Farewell Jen
Jen! I'm going to miss your presence and remarkable advocacy for people living with HIV. You are an inspiration to me and I want to thank you for how welcoming you were when I started not long after John's departure. It has been an absolute blast. Enjoy your well earned retirement and I hope to run into you at events down in the gong. Lots of love from Josef.
In solidarity, Josef
Hi Jen
It has been a genuine privilege to work with you over many years and witness firsthand your passion and commitment to improving the health of our community. Your leadership of the HARP team has seen it grow and adapt to developing innovative programs and health messages and this has been awesome to observe. I especially was inspired by the way the HARP team pivoted during COVID-19, producing some very informative webinars and social media messaging. Thank you for the support you provided the Drug and Alcohol Service over many years but importantly during your residency at the Orana Centre where you coordination of our Newsletter was greatly appreciated. I hope this next chapter of your life brings you exciting opportunities and moments of genuine tranquillity.
Best wishes in retirement
David and your D&A colleagues
All the best Jen
Has been great working with you 😊
Cheers Adele (iDAS) xxx
Dear Jen, you will be missed and so will our chats. All the best with your next adventure in life….
Kind regards Misel
This is an OUTRAGE! You’re way too young to “retire”!!
I’m sure this is just a new chapter for you. Perhaps as a cocktail mixologist in a tropical island resort.
Heartfelt thanks for all that you’ve given to the world, and to your colleagues
And thanks for your indefatigable smile.
Glenn K.
Dear Jen
I heard about your decision to retire, and while it's bittersweet news, I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations. You have made such a valuable impact here with your dedication and wisdom and I really feel that it is the end of an era … your presence will definitely be missed. I hope this next chapter brings you plenty of joy, relaxation, and all the adventures you've been looking forward to. Wishing you all the best in retirement – it's well earned!
Tania Star
Dearest Jen,
To the most dynamic, critical thinker with advanced vision for the sector I have worked with.
Your passion and commitment is and has always been inspiring, you have led some amazing teams and created a wonderful environment where all staff are equal and have the opportunity to be heard and express there ideas. You have always been collaborative with all teams and have that can do attitude, nothing was ever a bother. You will be sorely missed across the statewide sector where you have contributed so much within your career and ISLHD looses one of its most professional, motivating and inspiring members. I personally am so going to miss you, you really have been a remarkable colleague and all round top chick.
Happy retirement my friend and thank you for all you have done for keeping our communities safe.
Here’s Cheers,
JL
Enjoy retirement! Thanks for all your wonderful work. We will miss you
Gabi Martinez
Dear Jen,
Its been an absolute pleasure working with you for so many years. You were always so great at bringing more joy to your colleagues in the workplace. I particularly remember your massager and mat you set up at the uni (so fabulous), no lights no lycra promotion (such fun) and your lux desk set up with salt lamp and scarfs (just brilliant).
Best of luck in your next adventures.
Cheers Pip Xxx
So long Jen, and enjoy your retirement.
I already miss your quick wit and pop cultural knowledge - it hasn't been the same without you!
Dan Morgan
Hi Jen,
You've been such an inspiration to all of us. Wishing you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter ahead!
Best regards, Siyu
To Jen,
What a journey this has been! I remember joining NSW Health when your team included Natalie, Naomi R., Naomi V., Nadja, Marty and Damien; later on you had Scott, Kristel, Smrity, Maddy, Kaitlyn and Winnie join the team. I hope I didn’t forget anyone! 😊 I first met your team when you were based at the Uni, then you moved to Plush, then D&A and then back to Plush. You only needed to look out for some pink decorations and listen out for lots of laughter and you would find the HARP team on any open floor.
I have to thank you for all the partnership opportunities and support you threw at me over the years; you really helped me create a career pathway in the BBV / Hep C field. I still remember our first ‘HEP ABCs’ and ‘Going Viral’ session at the Nan Tien Temple; the First Step Bus tours, World Aids Day rides and ‘On the Couch’ sessions when they were still in person. You and your team are a true inspiration in brand building, marketing and digital communication (social media) advertising in the Health Promotion sector and you are leaving behind some very big shoes to fill.
Jen, I do wish you all the best for your retirement. Thank you for all your support, your friendship and wisdom.
You will be missed!
Connie
I can't believe you're retiring! Congratulations and enjoy every minute because you deserve it! Enjoy the benefits of having the time to do anything and everything you've always desired to do. Thank you for everything you've done and achieved for the sector!
Priyadi
Hey Jen,
What a loss to the sexual health sector! Your fight, passion, and energy to improve the sexual health outcomes of young people is something I’ve always admired.
Wishing you the most wonderful retirement — it’s now time for family, hobbies, and lots of coffee dates!
Take care,
Love, Caro
It’s truly been a pleasure working with you and getting to know you, especially at the Uni (the good old days) .. Your contributions to the team have made a lasting impact, and you will definitely be missed.
You’ve been an incredible leader, and your team was lucky to have you guiding them. The Caddy Shack Project just won’t be the same without you! ☹
Wishing you all the best in your next adventure—may it bring you relaxation, joy and fulfillment. I hope our paths cross again in the future❤ ❤ ❤
Take care! Jagoda Veljanovska
Dear Jen, thank you for your unwavering passion & optimism. Your creative flair to 'doing' sexual health promotion will be sorely missed. Hoping the next chapter is nothing short of magic!
Love Brooke D x
Dear Jen, thank you for all that you brought to our sector and the community. Your joy, inclusivity and health promotion genius have been inspiring and will have long ranging and lasting impact. Wishing you all the best with your retirement, and all the adventures ahead!
