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Cathy Willis, a longstanding member of the Port Elizabeth West Inner Wheel Club, has had the honour of representing South Africa at the International Inner Wheel Convention in Manchester, which started on May 7, and will end on May 10.
Willis’s journey with the Inner Wheel began in 1992, when she joined the Gqeberha branch, later transferring to her current club in 2016.
The Inner Wheel Club is an international women’s organisation to create friendship, service, and understanding.
At the core of their mission is service, and lending a hand to all in need in their communities, all while promoting friendship between women across the globe.
Being chosen to represent her country at this prestigious event was a significant moment for Willis, who expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.
“It is a great honour, because not only do I represent South Africa, but I also have the honour and the pleasure of representing Botswana and Eswatini,” she said.
For Willis this opportunity was not just a chance to travel and meet new people, it was also deeply personal.
“I believe that God blessed me with the genes necessary for serving humanity,” she explained.
As a former nursing sister she has dedicated her life to helping others, and since retirement has continued to do so through her involvement with the Inner Wheel Club of Port Elizabeth West.
“I view this opportunity as another step towards having a fulfilled life,” she added.
The selection process for this role involved an annual conference, where Inner Wheel Clubs from Southern Africa’s two districts nominated candidates to fill various positions for the upcoming year. Willis was elected by both districts to serve as the National Representative, a role she describes as primarily focused on networking. At the convention she also served as a voting delegate, contributing to key decisions regarding amendments to the international constitution.
Willis was enthusiastic about the convention, saying she was most looking forward to making friends from around the world.
“I love people, and what better opportunity could one have than making friends from around the world?” she remarked.
Her role as National Representative entails being a crucial link between the UK headquarters, the district offices in Southern Africa, and the various clubs in the region.
As a woman in this role, Willis acknowledged the impact she could have on representing her country and promoting international co-operation.
She cited Michelle Obama’s quote: “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish,” indicating her belief in the power of women’s nurturing skills to foster understanding and cooperation.
Despite her significant role, Willis remained humble about her responsibilities.
“I am extremely grateful that I travelled in the company of Rose Paris, who has not only held the post of National Representative in the past, but is also a past Board Director,” she said.
Paris, who has been in the club for 52 years, has been to five other conventions in exciting destinations, such as Berlin, Stockholm, Florence, Instanbul, and Melbourne.
This time she is most looking forward to meeting some of the members from the other clubs with which she corresponds, in person for the first time.
“I am also the International Service Organiser for my club, and usually correspond with overseas clubs virtually,” Paris explained.
With Inner Wheel Club celebrating its 100th anniversary, Willis felt honoured to be part of the organisation’s rich legacy.
Her message to those curious about her country is simple yet poignant, “South Africa is a beautiful place with beautiful people,” and she hopes to convey this truthfully during her time at the convention.
Willis plans to share her experiences and insights from the convention with the district offices and clubs in Southern Africa, reinforcing the importance of international co-operation and community service.
Willis and Paris will be voting delegates for the clubs of the two districts in the Southern African region, one of which encompasses the Inner Wheel Club of Gaborone, and the Inner Wheel Club of Eswatini. They are the only two members attending from South Africa.
