On Sunday, 27 May, 120 women gathered at Melbourne Town Hall to share a meal and a conversation to build community understanding.

The Reach Out, Don’t Retreat Women’s Lunch challenged women to ‘test drive their views’ by leaving their assumptions at the door and interacting, woman-to-woman.

Participants were encouraged to share their personal stories, their hopes and fears, and their vision for the community.

The day began with talks from Manar Chelebi and Sonya Davies. Sonya and Manar shared their very personal story of friendship and how their families have come to know each other and to realise that, although one family is Muslim and the other is not, they're really not so different.

Both Sonya and Manar own their own businesses, they each have children of a similar age, they both have exceptionally packed daily schedules and they love a good laugh and a well-made coffee. 'It’s not until you put yourself out there and actually talk to other women, no matter what their background, that you realise we all have so much in common’, said event co-host Sonya Davies. ‘And that’s what “Reach Out” is all about.’

Participants at the lunch said:

'Thank you for a great day. You gave me the chance to meet beautiful women'.

'Women were a lot more open than I thought. There are many different women wanting to be involved in Australia's way of life'.

'This event reinforced my understanding of diversity amongst Muslim women'.

'[I attended because] I have a desire to connect with other women across different cultures and I am angered with women's treatment by our government and culture'.

At the close of the lunch, participants were asked to make a commitment to themselves to go out into their local community over the next four months and make a connection to women with whom they would not normally come into contact. This connection could be anything - from a cup of tea with a neighbour not usually spoken to or a major event with hundreds of women.

Each participant wrote herself a 'red letter' outlining her commitment. In four months time, the letter will arrive in her postbox. This 'red letter day' will serve as a reminder of that commitment and will offer a chance to reflect on the community connections made.

The Reach Out, Don't Retreat Women's lunch was made possible with the support of City of Melbourne. We hope to take the Reach Out message across Victoria, encouraging women to reach beyond their usual networks and build community connections.

Check out the Shilling Fund's exciting new look and find out how you can support the Centre.

Download the new Shilling Fund brochure (PDF) 733.58 kB.

Find out more about how you can support the work of the Centre through the Shilling Fund.

There are many events for you to get involved in at the Centre in June.

Check out our online Calendar of Events.

QVWC has recently expanded our InfoHub to connect you to online information, resources and support about positive body image.

Secondary school students learn about digitial photographic manipulation at the 'Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Forum' at QVWC on 26 April 2007. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

Our 'Positive Body Image' section of InfoHub aims to connect you to trustworthy, relevant resources about topics such as:

• self esteem

• body image

• eating disorders and treatment programs

• tips for how to feel good about who you are

• programs that can help if you have negative body image

• information for parents

• information for women 30+

• information for young women

• how the media create unrealistic beauty ideals

• how media images are digitally altered to create impossible images of beauty.

All of the online resources linked to from our Positive Body Image pages have been checked and recommended by experts working in the fields of body image, eating disorders, women's health, psychology and media. Find out more about our expert panel.

A huge thank you to our project intern, Rachel Browne. Rachel helped source these websites, liaise with our expert panel and upload the resources so that you will have easy, reliable access about this very important issue. Thanks, Rachel!

Learn about Positive Body Image and other vital women's issues, such as Work Family Balance, on our InfoHub. Check it out!

Are you a currently enroled tertiary or TAFE student? Are you female? Want to learn the self defence method used by Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Jennifer Lopez?

Instructor Adori Bubble leads Fight Like a Girl.

Then join us for a FREE Fight Like a Girl Workshop - Thursday, 7 June; 6.00 to 9.00 pm.

Join Australia's only certified, female Tactical Krav Maga instructor, Adori Bubble, for a 3-hour intensive workshop on Tactical Krav Maga basics. Victoria Police Crime Prevention will also be on hand
to provide helpful safety tips and answer your questions about safety in the city.

Don't miss out! Contact us and book your space today!

This event proudly supported by City of Melbourne.

A friendly reminder that we are updating our database. We want to keep you informed about the many exciting happenings at your women's centre.

