Estelle Lin
Born in Rhodesia, Estelle spent the first six years of her life living remotely in various parts of the bush, before moving to the city as she (the youngest of four children) was about to start school and her parents wouldn’t send her to boarding school. Estelle worked as a legal secretary after graduating from school and at the age of 23 moved to South Africa, where she met her husband working in his law practice.
A courtship followed, Estelle converted and married. When Estelle first explored the Jewish religion, what most resonated with her was the centrality of Tikun Olam, and when she reflects on this today, Estelle sees how WIZO ‘fits’. Estelle went to University to become a social worker, leading to a long and satisfying career in child and family counselling both in South Africa and here.
In 1988, with two young children the family emigrated from a then volatile and uncertain South Africa to Perth. In Johannesburg, Estelle had worked with the Jewish Women’s Benevolent Society, but busy with work, children and settling into a new way of life, she didn’t immediately seek involvement in another women’s organisation. Some months after arriving Estelle received a call asking if she might agree to have a WIZO meeting in her home, and of course said yes. That was 32 years ago and WIZO has been a large part of her life since.
Estelle was President of WIZO Aviva for several years and in 2017 took on joint State Presidency of WIZO WA.
WIZO has given her so much. She has made many wonderful friends and gained invaluable experience in organisational skills, public speaking, negotiation and management and all of it has been fun and hugely rewarding. In WA WIZO has put together many creative plans to raise money, from musical shows, Art & Garden events, to events that one can pay NOT to attend. The hours of planning, laughter, the shared camaraderie, and the knowledge that they are helping to make a difference, all outweigh the hard work and anxiety about making a profit for WIZO!
State Presidency has been a huge learning curve for Estelle, and while the responsibility sometimes weighs heavily, she has the good fortune of a like-minded co-president in Robyn Lieblich, which makes it so much easier.
Without doubt, Estelle has gained more from WIZO than she has given.