Member Behind the Badge...Charlotte England
How to summarise a woman as active, as varied, as engaging as our very own Charlotte England? These notes can only scratch the surface of an address that kept us all enthralled.
Charlotte was born in England. At age 8, her mother died, a great aunt entered her life, and she went to boarding school – where she adored everything: uniform, piano, singing, sport and friends who became friends for life. She played piano for the Women’s Institute afternoon teas, and walked over the fells.
After her school years, her father would not let her go to university, so she went to the London College of Secretaries, where her piano playing helped her typing, and her shorthand (allegedly) harmed her handwriting. At the same time, she worked 4 nights a week in a pub, and had her own antiques business in the famous Portobello Road market.
Then Charlotte got the travel bug: flew to Los Angeles, and got a job in the British Consulate; then in the Washington Embassy. And then to Sydney where she found that “Australia was a wonderful place that ticked all the boxes”. She met and married the delightful Peter England, thereby acquiring similarly delightful parents-in-law, and producing two boys (now aged 30 and 28).
Charlotte’s jobs in marketing, sales, HR and teaching business topics, have been numerous and impressive. They include significant stints with Village Roadshow, Palace Entertainment, Dale Carnegie Training, Chifley Business School, and - her own company – Business Learning Exchange, which she will close on 30 June.
After 37 years in Australia, it’s wonderful to hear from someone who is happy and satisfied with life, and looking forward keenly to the next phase – active retirement.
Charlotte, we, your Rotary colleagues, salute you!