ONE tiny opportunity a half-century ago for Elizabeth Clarke opened a hallway of doors she would walk through to fulfill a wish to help people.
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Today, the Terang woman is the recipient of a Queen's Birthday honour for significant service to the harness racing industry and to her community.
She is the deputy chair of the Victorian Racing Integrity Board and acting chair of the Terang and Mortlake Health Service, while previously she was deputy chair of Harness Racing Victoria.
But her career began as a 17-year-old taking shorthand at the Terang Harness Club, despite not coming from a horse racing background.
"It's from something tiny," Ms Clarke said. "If an opportunity comes before you; I would really encourage people to consider it and take it if they possibly can, because it opens so many doors."
With more responsibility came travel around the state and decision-making that for Ms Clarke always meant having others in mind.
"It enables you to help other people in the most unsuspecting ways," she said.
"You might not think you are being helpful at the time but when you reflect upon it you can understand how simple it is that even small acts of kindness in communities make a difference."
As secretary of the Terang Harness Club for 15 years from 1995, Ms Clarke oversaw the delivery of $1.4 million in government money to build a new racetrack.
"We came in under budget and under the prescribed time and it was rated the best track in Victoria at the time," she said. "That was a huge sense of pride for the club and for the community."
She says all industries have challenges but believes making people feel included, encouraged and kindly treated makes a big difference.
"Kindness is the most simple measure of humanity. If you are in a position where you can offer kindness or give them some hope; that's very important."
"In a club your membership base is so valuable, and the members are the people who keep the community going. It's how you treat the foundation of your club; those people who have worked before you to get where that organisation is they are owed so much respect and kindness.
"It really enhances the community if all those organisations have that culture about them."
Melbourne's William Gibbins also received a Queen's Birthday honour today for starting the Jericho Cup in Warrnambool in 2018.
"It's a great honour," Mr Gibbins said.
"People say to me; why did I pick Warrnambool? and I say 'Warrnambool picked me'.
"The Warrnambool track is probably the most picturesque racecourse in Australia. It's just the way it is set up and the paddocks the horses can go through and those old trees."
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