I have just read with much interest the article by Sharon on Indigenous women and leadership. I myself am a principal of a school and as I read I connected with the message immediately. It is so true the need to understand who you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it. It most definitely is not for the glory. Remembering the higher moral purpose of what it is we are trying to achieve and staying true to that belief as we are challenged by non Aboriginal and our own mob, helps us keep our sanity and know that we are doing what needs to be done because no one else is. Stepping up and taking on more responsibilty in our already busy lives makes us sometimes wonder why, but then if not for us who? It is important to know there is no harm in wanting to be really good at what you do, but also admitting you don't know everything and seeking advice from others. There are so many challenges, but likewise so many rewards, and I take so much inspiration from wonderful people who have supported and nutured me into this position of leadership, including May O'Brien, a survivor and a true matriach of Indigenous women in education who gently and persistently has challenged people at all levels of government, to strive for change and improvement for our people. She has never lost sense of who she is, where she comes from and has maintained respect along the way. Respect, a word repeated so easily but at the very core of what makes us successful. Learning to listen, show initiative and respond, whilst always maintaining mutual respect and doing what is right, rather than what is easy, is what makes us true leaders. I too have been blessed with a good education, but more importantly a good sense of self, and an ability to stop and reflect on my actions, my words and my results and always seeking to do better and make things best for all our kids of tomorrow.