Reflecting, Celebrating, and Taking Action: International Women’s Day 2025
What a weekend! I am still on a high from such a brilliant event.
On March 8, 2025, 148 women came together for an inspiring and uplifting International Women’s Day (IWD) High Tea at the beautiful Gosnells Golf Club. I’m going to be honest, we were hoping that we would reach 50 attendees to make it ‘feel like an event’. 50 quickly came and went and before we knew it we were hitting the 100 ticket cap, then the 130 max and then the venue found another 18 chairs and once we hit the 148 it was a hard cap. Despite a large waiting list we were at capacity.
The room buzzed with energy, warmth, and solidarity as we reflected on how far we have come while acknowledging the work still to be done to achieve gender equality.
Honouring the UN International Women’s Day Theme
This year, we aligned our event with the United Nations International Women’s Day theme, which calls for continued action towards gender equity and women’s empowerment. The theme served as a powerful reminder that while progress has been made, challenges remain, and it is up to all of us to continue pushing forward.
More Than a Token Gesture: Recognising Women’s Contributions
We acknowledge that International Women’s Day should be more than just a cupcake as a token gesture. It is a day to honour the work of the women’s rights activists and pioneers who fought so hard to get us where we are today. While we weren’t painting placards, we took this time to remind today’s and tomorrow’s trailblazers of the importance of self-care and resilience—ensuring we all have enough strength to pave the tracks that the previous generations beat for us, so we can go further than they could ever have imagined and leave the generations to come further beaten tracks that they can pave, strengthen and advance.
A Powerful Moment: Celebrating Our Right to Vote
Our attendees embraced this message wholeheartedly, and the atmosphere in the room was nothing short of extraordinary. A standout moment came when reminded that our event coincided with election day. A cheer erupted from the crowd at the simple statement: ‘Today, we get to vote!’—a testament to the value we place on our hard-won rights and our collective voice in shaping the future.
Inspiring Guest Speakers and Community Impact
The morning was enriched by our incredible guest speakers, Nina Lavina (Nutrition Parlour) and Yvonne Kilpatrick (Amherst Psychology) whose insights and stories left us feeling inspired and motivated. Their words reinforced the importance of lightening our load so we can focus on what it is important.
Beyond the conversation and connection, the event had a tangible impact: together, we raised over $10,000! These funds will go directly toward supporting families in our community, ensuring that women and children have access to essential mental health counselling services.
Thank You to Our Supporters
A heartfelt thank you to Gosnells Golf Club for providing such a stunning venue and delicious food, which added to the elegance and warmth of the day. We also extend our gratitude to the City of Gosnells for their small grant, which helped subsidise the event and made it more accessible to all. Thanks also to all the supporters of the event who together added to the success: Bloom Women’s Wellness Clinic, Amherst Psychology, Nina Lavina, Ohara Skin and Body Clinic, Perth Zoo, Canningvale IGA, Fernwood Cannington, Terri Claxton, Jessons Florist, Millbrook Winery, Matt Keogh MP, Seven Sins, Terry Healy, BWS, Dan Murphy’s, Creative Soul Solutions, Sista Fitness.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Momentum
As we look ahead, let’s carry forward the energy and momentum from this year’s International Women’s Day High Tea. Together, we can continue making a difference—championing women’s rights, fostering inclusion, and building a stronger, more equitable community for all.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and supported this event. Until next year, let’s keep striving for progress, equality, and empowerment—together.
