Enjoy high tea in Winchelsea this Sunday

A COMMUNITY-driven initiative to showcase the former Winchelsea Shire Hall will see the building host an International Women’s Day High Tea with an inspiring guest.

Julia May – a founding team member of global leadership program Homeward Bound – will headline the High Tea, to be held at the hall this Sunday, March 15 from 2-4pm.

Through Homeward Bound, Ms May has supported women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine) on expeditions to Antarctica, helping them unlock their leadership and collaborate to solve some of the planet’s biggest problems.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge praised Ms May’s passion to enhance opportunities for women to take up global leadership roles and contribute to a sustainable world.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Julia to Winchelsea to share her story as part of International Women’s Day celebrations,” Cr Hodge said.

Cr Hodge highlighted the leadership of a member of the former Winchelsea Shire Hall Community Working Group who sparked the idea for this event.

“It’s a fabulous idea – to showcase the types of activities that the facility can be used for.

“I encourage locals and visitors to make the most of this opportunity to hear from a powerful guest speaker who wants men and women to lead our world in equal measure.”

An Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the lease of the shire hall ran in February to seek a tenant that will meet the community’s vision for the hall to be the heart of the town.

The shire invited applications from a commercial operator or community group(s) that could manage the historic hall and run activities that benefit the community.

The council is undertaking a confidential EOI assessment process and says it anticipates considering this matter in coming weeks.

“In the meantime, we want to ensure the hall is being used,” Cr Hodge said.

“Council’s Community Development Advisor has been consulting with Winchelsea community members to talk about potential activities for the short-term that could be run from the Shire Hall, starting with this High Tea event.”

Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/IWDHighTea. All funds raised will go to Sanctuary Counselling Centre to support women and their families through life-changing illness and bereavement.