Asea of purple paraded down Mount Gambier’s main street on Friday in recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD).
The footpath-based street march was led by members of the Mount Gambier RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band from Vansittart Park to ac.care’s Mount Gambier Community Centre on Ferrer’s Street.
While IWD fell on Saturday this year (March 8), Mount Gambier’s event was held a day early as part of activities taking place across the globe.
Community member Ella Van Acker was involved in a similar event in Mount Gambier last year that attracted around 100 participants and called on people to get involved in International Women’s Day activities this year.
Event coordinator ac.care Mount Gambier Community Centre community programs coordinator Shauna Wood said ac.care “jumped on board” after being approached by Ms Van Acker with the idea.
“We thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase women, women’s rights, how far we have come and how far we have got to go,” she said.
“Anne Fraser has actually written a song especially for International Women’s Day.
“I love to see things grow and this will grow each year. I see we have quite a few men here who are coming to support us on International Women’s Day and that is sensational.
“It is really important to have men support as well and together nothing is impossible.
“This is our first one and I look forward to each year completing another International Women’s Day march that will just get bigger and better.
“It is fantastic, everyone joining in together for the betterment of women all over the globe.”
Following the march, activities began at the ac.care Mount Gambier Community Centre which included guest speakers, live music featuring Anne Fraser and Christy Wallace and a free community barbecue cooked by OneFortyOne employees.
Meanwhile, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and Forest Industries Clare Scriven hosted a Limestone Coast Leaders breakfast to celebrate International Women’s Day and to discuss leadership opportunities for regional women.
Those attending heard from guest speaker Robyn Verrall, who is founder of Bully’s Beef near Keith, and Director of Kere to Country.
Ms Verrall is Chair of the Agribusiness, Food, Wine, Beverage group of the SA Skills Commission, and is dedicated to leading initiatives to enhance skills and opportunities in the agricultural workforce, with a focus on women’s empowerment and rural development.
She was also the 2022 SA Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award Winner and is an SA Leader for Gender Equity: Advocating for equal opportunities and representation for women in agriculture and beyond.
