International Women's Day Breakfast

On Wednesday, 13 March Janice Cook, the President of Mitcham Rotary Club invited Mullauna College students to the Rotary International Women’s Day Breakfast.  

It was an absolute thrill to be a part of such an incredible experience that is the Rotary International Women’s Day Breakfast. Not only was the company incredible, and the food delicious, but the atmosphere was positively inspiring. I particularly enjoyed being in a room full of unique and accomplished women, feeling a connection through our shared experience and our relating to the words from the four influential speakers.

Feeling the power and the love within the room was amazing and like nothing I have experienced. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity from the Mitcham Rotary Club and their president and our ticket sponsor, Janice Cook. I am also extremely grateful to have shared this time with my Mullauna College community, and the women we met from Dream Stitches.

Accompanying us at our Mitcham and Box Hill Rotary Club table for the Rotary International Women’s Day Breakfast, sat two women from the charity organization, Dream Stitches. Established by the Anglican Church in 2004, Dream Stitches is a charity organization that aims to welcome refugee women, teach them how to sew, aid them in forming relationships in the community, and help them gain a sense of belonging in Australia. Reflecting basic Christian beliefs of friendship, respect, and care, Dream Stitches welcomes refugee women from Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, and Iran.

The organization uses sewing as a way of communication for students, as well as enabling them to make clothes for themselves and their families. Following this year’s Rotary International Women’s Day Breakfast theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’, it was a pleasure to meet such incredible women. We spoke with a teacher and a student about the organization and understood how the Dream Stitches organization was aiding women in feeling included in Australian communities, as well as making them feel inspired via their expressions of creativity. Additionally, both these women were just as lovely as they were inspiring.  Abbey, Year 11

For me, the women’s day breakfast was eye-opening. What Leonie Valentine, Digital Technology and Customer Experience expert and former Google Hong Kong leader, was talking about made so much sense. Leonie spoke about how what you play with and around is what shapes your job career. 

For me, my parents work in the medical field, so I’ve been around it all my life. My mum plays piano which made me want to play flute, guitar and many other instruments. My career goal is accounting since my dad is amazing at mathematics or, childcare work which is from my mum being a nurse/midwife and working with kids. Leonie’s words made me understand my life a lot more.

Dr Niki Vincent, Victoria’s Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, spoke about the pay gap between genders for many companies which has not changed or improved since 2012. I’m so grateful for the work she does and that she helped get the information to go public about this. 

And finally, to Janenie Mohgan, I enjoyed listening to her story and grateful to her for telling young girls that it’s okay to be loud and outspoken, which I can relate to. Janenie had a very good audiobook voice too. Overall, it was an amazing event and we are so grateful we could attend thanks to Jan and the Mitcham Rotary Club, and together helped raise $10,000 for the Women’s Health East.   April, Year 8

Harriet Smitheram

Classroom Teacher and EAL Tutor