If you haven't already, update your details today!

Hold your private function at QVWC before 30 June 2007 and take advantage of our upgraded conference facilities and End of Financial Year Room Hire Special!

The Atrium, Level 5, offers fantastic views of the CBD in a light-filled setting.

Have an important birthday coming up?

Looking for a special place to celebrate your anniversary?

The Atrium at Queen Victoria Women's Centre offers fantastic city views, a light-filled room, rooftop terrace and foyer. Plan your next private function for this very special CBD location.

Be among the first to use our state-of-the-art, upgraded facilities, including brand new audio/visual equipment, data projectors, laptops and DVD.

We're very excited about the capital works being undertaken over the next month to make our conference and meeting room facilities the best for you!

Contact us today to take advantage of this special offer. Ask to speak with Larissa Staszko.

NB: The discount is available for private functions only, and functions must be held before 30 June 2007 to receive the $300 discount. Organisational or business related functions are not eligible for the discount.

Over recent months, Queen Victoria Women's Centre has been pleased to welcome new Trustees.

Catherine Brown, Chair

Catherine is Deputy Chair of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, a Director of Barkindji Biosphere and a former Chair of ACROD Victoria. She has consulted in philanthropy and not-for-profit governance for a range of organisations including the Myer Foundation, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, the Australian Association of Principals Professional Development Council, the United Nations University, Reconciliation Victoria and ANZ Trustees.

Catherine is also the former CEO of the Brain Foundation and the Jean Hailes Foundation, Director of Legal and Public Relations with Wesley Mission Melbourne, and Solicitor and Government Relations Manager with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Victoria. Prior to this, she was in private legal practice in London and Melbourne.

Laurie Bebbington

Laurie commenced her career as the inaugural National Women’s Officer for the Australian Union of Students in 1975, the International Women’s Year. She subsequently became a researcher and adviser to Senator Gareth Evans and then an industrial officer for the Australian Social Welfare Union, before joining the Victorian Department of Labour in 1984. She has spent the last two decades of her career in the Victorian government in both central and line agencies, in the industrial/employee relations and OH&S arena and more recently in mental health and drug and alcohol operational and key change management roles within the Department of Human Services. In 2006, she was appointed the Commissioner for Law Enforcement Data Security (CLEDS).

Laurie's substantial management experience covers financial and asset management, IT and operations and leadership of major change processes.

Michelle Beveridge

Michelle is a seasoned ICT professional with a strong strategic focus, a track record of delivery and high level skills in change management. As a result she has recently been appointed as Chief Information Officer for IDP Education Pty Ltd - a global company offering student recruiting and testing services around the globe. IDP is part-owned by 38 prestigious universities in Australia and represents all education sectors. Michelle holds an MBA qualification from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and is a Certified Practising Accountant and acts as Treasurer of the Victorian ICT for Women Network.

Tamara Brezzi

Setting high standards of excellence and achieving them with integrity and a keen empathy for her client’s commercial position are some of the hallmarks of Tamara’s approach to practice. A qualified town planner, relaxed and personable, Tamara is passionate about her chosen field of expertise. She takes the view that failure is not an option and that the best results often emerge from creative solutions.

Tamara practises in all aspects of planning law including major project developments, commercial and residential planning projects and local government work. She has appeared in planning appeals at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and planning scheme amendments at Planning Panels Victoria.

Janet Wood

Janet was educated at Ballarat High School and Melbourne University, with degrees in arts, education and theology. She has worked in education, administration and, until retirement in January 2006, was a Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal and the Migration Review Tribunal. She has lived in the USA, and three Australian states.

Janet has served in a voluntary capacity to undertake advocacy and other activities in areas involving Indigenous people, migrants and refugees within Australia. Included in this work was membership of the Multicultural Commission of S.A., of the ATSIC Committee for the International Year of Indigenous Peoples and chairing the Australian Council of Churches Committee on Migration and Refugees. Associated interests led to work in the area of overseas aid, including holding office in the UNAA and the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. Janet has also chaired Lifeline Canberra and was a member of Lifeline’s National Board.