and I guess you never really look backward, you’re just too busy always looking forward at all the mountains of things that need to be done and the tasks that still need to be accomplished.

I have always remembered one Canberra Parliament House meeting with independent MP Tony Windsor. He told me to always remember – “the world is shaped by those who bother to turn up”.  I have no idea if those are his words or someone else’s but I have always remembered these. They are so true.

“Nothing happens unless somebody does something” is also another of the things I have lived by and which I remind myself of.

I have three A5 postcards that sit behind my desk at home they say:

“We can do hard things” – More often than not things are hard, you find yourself in situations where the things you see are not entering the heads of others and you need to work to try to create positive change. Exhaustion, frustration and self-doubt can be kept at bay with this reminder.

“Courage dear heart” – I feel everything in my heart. This is both a blessing and a curse! Having at times felt like I was near the brink of collapse I tell my little heart to be brave, to have courage and with this I am reminded of my father’s words: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog” – and intuitively another step forward is taken on something hard!

“Work in progress” – reminds me that my real life’s work will probably never be done and will almost certainly never be perfect. “Done is better than perfect” and “Done can be done again” are what I have had to live by. Having juggled the roles of business owner, mum, agitator, advocate and volunteer, time is always the enemy. Life is about choices, compromises, imperfections and not being too hard on yourself or others.

I have never set out to lead – I just set out to do. Leadership can be a very lonely place and it’s not one many of us go intentionally. To survive and thrive I have learnt to surround myself with wonderful people and amazing mentors. I have lived by an ‘always remember to be kind’ motto.  Kind to yourself and most importantly kind to others. You can have vehemently opposing ideas and views from somebody else but you can still be kind, even when they are not!

I think of myself as the worker bee and never the queen. I hate it when people call me a Queen Bee! Worker bees are collaborative, intuitive, resourceful, and hard-working. They do not seek to stand out!

Life and leadership bring with it many dilemmas and I have always found that my greatest learning and lessons are from others. I read all I can about other people’s lives, stories, struggles and achievements. I particularly love Christine Milne’s reference to Martin Luther King against which any dilemma can be put to the test:

Cowardice asks the question: “Is it safe?”. Expediency asks the question: “Is it politic (sensible & judicious)?”. Vanity asks the question: “Is it popular?”. But, conscience asks the question: “Is it right?”.

And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right.

Together Steven and I have always gauged every action on being able to sleep well at night. It’s such a simple fundamental but living with a clear conscience makes life so much more enjoyable. We have always said we did not want to die without knowing either. So we try new things, learn new things and work hard at things. It’s what makes life interesting!

To be recognised for achievements, effort and kindness is worth so much more than any financial rewards that life might bring. Richness comes from the beauty of bees and nature, people and relationships. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that life has afforded me and the people who have loved, helped and supported me in all I have done and for the tolerance of those closest to me as I do what I can with what I have to make things a little bit better for the future.

My sincerest thanks to my secretive volunteer colleagues who thought to nominate me.

– Jodie Goldsworthy AM