DHCS > Women > IWD-Calendar of Events

Turtle Dreaming by Belinda McDowell

International Women’s Day 2009

Recognised by the United Nations in 1975, International Women's Day (IWD) is held each year on March 8 around the globe. IWD provides an opportunity to celebrate the incredible diversity and creativity of women and to highlight the contribution they make within our community. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the gains women have made over the years and to focus on the issues that women still face.

See below for a list of activities to celebrate IWD in Canberra

IWD Calendar of Events Booklet

Each year an IWD Calendar of Events booklet is produced by the Women’s Information and Referral Centre and the ACT Office for Women. You can download the booklet or contact the ACT Office for Women on 02 6205 0515 to order copies. The art work featured in the 2009 IWD Calendar of Events is ‘Turtle Dreaming’ by Belinda McDowell, a young Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta women from Cowra in the Central West of NSW. Belinda won the Inaugural Foundation for Youth Indigenous Art Award at the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2007, and is represented in the collection of national Museum of Australia, the Canberra institute of Technology, and numerous provide collections.

IWD Calendar of Events Booklet 785kb

IWD 2009 Themes

UNIFEM Australia has chosen the theme 'Unite to End Violence Against Women'

In Canberra, the 2009 International Women's Day theme is “Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women” linking with the International Year of Reconciliation.

We would like to thank all contributors, and wish all women a very happy International Women’s Day.

What’s on in Canberra?

Monday 23 February
From Local to Global: Using the UN to achieve local change for women
The YWCA is running a one day workshop for community workers on the United Nations (UN), Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and Children (CEDAW).The workshop aims to strengthen understanding of the UN CEDAW; provide an update on government policy agendas for women’s human rights and add your issues into the Non Government Organisations Report to the UN on Australia’s implementation of CEDAW.

Location: Workwatch Training Centre, Level 1, 189 Flemington St, Mitchell
Time: 10am – 5pm
Cost: Nil
Booking: Registration form available
Contact: Heather on 6230 5150; email: natoffice@ywca.org.au; fax: 6230 5156

Tuesday 24 February
Bureaucrats and Bleeding Hearts: Indigenous Health in Northern Australia - Forum
Associate Professor Tess Lea is a Darwin born academic and anthropologist with a long standing interest in the ways in which social service bureaucracies help and also hinder the people they are meant to serve. Her book “Bureaucrats and Bleeding Hearts” is a close examination of the culture of public health professionals in Territory Health Services. This forum is organised by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and is for members only.

Location: Smiths Alternative Bookshop
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm – 7pm
Cost: Nil
Contact: Alison Rahill on 6220 9630; email: alison.rahill@cpsu.org.au

Tuesday 24 February
ACTU Women’s Breakfast Forum
This forum is for all women who want to contribute to achieving paid maternity leave, an end to sex discrimination, secure, high quality child care, a focus on jobs for women and work/life balance. Prominent speakers will be addressing the audience in relation to: Paid Maternity Leave, Pay Equity, the Sex Discrimination Act, ABC Learning Centres, and the Fair Work Bill.

Location: The Mural Room, Parliament House, Capital Circuit, Canberra
Time: 7.30am – 10.30am
Cost: $40.00
Contact: Debbie Gower ph: 03 8676 7263; email: dgower@actu.asn.au

Thursday 26 February
Jessie Street National Women’s Library Talk
Life at Government House and Beyond
Wendy Button, MVO, served five Governors-General from 1987 until 2008. She is currently working as Personal Assistant to former Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery. Come and hear first hand Wendy’s story and insights into her years at Government House. Tea, coffee and light refreshments are available.

Location: Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly
Time: 12.15pm for a 12.30pm start
Cost: Small note donation
Booking: Please RSVP
Contact: Janet on 0448 348 559; email: jsnwlcanberra@yahoo.com.au

Tuesday 3 March
Morning Tea, Talk and Art Exhibition – Ocean to Outback
Canberra Museum and Gallery and Harriet Elvin, CEO for the Cultural Facilities Corporation, will host a morning tea for International Women's Day.
It will be followed by a walk through the exhibition Ocean to outback: Australian landscape painting 1850-1950 given by Deborah Clark, Curator of Visual Arts, ACT Museums and Galleries.

Location: Canberra Museum and Gallery
Time: 10.30am
Cost: $15
Booking: Not Required
Contact: Deborah Clark Ph: 7207 2174
Email: deborah.clark@act.gov.au

Tuesday 3 March
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) - Lunch and Launch of Women’s Survey
Host: Nadine Flood, Deputy National Secretary
Dr Kristin van Barneveld, CPSU Director of Policy Research, will reveal results of the CPSU Women’s Survey and discuss the importance of women and leadership. Non members welcome.

