Renee Tonkin (Executive Committee Member)

Renee Tonkin

  1. What is your work/passion/ side-hustle?

I love everything there is about people, business and sharing. The ideas over coffee and conversation, the planning, the doing, the growing, the evolving - all of it - even the hard stuff! I just love people, business and community. It’s pretty simple.

I’m a passionate advocate for exploring and sharing the region - with EVERYONE! Regional people and regional business have so much to be proud of and it is pretty special to live right here surrounded by it all.

[Don’t ask me about side hustles - I want to try EVERYTHING!]

2. Beyond the 9 to 5 – what do you live for

On weekends our family can be found chasing young children across the region enjoying a bit of sport, checking out amazing local events, experiences and attractions, exploring the great outdoors and activities of all kinds. I also love a spot of gardening however I do admit I’ve got a lot to learn in that space - including patience.

3. How did you land in Wagga - Are you Wagga born and bred, grew up here moved away and returned, moved here later in life and stayed because you love it, or something else that landed you here?

Having grown up in the Riverina I feel very connected to the region and Wagga specifically. Just like many I ventured away for a few short stints however ultimately the Riverina is the place that looks, feels, smells and tastes like home.

4. Woman (famous or not) you are most inspired by and why?

I’m going to go with ‘Women (famous and should be famous)’... and say that it’s the collective for me. It is regional and rural women that I’m in awe of. The women in local communities dreaming and doing, the women in agriculture, the women in family business, the women forging careers, the women with side hustles on top of other jobs, the women working remotely (!), the women volunteering time and time again.. I could go on and on! Regional and Rural women are - SECOND - TO - NONE.

CommitteeCristy Houghton