Come to the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre at QV on March 8th and take part in International Women’s Day - the annual event recognised globally to celebrate the achievements and gains of women.

Join in the Kids in Convoy – Mums’ City Pram Stroll, or add your hopes to the Trees of Aspirations.

Cathy Freeman poses with QVWC's Trees of Aspirations in support of International Women's Day.

Photo credit: Fred Kroh

There will be free music and entertainment in QV Square, including Deborah Conway with Willy Zygier, Sally-Anne Upton,  laughter therapy, ethnic crafts, health and wellbeing seminars, international speakers, demonstrations, musicians and much more!

Housed in all that remains of the Queen Victoria Women’s Hospital, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre at QV is one of the most fitting places to celebrate International Women’s Day.Used today to provide a range of services to women by women, the site was originally home to the Queen Victoria Women's Hospital (established in the 1890s) and was Victoria’s first women’s hospital operated for women by women.

About International Women’s Day

created for QVWC by beci orpin

Endorsed by the United Nations and celebrated as a national holiday in many countries, International Women’s Day was born in 1909 when a group of American women declared National Women’s Day as part of their campaign for women’s suffrage. It gained greater momentum in 1911 following a factory fire in

New York City that killed more than 140 working girls - mostly Italian and Jewish immigrants. While various Women’s Days had been previously observed, outrage at the working conditions that caused the death of these women brought greater identification with International Women’s Day.

What's On

The Trees of Aspirations – March 8th 2006 

Come to QV for International Women’s Day and add your hopes to the Trees of Aspirations. A striking forest of white trees created by artist Karen Martin will be erected in the square at QV where women are invited to write down their special hopes and place them on the branches making a stunning collection of hopes, dreams and aspirations. Minister for Women’s Affairs Mary Delahunty will launch the Trees project, placing her aspiration alongside Victorian women’s. Cathy Freeman will also be placing her aspiration on the trees.

Kids in Convoy – Mums’ City Pram Stroll- March 8th 2006
Mums with prams are invited to take part in a walk from Melbourne Museum to QV. Strap your walking shoes on, secure the kids in the stroller and get moving for mothers! Meeting at Melbourne Museum, Children’s Museum at 9.30am.

International Women’s Day at QV
Join in activities from the Kids in Convoy – Mums’ City Pram Stroll, to adding your hopes to the branches of the Trees of Aspirations. There will be market stalls, laughter therapy, ethnic crafts, health and wellbeing seminars, international speakers, demonstrations, musicians and much more! The QVWC InfoHub, an online gateway for women’s resources and information will also launch on International Women’s Day.

MORE INFORMATION SOON TO COME--WATCH THIS SPACE!

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE and information about the image of Cathy Freeman with the Trees of Aspirations, here IWD Media Release FINAL-1 (PDF) 77.02 kB

For more information or to arrange an interview with Cheryl Teng of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, please contact:

Tamara DiMattina
Mobile: 0410 64 54 74
Email: tamara@handle.com.au