The Strength card is a symbol of inner fortitude, which helps us prevail in the face of life’s challenges. Strength is something that needs to be reinforced every day. Just as muscles need to be continuously used to maintain their power, so too does inner-strength need to be habitually exercised.
Strength is rarely loud. More often, it is found in those who accept immense responsibility, knowing that every decision will be scrutinised and not every outcome can be controlled.
Christine Nixon forged a path through two of Australia’s most male-dominated institutions at a time when women were still expected to know their place. Refusing to accept invisible barriers, she rose through the ranks to become the first woman appointed Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, leading one of the nation’s largest police forces.
Her leadership demanded resilience as much as authority. Throughout her career she championed community safety, organisational reform and the advancement of women in policing, mentoring those who followed and helping reshape an institution that had long been defined by tradition.
The mantle of leadership also brought profound challenges. During the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, Nixon became one of the most visible public figures in a tragedy that changed Victoria forever. In the years that followed, she faced intense public criticism, reminding us that those who lead in times of crisis often carry burdens that extend far beyond the event itself.
The Strength card is not about domination or invincibility. It speaks of quiet courage, perseverance and the capacity to remain steadfast when tested by forces beyond one’s control. Christine Nixon’s career reflects this deeper understanding of strength—not the absence of hardship, but the willingness to continue serving despite it.
Her story reminds us that true strength is measured not only by the heights we reach, but by the grace and resilience we bring to the trials that inevitably accompany leadership.
Waltzing With Matilda's 