How to access an element using its name or id if it is not a class variable?

Question

I am trying to retrieve the element I added to my UI in a different  function. I am using actionscript 3. I know I can put the variable into a  class variable, so it can be access anywhere in the class, but I have  too many elements. Is there anyway I could access them without putting  them into class variable?
Thanks.
public class Test extends SkinnableContainer{
// private var image:Image; <-- I try not to do this, too messy
private function func1() {
    var image:Image = new Image();
    addElement(image);
private function func2() {
    var image:Image = /* how to get the element from my UI without putting into class variable */

Answer 1

Here is what works for me:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<s:Application xmlns:fx="http://ns.adobe.com/mxml/2009"
               xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark"
               xmlns:mx="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/mx"
               creationComplete="init()"
               minWidth="955" minHeight="600">
    <fx:Declarations>
        <!-- Place non-visual elements (e.g., services, value objects) here -->
    </fx:Declarations>
    <fx:Script>
        <![CDATA[
            import spark.components.Image;
            private var  image:Image;
            private function init():void
                image = new Image();
                addElement(image);
                trace(this["image"]);
        ]]>
    </fx:Script>   
</s:Application>