MOVING from Melbourne to outback NSW was the catalyst for Joan Treweeke’s lifelong dedication to improving services for people in rural and remote communities.
After studying law and marrying Rory Treweeke, Joan settled into country life at Angledool Station, 45 kilometres north of Lightning Ridge.
“I assumed I’d spend my days living in the city but Rory was a very persuasive man so I ended up living in remote NSW,” she said.
Joan found the isolation prevented access to a huge range of services, from health to education – coming from Melbourne, the same opportunities weren’t available, so she thought it was fair they were.
The Treweekes have spent thousands of hours volunteering to help others, leading to Joan being named Barwon Woman of the Year earlier this year.
Raising and teaching her five children – Michael, now 48; Anne-Marie, 46, Fiona, 42; Nicholas, 38, and Andrew, 30 – on the property was the start of Joan’s journey.
Becoming their teacher as well as mum wasn’t a big deal.
“I thought, well, there’s nobody more interested in the children’s success than us so we put the work in,” she said.
“I got a great deal of pleasure out of watching my children grow mentally and seeing their ideas develop.”
Joan taught through distance education and School of the Air and became involved with the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA).
“When you get involved in ICPA you can see what needs to be improved and I connected with like-minded people,” she said.
“A lot of people were having the same issues so we wanted to shake the system up and make sure our kids had proper access to education.”
Joan spends plenty of time on the road and in the air.
She has been on the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) south east section board since 1996, is a strong advocate for the Rural Women’s GP Service, and is a current member of the Far West Medicare Local Board, Royal Far West and the Western NSW Local Health District Board.
Joan is also president of the Yawarra MeaMei Women’s Group, formed to support women and children at risk of homelessness.
“One thing morphs into another – they’re all related and all centred around geographical isolation and making sure that we’re servicing rural and remote areas,” she said.
“Everybody who lives in these areas wants to better them – the whole place runs on volunteers.”
A major achievement for Joan has been championing the The Outback Oral Treatment and Health (TOOTH) program which delivers regular dental clinics in Bourke, Collarenebri, Goodooga, and Lightning Ridge.
“I’m so pleased the RFDS offers a dental program – part of what we do as a board is making sure people have access to health services, and dental is another vital service for people in isolated areas,” she said.
Joan said the support of community-minded people in Western NSW made her effort worthwhile.
“They all do their bit and volunteer which is good – how can you demand a service if you’re not willing to contribute to it?” she said.
“I’ve always had a need to participate.
“We all use what skills we’ve got and it’s helpful to have input from local people so that services delivered are actually effective.”
