Region to celebrate women at diverse IWD events

IN RECOGNITION of International Women’s Day (IWD), local women’s groups across the region will host events to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness for women’s equality.

The global event, which falls on March 8, has been running for more than a century.

On Thursday, March 7, the Soroptimist International of Geelong will host an IWD breakfast at GMHBA Stadium.

Award-winning music photographer Lucinda Goodwin will be a guest speaker at the event, and well-known The Pulse radio presenter Loretta Hart will be the MC.

“It’s important to recognise how much change has been achieved over the past 100 years and yet we are still a long way off achieving equality,” Denise Hibbins, president of the local Soroptimist International branch, said.

“IWD is a day we celebrate women’s achievements, as well as reflect on those women and girls across the globe who can’t participate in education, good healthcare or have economic security.”

For tickets, head to trybooking.com/COTYY

The Northern Bellarine Monica Hayes Award for Women will also be presented on March 7 during an afternoon tea celebration at the Portarlington Golf Club.

The award, which was first established in 2017, honours the life of the late Monica Hayes who passed in 2016 from motor neurone disease.

Ms Hayes is remembered as a feminist, community leader, activist and former recipient of the City of Greater Geelong’s Women in Community Life Award.

The award celebrates women in the community whose endeavours have made a difference in the wellbeing of others.

For more information, phone IWD committee member Jenny Willis on 5259 2032.

On Friday, March 8, the Geelong Women Unionist Network will host a dinner at the Geelong Trades Hall at 127 Myer Street.

The event will begin at 5.30pm and celebrate the theme “Women in Leadership”.

Lara MP Ella George, City of Greater Geelong councillor Sarah Hathway and Rathi Barthlote, a Tamil refugee from Albion and co-founder of Refugee Women Action for Visa Equality, will be the guest speakers.

Tickets are available at the door or via trybooking.com/events/landing/1180978