Over 1,000 women joined the organisations based at the Centre to participate in International Women's Day activities.

These included Women's Safety Seminars, a fundraising lunch for the Women Take Control Grant and the Note to Herself Community Art Project.

International Women's Day Fundraising Lunch - An Inspirational Story of Community Building

MC Tracy Bartram and guest speakers, Manar Chelebi and Sonya Davies (left to right) enjoyed interacting with the crowd at the International Women's Day Fundraising Lunch. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

Mix 101.1 FM's Tracy Bartram MC'd the funny and inspiring IWD Fundraising Lunch with guest speakers Sonya Davies and Manar Chelebi. Sonya and Manar shared their personal story of friendship and community and encouraged women to 'test drive their views' by making contact with those members of the community with whom they might not otherwise interact.

Sonya and Manar met almost two years ago, after Sonya was prompted to contact the Islamic Council of Victoria, in an effort to introduce her 9-year-old daughter to Muslim women. The prompt came when, after hearing an academic on the John Fain show state that his study had found that most Australian children in grade 3 believed Muslims were terrorists. Infuriated that this was yet another sensationalist media report and believing the statement to be untrue, Sonya asked her daughter, 'What do you think of Muslims?' The reply stunned her: 'We have to be careful, Mum, they want to bomb us'. Sonya could not believe that her own daughter held this unfounded view. She felt her family was open-minded and culturally aware, but somehow, her daughter believed something else.

Sonya determined that she would not allow her daughter to be ignorant of the Muslim community, so she contacted the Islamic Council of Victoria and met Manar Chelebi, a devout Muslim, mother, social activist and enterprising consultant. Since their meeting, Sonya and Manar have formed a deep friendship and have established the 'Reach Out, Don't Retreat Project', which brings women together over lunch, on a woman-to-woman basis, for open discussion to bridge communities. The first lunch welcomed 250 women, and a second will be held this May, with the support of QVWC and City of Melbourne. Stay tuned for details.

An update on the establishment of the Women Taking Control Grant by QVWC, Victorian Women's Trust and WIRE - Women's Information will be available soon.

Note to Herself - Women Share Their Deepest Thoughts

Close to 1,200 women contributed postcards to the Note to Herself Exhibition. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

Close to 1,200 women contributed their deepest secrets, thoughts and wants to the Note to Herself Community Art Project. Women's anonymous, postcard-sized artworks covered an amazing array of themes - from failed attempts to quit smoking to infidelity to the loss of a child - women opened up their hearts and artistically shared their secrets.

The Note to Herself Gallery, open for three weeks until 9 March, provided a serene space to look into other women's internal lives. The art installation framework, designed by architect Eugene Cheah of Eugene Cheah Architecture, created a flowing wall of 'viewing boxes' that held small groups of cards.

Women came together on International Women's Day to celebrate the exhibition they created. Visitors to the celebration were entertained by yummy jazz duo the Eclares, Comedian Nelly Thomas and MCs from Ladies Luv Hip Hop.

The International Women's Day celebration was a great chance to get together and share a laugh. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

Comedian Nelly Thomas had the crowd doubled over with wicked laughter at the International Women's Day celebration. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

One thousand people visited the Gallery, with many women inspired to make their own artwork on the spot in the 'Women's Art Space'. Gallery volunteers, many of whom also built the installation, welcomed visitors, helped women access art supplies, and made the exhibition possible.

Note to Herself was supported by City of Melbourne - Community Cultural Development Arts Grant program. Find out more about the project and the organisations involved. Or view the online Gallery.

Women's Safety Seminars

QVWC, with the support of City of Melbourne - City Safety Grants, hosted a series of seminars aimed at helping women to enjoy the city more safely.

The first of the seminars, Fight Like a Girl - Women's Self Defence, was extremely popular. Seventy-five women attended the two FLAG seminars, led by instructor Adori Bubble, Australia's only certified, female Tactical Krav Maga instructor. Adori's three-hour workshop introduced women to basic self-defence, including tactics such as verbal distancing and basic blocks. Fight Like a Girl was so popular, we will be offering two more workshops for international students in May and June this year. See the story below to find out more.

Victorian Women with a Disability Network (VWDN), Vision Australia and Travellers' Aid teamed up to present 'Accessing the City Safely'. The seminar provided helpful tips to improve city access and enjoyment for women with sensory or mobility impairment. VWDN Coordinator Tricia Malowney said, 'The seminar was really friendly and welcoming. As well as talking about planning to ensure their safe access to the City, women were able to ask questions about things such as accessing public transport and locating disabled toilet facilities. They also found out which city restaurants and bars are wheelchair accessible, which means they can take advantage of Melbourne's great food culture!'

At the seminar for International Students, Victoria Police Crime Prevetion Officer Melanie Apps gave women vital, basic safety information, such as knowing to dial 000 in case of emergency. Students also got a chance to ask questions about going out, what to expect at pubs and clubs and how best to get home after dark.

The five seminars, offered as part of International Women's Day Celebrations, provided women with important safety information in a friendly, welcoming environment.