From McCarthy’s much loved student years at the University of New England and as a newly qualified teacher in Sydney schools we read about her gradual and the not-so-gradual beginnings of her rise into pubic life striving for fairness and recognition for women and their abilities. Early on she recognised that half the population was not being taken seriously, nor treated with the consideration they deserved. 

Women in Australia may be surprised to read of the things that we now take for granted that were not available prior to Wendy McCarthy’s influence. She reveals some jaw-dropping moments that if anyone said those things today they would be hauled over the coals and castigated on social media and in mainstream press.



Through small beginnings, she campaigned with her neighbours to make the Sydney harbour side suburb, McMahons Point a residential area where the MCarthy family lived. Without Wendy McCarthy and her friend’s endeavours it may well have remained an industrial area.

Relocating to London and then the USA for three years, with her husband shortly after they married, gave her work experiences that would become useful throughout her career. Clearly reading her triumphs and failures, although there are not many failures, is an inspiration for young adults and future generations of what one woman could and has achieved for improving the lives of many women, both in Australia and other countries. Likewise her work in helping thousands of children internationally.

She has travelled the world, been appointed to many public and private organisation boards and frankly, reading how many boards she has worked on at one time, while raising a family of three children is awe-inspiring. McCarthy whole heartedly believed a women could have a young family and a thriving career, despite the naysayers including the employers who would not employ her as they believed she would not cope with the roles and a family.

Wendy McCathy’s can do attitude, with a willingness to take on challenging roles in public and private organisations, and then think about how to carry them out seems to be her trademark. She shares how she dealt with some very difficult times in life such as when her husband was seriously ill while needing to continue with her corporate and public responsibilities. McCarthy includes an interesting timeline of her life and the reader will be amazed at the number and variety of boards, both public and corporate, awards and programs she has been involved in. 

It is an easy to read, fact filled and matter of fact memoir sprinkled with complex sections that will leave some readers aspiring to do more and others pleased that they now know who helped make conditions for women a lot fairer. 

i have no hesitation in recommending biuy this book. Wendy McCarthy has had many challenges in her long career that would have left some people floundering. This second memoir is an inspiration, I have not read her first memoir that was written some twenty or two years ago.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

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