Location: Ostratos Greek Taverna, 9 Lonsdale Street Braddon
Time: 12:15pm for 12:30 – 1:30pm
Cost: Includes banquet lunch and ‘Union women making history’ t-shirt $15 members / $45 non-members
Contact: Alison Rahill on 6220 9630; email: alison.rahill@cpsu.org.au

Wednesday 4 March – Wednesday 31 March
“Women’s Journey” Art Exhibition
ACT Indigenous Textile and Artists Group in collaboration with the
ACT Office for Women is hosting an art exhibition 'Women's Journeys', incorporating the spiritual as well as experiential.

Location: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre
Time: All day, 9am – 5pm
Opening: Wednesday 4 March at 6 pm. All welcome.
Cost: Nil
Contact: RSVP the Office for Women on 6205 0515 for catering purposes.

Wednesday 4 March
Gendered Language Style
Women’s Information & Referral Centre and the Office for Women are hosting a lunchtime information to explore “How gendered is our language?”

Michele Quirk B.A. Dip Ed, M.Ed, A. Mus.A has made a study of the different ways in which males and females use language. The characteristics of speech styles of men and women in interactions are important because effective communication is fundamental to social well-being and success in the workplace.

Bring your lunch, coffee and tea will be supplied

Location: Women’s Information and Referral Centre, Ground Floor, 13 London Circuit Canberra
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Cost: Nil
Booking: Please RSVP, limited spaces
Contact: Women’s Information and Referral Centre on 6205 1075; email: wirc@act.gov.au

Wednesday 4 March
Centacare International Women’s Day Barbeque
Centacare Canberra / Goulburn are hosting a barbeque for their staff to celebrate the contribution of women to Centacare. For Centacare staff only and not open to the public.

Location: Centacare Red Hill Office
Time: 12 noon onwards
Cost: Nil
Contact: Neil Harrigan on 6295 4304; email: neil.harrigan@centacare-canberra.org

Wednesday 4 March
Card Making Afternoon
The Mental Health Foundation invites women to a card making afternoon, to make cards celebrating women. The cards will be sent to the women they were made for, with a positive mental health message.

Location: The Rainbow, Canberra Technology Park, Phillip Avenue, Watson
Time: 2pm
Cost: $5.00
Booking: Booking required
Contact: Mary Gays on: 6230 7629; email: mary.gays@mhf.org.au

Wednesday 4 March
Pamela Denoon Lecture
The Accidental Feminist – When Lived Experience Collides with the Myth of a Post-Feminist World
Many of us born after the successes of the 1970s women’s liberation movement were raised to think of ourselves as ‘people not genders’. We grew up believing that being female would not affect our opportunities or choices.

Emily Maguire is the author of The Gospel According to Luke, Taming the Beast, Princesses and Porn Stars: Sex, Power and Identity. Her articles and essays on sex, religion, culture and literature have been widely published including in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Griffith Review, The Observer and the Age. Refreshments will follow the lecture.

Location: Theatre 1, Manning Clark Centre, Australian National University
Time: 8pm - 9pm
Cost: Gold coin donation
Contact: Gillian on 0404 190 975; email: info@pameladenoonlecture.net

Wednesday 4 March
St Vincent De Paul Society - Talk and Supper
Helen Moran, Indigenous Co-Chair of the National Sorry Day Committee will give a talk and presentation followed by supper.

Location: Corinna Room, Southern Cross Club
Time: 7pm for 7.30pm start
Cost: Gold coin donation
Bookings: Please RSVP
Contact: Liz Rothe on 6282 2722; email: liz.roth@stvincanb.com.au

Thursday 5 March
9th UNIFEM Canberra IWD Lunch
MC: Virginia Hausegger, Canberra ABC News presenter.
Fozilitun Nessa – Acid attack victim and board member, Bangladeshi Acid Survivors’ Foundation. In 2007 over 187 people suffered acid attacks, the majority of whom were women, often under the age of 18. Fozilitun is determined to bring these women out of the shadows and help give them hope for the future. All funds raised by the lunch will go towards this project.

Location: National Convention Centre, Constitution Ave, Canberra
Time: 12:30pm – 2pm seating from 11:30am
Cost: Early bird $60 Full $65 Student concessions available; Table of 10 and corporate table bookings available.
Bookings: Pre-Purchased ticket required. Online registration form http://www.abcon.biz/unifem09.htm
Contact: Phone: 6288 3998; email: unifem@onqconferences.com.au

Thursday 5 March
Toora Women Picnic and BBQ
Celebrate International Women’s Day with lots of fun activities and delicious BBQ food. All women and children welcome.

Location: Glebe Park
Time: 11am – 3.30pm
Cost: Nil
Booking: Not required
Contact: Tess Rogel on 61227000; email: adminsupport@toora.org.au

Friday 6 March
Soroptimist International Breakfast with Speaker
Soroptimist International ACT is holding a breakfast to celebrate IWD. Meredith Hunter MLA is the guest speaker and all proceeds from the breakfast will go to Toora Women Inc.

