Run Melbourne - Running for Anne

By Mark

My mother Anne was a magic woman.

She grew up through the Second World War (WW2) in England. This experience contributed to her resilience, compassion, embrace of life and cheeky side.

Mum was a single mother and a career woman. She was fiercely committed to family and her community, and I am immensely proud of all that she achieved.

In 2014 mum had a significant stroke, unfortunately she was unable to recover from this and died within two weeks.

It was a huge shock to us all, mum was active and fit until the stroke, and a big part of me still can't accept that she has gone. We thought we'd have many more years, so running in memory of mum seems very fitting.

When I am running in Run Melbourne, I will be remembering our precious times, me learning to cook as a child and of my kids having late-night hot chocolates on weekends. I will also be thinking about all the people impacted by stroke, their families, and hope that in some small way I am contributing to the community, as my mother Anne did all her life.

Thank you, mum, for your love and your example of how to live a good life.

Anne Jacques

29-12-1938 - 11-8-2014
Passionate Rotary member and First female President of Rotary Melbourne 2004-5.
Professional social worker and inaugural director of Doncare, the Doncaster Community and Counselling Service, the first such service to be established in Victoria.
As Charter President Anne brought Toastmistress (the female arm of Toastmasters) to Victoria.
Executive Director of Victorian Council of the Ageing, she remained in this position for 13 years until her retirement in 1992. The role involved service on many federal and state government committees relating to welfare of the elderly.
Anne proposed the concept of Senior Citizens Week to the then Premier, John Cain, and she was involved in the planning of the Seniors Card, known to all of our senior citizens.