Oh yes, I am wise
but it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
but look how much I've gained...I am woman
~I am Woman, lyrics by Helen Reddy

Sally-Anne Upton opens the day with 'I am woman'. Photo: Tara Moore.

As Sally-Anne Upton took to the stage outside the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (QVWC), it was clear that this day was a day for celebration, laughter and singing. Sally-Anne sang out for all women as part of International Women's Day Celebrations at QVWC on Wednesday, 8 March 2006.

Hundreds of women joined the activities, enjoying the music, dancing and entertainment, participating in women's health and wellbeing seminars, informing themselves about women's issues, and adding their hopes and dreams to the Trees of Aspirations.

At lunchtime, Level 4 of the Centre was a full house, packed in to hear International Women's Development

Over 130 women and supporters of Burmese women's rights came to hear IWDA Ambassador and Human Rights Advocate K'nyaw Paw speak about the plight of Burmese refugees. Photo: Tara Moore.

Agency (IWDA) Ambassador and Human Right Advocate K'nyaw Paw. K'nyaw Paw spoke passionately about her people, the Karen ethnic group from Burma, and about her experiences as a refugee working with the other women living in camps on the Thai-Burma border.

Women try core strengthening with fitness balls. Photo: Tara Moore.
 

After lunch, women joined in a range of seminars and workshops. CiCi Edwards showed women how to find their balance, using fitballs and core strengthening, while Judy Crowe's Laughter Therapy seminar was all giggles. Judy noted that laughter is extremely therapeutic, both psychologically and physically, but women tend to laugh less and less as they get older.

The day's events were made possible through the collaboration of a number of organisations housed at QVWC, including: the QVWC Trust, WIRE - Women's Information, YWCA Victoria, Emily's List, Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service, CASA House, BreaCan, Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition, Domestic Violence Victoria and URCOT.

Check out the IWD Photo Gallery .