Love, Grace Robin 😊
Wishing you best of luck for the future, I will be forever grateful for the time you took in sharing your wisdom, experience and friendship when I started in my role and the ongoing support and encouragement. Along with others you have been a wonderful model for peer leadership in the sector, a model I have sought to emulate in my way.
Jason van Ritten
Jen/TL/Work Wife
Congratulations on retirement!
There will never be enough words to recognise and thank you for your contributions to the sexual health sector and health more broadly over the last 18ish years! You are an inspiration to so many, have guided so many and have shared so much of yourself that we are all the better for your having worked with you. The entire state will miss your professional guidance, ideas and leadership.
Personally, we have been through it all, births, deaths and marriages. I thank you for both the professional and personal support over the last 17 years. Having a work wife for such a long time is a blessing and a rare occurrence in this day and age of career progression.
I don’t think the story ended the way either of us ever imagined it would, but I’m forever grateful for the journey.
All the very best for your next chapter. Enjoy all that retirement has to offer and enjoy this special time focussing on you and Marg
Deep love, respect and gratitude always
Nomes xx
Hi Jen, Wishing you all the best for this new chapter of life! Thank you for all your support and good vibes over the years. You will be so missed!
Jordan Murray xx
Dear Jen
You will be missed, your enthusiasm and understanding of the sector was inspiring to everyone who knew you.
Thank you for all the support you provided me over the years and I wish you a wonderful relaxing and enjoyable retirement.
Kevin Schamburg
Jen it has been so wonderful to have had the pleasure of working with you and your teams over the years at ISLHD
(I think it has been 13 years since we did our first project together!).
I believe that we have had such a long working partnership with ISLHD - due to you, your enthusiasm and innovation.
I will miss your positivity… thank you for all the wonderful design projects and your support of students learning their craft.
Enjoy your retirement Jen – I hear its quite a thing!
Lots of love Jo Stirling – UOW
Dear Jen
I thought you might outlive us all, but well done and good luck with the next chapter.
You have bought so much energy and passion to the work and teams you have lead.
You have always been up to a pivot and have adopted seamlessly (it appeared) to changing times and situations.
I really enjoyed working with you and learnt lots along the way and had some good laughs.
The sector wont be the same with out the Jannifer Farinella energy but you have certainly contributed over and above.
Wishing you the very best for the future and thanks for everything
Julia P xxx
Dear Jen
It has been a true pleasure working with you over the years (a bit over 5 years to be exact).
I have been inspired by the positivity and joy that you brought to work, and the deep respect & support that you showed for colleagues.
And let me add your general excellence and skill, and a rare appreciation for beauty in the things around you.
I wish you a wonderful continuation of your journey, with fun & adventure wherever it takes you.
Would love to keep in touch.
Much love Victoria Oettel
Congrats, Jen. You are such an inspiring leader. Your wisdom and enthusiasm are so infectious and we shall carry on.
Dr Limin Mao
Dear Jen (aka ‘first wife’ 😊)
As you embrace the next stage of your post-work life, I wanted to send you lots of love and best wishes and acknowledge all you have achieved over your long career!
Thank you for the always funny and intelligent chats we have had over the years about work, books, people and life in general.
You have been a much-admired work colleague and are an awesome person all round - you are already sorely missed!
I hope that life is good to you and that we can stay in touch
Kath (aka ‘second wife’!)
Dearest Jen,
I cant quite believe that you're retiring! I thought you'd be in that role forever and ever but i'm so very excited for you taking on a new adventure and season of life in retirement. I'm so grateful for all the support and advice you have given me over the years. Especially during the period when you welcomed me into the fold to sit with you all. I'm truly grateful for that time and all the chats and advice. Both in work and in life. I have loved your passion and enthusiasm for sexual health and your 'get on with it' attitude. You made such a difference in the lives of people in the Illawarra and beyond (Myself included).
Lots of love, Rochelle
Congrats Jen on reaching this next stage of your journey. You clearly deserve some nice, quiet relaxation and focus on yourself after putting in some serious time and effort to the ISLHD HARP team over the past number of years! As you know my time working with the team was a significant experience for me in my career pathway. Thanks for the support you provided to me and the team to grow and develop, take risks, make mistakes, have fun, and build close connection to our communities for positive change. There was no other experience in my career quite like it! Cue Bette, and wind beneath my wings... 🤩
Best wishes, and see you again soon!
Marty J x
Congratulations on this milestone. It is hard to put into words how much you have done for me both professionally and personally. Thank you, thank you, thank you for continuing to come up with innovative ideas, being such an inspiring person and being such a big support cheerleader. I wish the best for this next chapter in life and can not wait to see what life has in store for you next. Enjoy this time to focus on yourself and enjoying those hobbies.
Until next time, see you soon
Kaitlyn xx
Jen,
It has been an amazing, life changing time working with you. You are an incredibly inspiring leader and person, thankyou for helping me grow and thrive in such a incredible team. I am in awe of your incredible advocacy, passion and dedication to sharing affection not infection. I will forever miss working with you.
Embrace this wonderful next stage of life!
Lots of love, Winnie
Aunty Jenny,
Gosh, writing this is so weird, you know - words are not my love language. Weirder that I don’t get to see you everyday! You are so missed at Caddyshack. What a wild ride! Fix ya fonts, get those colour codes and a pivot hard to digital. Thanks for paving the way, listening to my crazy ideas and when I didn’t have words you saw the colour coded mind-map that is my brain. It’s pretty special. I am forever grateful for your support and everything I’ve learnt from you about emotions (lol but yep), doing things the Italian way (getting shit done), life (for reals) and leadership (huge).
See ya around obvs, Maddy
As always,
Peace, Love & Protection
X