THE FIRST in a series of events designed to empower Gippsland women will be held on Thursday.
The recently rebranded and reinvigorated Women in Gippsland group will host the first event in the “It’s Your Turn to Shine” series at the Red Fox Gallery Café in Drouin.
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The presentation will run from 09:30 until 11:30 and will cost $19.95 per person to attend.
Four local leaders, Baw Baw councillor Mikaela Power, Debbie Tyson, Ruth McGowan OAM and Prue Metcalfe will speak about their experiences and provide advice for those wishing to become a leader.
Mikaela Power is one of three Warragul ward representatives, the Chair of the West Gippsland Library Corporation Board and a member of the LaTrobe Catchment Landcare Network Board.
Debbie Tyson has formed a connection with local government through 11 years holding various positions.
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She is now the Manager of Statutory Planning, Building and Environmental Sustainability for the LaTrobe City Council.
Ruth McGowan is an agricultural scientist who has held several leadership roles in the community, including being a Baw Baw councillor and mayor. She has also been the vice president of the Victorian Local Government Association.
Ms McGowan was awarded an Order of Australia Medal last year for her efforts.
Prue Metcalfe is a horticulturalist who has worked in London with a leading landscape designer and is currently a member of Landscaping Victoria. She is also the West Gippsland representative for the Australian Open Garden Scheme (AOGS).
The AOGS is a corporation which opens local gardens to the public.
Baw Baw Shire Council’s Healthy Communities manager Kerry Irwin said encouraging women to become leaders would encourage equality between men and women and reduce violence against women.
“Research into the causes of men’s violence against women highlight that more gender equal communities have lower rates of men’s violence against women,” Ms Irwin said.
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Thanks Warragul Citizen. This is the first of a series, so I hope that people will be able to get along to a later event if they can’t get to this one. Just to let you know, I haven’t been a member of the Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network Board since 2013.