WELCOME

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world each year on 8 March to acknowledge the gains women have made over the years and to bring to our attention the issues that still face us. Most of all, it is a day to celebrate and recognise the difference and achievements that women have made and continue to make.

In the Illawarra we are recognising this special day with a month of activities in March 2012. The launch for the month of activities will occur at our Annual Luncheon where our committee will also have the pleasure of announcing individual scholarships to deserving women in the Illawarra.

COMMITTEE

The Illawarra IWD committee includes leading business women from the Illawarra region who are working together in conjunction with other groups of women in the community, to organise the week of activities in March 2011 to celebrate International Women's Day.

For further details on the committee click here.

ACTIVITIES

The month of activities will be about celebrating the gains of women in the Illawarra and to bring attention to the issues that still exist. This time will also be used to recognise the difference that women have made, and will continue to make to the region.

For further details about the activities, click here.

LUNCHEON

The Illawarra IWD committee will be celebrating International Women's Day again at the annual luncheon on Friday 2nd March 2012 at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. The event will feature special guest speaker Wendy Harmer. In the past, women such as Ita Buttrose, Janine Shepherd and Jane Flemming have graced the stage.  Click here to book tickets.

FUNDRAISING

The annual luncheons held from 2007-2009 have been fundraising events for Carinya Cottage, a program run by The Salvation Army to provide assistance to women and women with children experiencing domestic violence, homelessness or some other personal crisis. Over this time, the committee has been able to raise up to $40,000 for Carinya Cottage.

In 2010 the luncheon was a fundraising event for Wollongong Women’s Refuge raising $15,000 to help deliver services not previously available at the Refuge such as the funding of a mental health worker and developing particular mental health programs.

In 2011, the committee continued raising much needed funds and support for a similar organisation assisting women in need in the Illawarra, the Older Women's Network (OWN).  This organisation offers wellness programs that are designed to assist older women to stay well by providing physical activities as well as community education and training on issues of isolation, depression, grief, injury prevention and management of chronic medical conditions.  Participants achieve good levels of fitness while developing social networks and increasing confidence and self-esteem. OWN will once again be the recipients of the IWD fundraising efforts in 2012.

SCHOLARSHIPS

At the 2009 luncheon the committee announced a new initiative which has successfully continues each year since. That is to award individual scholarships to three deserving Illawarra women in honour of three inspiring Illawarra women who are sadly no longer with us.

  • Cate Stevenson IWD Scholarship for Women
  • Kerryn McCann IWD Scholarship for Women
  • Aunty Mary IWD Scholarship for Indigenous Women

In 2011:

  • Andrew Stevenson presented Georgia Luke with the Cate Stevenson IWD Scholarship for Women
  • Brenton McCann presented Jessica Simpson with the Kerryn McCann IWD Scholarship for Women
  • Richard & Melissa Davis presented Tina McGhie with the Aunty Mary IWD Scholarship for Indigenous Women

For further details about the previous scholarship winners, click here
To download a scholarship application form, please click here