Local women in the spotlight for international campaign

TORQUAY Community House has celebrated the inspirational women of the region at an International Women’s Day event, while potentially starting a new tradition.

About 20 local residents, including Surf Coast Shire deputy mayor Liz Pattison and councillor Rose Hodge, visited the community house on Thursday last week for its event.

Attendees viewed a short film launched by the council for IWD, which shared stories of five local inspiring women; Paralympian Elle Steele, pro fighter Lani Williams, apprentice electrician Neila Niveen and environmentalists Winsome Coutts and Harper Bolton.

Ms Bolten, who is also a local high school student, attended the community house event to share her experience of being featured in the film.

“The event was a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women but also to acknowledge that International Women’s Day comes at a challenging time for the world and for gender equality,” Torquay Community House co-ordinator Prue Challis said.

“The fight continues for transformative action and greater representation of women in leadership roles to bring about real change.”

Meanwhile, the Torquay house also launched what it hopes becomes a new women’s tradition, with participants taking part in the inaugural National Women’s Shed Week.

The organisation’s Women’s Sharing Shed visited the town’s Bunnings store for a DIY workshop last week for a crash course in plaster repair.

The group welcomes new members to try their hand at DIY or garden projects at the house at its weekly meetings on Friday afternoons.