Breakfast for champions

LAST Friday’s breakfast hosted by Women’s Health Loddon Mallee to celebrate International Women’s Day drew a bright crowd of local leaders and community members.

Attendees swapped stories and ideas to reflect the UN’s IWD theme, “Count Her In: Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress”, which was aimed at acknowledging and supporting the contribution of women to economies.

Hosted by WHLM chief executive officer Tricia Currie, the event welcomed Luz Restrepo, founder of SisterWorks, who was keynote speaker and spoke on her experience as a migrant woman in Australia.

Megan Champion, founder of We are Untold and creator of the Women of Gold project, also spoke and left some members of the crowd feeling empowered.

“It’s just so wonderful being with likeminded women,” Christine Curnow, president (or Queen) of the Bendigo chapter of the Red Hats Society, said.

“Honestly, those speakers; I feel like I can do anything now, it’s so wonderful.”

The breakfast was attended by women from all stages and walks of life, which Ms Curnow said was part of the appeal of the event.

“And meeting people from different areas of life, and I’m glad everyone was wearing a name tag, it’s just wonderful.

The Red Hat Society exists as a social group for women primarily over the age of 50 to remain connected and have fun.

“Before I joined red hats, I was sort of a shrinking violet and prepared to be so in my old age, that’s what you do,” red hat member Evelyn Browne said.

“Yes, I’m old but I can have fun too.”

The Red Hat Ladies of Bendigo participate in the breakfast each year to engage in the discussions on the IWD theme and to make connections.

Member Shirely Reid said this year she had learned a lot from conversations on women’s health and equality in the workplace.

“And for women to go to women run places and businesses run by women, to support other women,” Ms Reid said.