Celebrating Women

WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH

IMAGES: COMMISSION STUDIO 2019 + LINKED WEBSITES

March 8 was International Women’s Day, Did you do anything special to mark the occasion?

IWD is a day where we acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful women in our lives. It’s a day to explore and promote the social, cultural and political achievements of other women who work towards women’s equality.

And this year is no different if anything, the causes we fight for collectively or quietly are entwined in our everyday lives - we can see them played out on social media, read about it daily in the papers and watch it nightly on the news. From the treatment and portrayal of women in our media to the expectation that women must behave a certain way to keep themselves safe. It is a lot. So this year, a theme has been set and as a woman who loves a theme, I am fully embracing the IWD #choosetochallenge theme.

• Choose to call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotypes

• Choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements

• Everyone has a role to play in gender equality.

3 Women I admire & whose achievements deserve to be celebrated…

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is one woman doing a fabulous job. In particular, I love the introduction of free sanitary products for students across NZ. The words ‘period poverty’ was unknown to me until reading about this heartbreaking dilemma, where young girls avoid school as they simply cannot afford sanitary products, which in turn means missing out on their fundamental right to an education. Something so simple has given girls the help, education and confidence they need in the years when they need it. I would love to see something like this rolled across Australia, actually why stop there? Let’s roll it out across the world.

Images via : https://www.stuff.co.nz/

Moira Kelly has long been a hero of mine. Known and admired for her work bringing children (and their families) with serious health problems to Australia for the treatment they couldn’t get locally. The Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation provides support, comfort, safety and protection for children and women, she takes on causes that everybody says no to and she says of her work, “There’s no saying no to hope.”

With an aim to help families live as independently as possible, Moira’s foundation is staffed by volunteers and started from her humble home in inner-city Melbourne. She has helped so many and continues to do so with grace, humility and an open heart. I am so proud to be associated with this much-needed foundation and you can help out too by supporting a very special afternoon tea!

Support Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation and join Moira Kelly AO for an afternoon of discussion and fun with personalities, Jackie Gillies & Myself. Emmanuel Kelly EK Nada (X-Factor) will join us from the USA to perform, as will singer, azzurra.music Azzurra Pantaleo.

• Sunday Afternoon 28th of March 3-5pm. Book via - https://www.trybooking.com/BPJYW

• Virtual zoom event only tickets - $39 per person tax-deductible gift donation (afternoon tea not included)

• Optional extra (Melbourne metro) – add $60 (savoury or sweet afternoon tea delivered to your door - RSVP by 19 March for this option)

Images via : https://www.creatinghopefoundation.org.au/

The creativity, the colour and the enthusiasm that Poppies For Grace exude are absolutely contagious! I have been a big fan of Sarah & Alana’s brand ever since I spotted it, their ability to dream big and take risks is something admired by many women and I have loved watching this business grow from strength to strength.

We all have something to offer and I have loved sharing what I have learnt over the years in business with Poppies For Grace. Sharing ideas, talking shop and inspiring each other is something everybody can do, and choosing to shout out their wonderful wares this week for International Women’s day is a true pleasure.

Store Location :  297 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne.

Follow Poppies for Grace on Instagram for some serious colourful fun!

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Images via Lisa Atkinson, Commission Studio 2019 + by Bec Matheson