Location: St James Church, 40 Gillies St, Curtin
Date: Friday 6 March
Time: 7am – 8.30am
Cost: $15
Bookings: Booking is required
Contact: Jane Shelling on 6215 9809 (H) 6282 1158 (W); email: jane.shelling@adca.org.au

Saturday 7 March
Preloved Designer & Vintage Women’s Clothing Sale
Shopping with Zonta Club Canberra Breakfast (ZCCB)
ZCCB is holding a clothing sale to raise funds for their New Horizons Education Awards. The $1000 awards are designed to assist local women, who didn’t get a chance the first time round – to study, obtain a qualification and improve their life chances. In 2009 the award will be offered to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island woman.

Donations of quality, clean, current and vintage women’s smart, casual and business clothing and accessories (no shoes) welcome.
EFTPOS, coffee and cake are available.

Location: ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre, 245 Lady Denman Drive, Yarramundi Reach
Time: 9am – 12noon
Cost: Nil
Contact: Phone: 0423 823 892 or 0410 517 005; email: canberrabreakfast@zontadistrict24.org

Tuesday 10 March
Women’s Services Network Lunch
Celebrate International Women’s Day and reflect on the amazing work we all do each day.

Location: Regatta Point
Time: 1pm—2pm
Cost: Nil. Food and drinks supplied.
Booking: RSVP for catering purposes.
Contact: Email the Coordinator, Women’s Legal Centre on coordinator@womenslegalact.org

Tuesday 10 March
“Heru Ini Lafu: Weaving Life” Movie Screening and Talk
The East Timor Women Australia are screening a movie screening and hosting a talk by Fernanda Borges, leading East Timorese politician and the only female party leader in the National Parliament, who will speak about the critical role played by women in the struggle for independence, as well in cultural regeneration and national development.

The talk is followed by a screening of the documentary film:
Heru Ini Lafu: Weaving Life, journeys into rural communities and highlights women’s contributions to the independence struggle and celebrates their critical role in cultural regeneration and national development.

Location: Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Cost: Small donation (optional)
Booking: Not required
Contact: Maryanne McKay on 0411 022 657; email: maryanne.mckay@gmail.com

Wednesday 11 March
The Pan Pacific and South East Asian Women’s Association Luncheon with Speaker
The Pan Pacific and South East Asian Women’s invites you to attend a luncheon with guest speaker Julianne Cowely, Australian Board Member of the Ayui Foundation, a non-denominational not-for-profit hostel in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The Ayui Foundation runs a hostel for Akha hilltribe young people, providing educational opportunities as a way to break the entrenched poverty. All proceeds will support the Baan Ayui Hostel.

Location: Southern Cross Yacht Club, Lotus Bay, Yarralumla
Time: 12noon – 2pm
Cost: $40 All proceeds to the Ayui Foundation
Bookings: By 4 March. Online registration form available at http://www.ppseawa.org.au
Contact: Coral Fleming on 6286 5435 or Noelle Leonard on 6239 5240; email: coraljf@grapevine.net.au

Wednesday 11, 18 & 25 March, 5.30 – 8.30pm
Indigenous Women’s Film Festival: Women of the Sun
Canberra Museum and Gallery in partnership with the ACT Office for Women presents Women of the Sun. A remarkable four-part drama series, made in 1981, tells the story of four Aboriginal women. The series had a tremendous impact, bringing the story of Aboriginal women – in their own language – to a national audience for the first time.

Location: Canberra Museum and Gallery
Dates and Times:
Wednesday 11 March, 5.30 - 8.30pm
Alinta: The Flame (Episode 1) + Maydina: The Shadow (Episode 2)

Wednesday 18 March, 5.30 – 8.30pm
Nerida Anderson (Episode 3) + Lo-Arna (Episode 4)

Wednesday 25 March, 5.30 – 8.30pm
Women of the Sun: 25 Years Later
Cost: Cost: Free, includes after-work refreshments
Booking: RSVP: for catering purposes
Contact: Canberra Museum and Gallery Theatrette on 6207 3968

Thursday 19 March
Public Trustee for the ACT Seminar
This seminar will focus on the importance of having an up to date Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. All women attending will be eligible for a free Will. The seminar will be held in sync with our Seniors Week Seminar. Morning tea will be provided.

Location: Aegean Room, Hellenic Club Phillip
Time: 9:30am – 12noon
Cost: Nil – no booking required
Contact: Andrew Taylor on 6207 9816; email: andrew.taylor@act.gov.au

Sunday 21 March
Muslim Women’s Welfare Association ACT - Women’s Dinner
The Muslim Women’s Welfare Association ACT is hosting a women’s dinner. All women are welcome and are encouraged to bring music from their country or culture. Please bring a non-alcoholic drink and plate to share. (No pork products please).

Location: Canberra Islamic Centre, Clive Steel Drive, Monash
Time: 7.30pm for 8pm
Cost: Gold coin donation - Bookings not required
Contact: Zuraida Shelmerdine on 0424 288 722; email: zuraidashelm@gmail.com

Women's Directory

Services and
Support for Women

Take our Survey

Have your say

Take a Survey

Women's Register

Community Calendar

Community Calendar
for Women