Dear Mary's House Friend, Let's #PressforProgress for International Women's Day! International Women's day is a global day celebrating the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women. This year's theme, #PressforProgress, is a call to action to accelerate gender parity. International Women's Day has been celebrated since 1910, as a result of a proposal at the second international conference of working women in Copenhagen. The proposal was passed with unanimous approval by over 100 women from 17 countries. In 1913, the day was moved to March 8 and it has been celebrated continuously on March 8 since then. The United Nations adopted International Women's Day in 1975. So on this International Women's Day, we thought you might like to read up on what's been happening at Mary's House. With thanks to Lululemon, our women will be celebrating the day with some relaxing yoga sessions.
Autumn UpdateWe've now been open for 15 months and are pleased to report that in that time we've helped 20 women and their families with a save haven. This article gives some more information on what we've been up to since we opened.
Our LeaderMaggy Farago has held the role of Executive Officer for 6 months. Find out her first impression of Mary's House.
FarewellWe farewell one of our founding board members, Emma Rossi and acknowledge her dedication to Mary's House.
Mary's House FamilyWe are very privileged to have many members of the Mary's House family who offer support in a myriad of ways. Here are a few who helped us over the past few months and an upcoming fundraiser to which you are invited. Shed Clean out Bunnings are one of many organisations who offer us ongoing support. Over the Christmas period they donated some much needed storage cupboards for our shed. Our Lady of the Way parish youth group, under the leadership of Michael Paton, then spent a very hot couple of days in January installing the cupboards and cleaning up our shed. Many thanks to Bunnings and the Youth Group. Literary Lunch In February, Lumix Wealth hosted a Literary Lunch at the Northbridge Golf Club. Fiona Sussman, author of Shifting Colours, spoke to a room full of women (and a sole gentleman) about her life and how she came to be a writer. Raffle and lucky door prizes were donated by more members of our family: Two Good, Northbridge Quilters, Chanel and Zjoosh. It was a wonderful day. A big thank you to all involved. Movie Night Maxine Baudish is organising the third annual Mary's House movie night on Friday 15 June. This year all funds raised from the movie night will go towards purchasing "starter packs". When our residents move on to the next phase of their lives, Mary's House helps them to become established. A starter pack includes all the items needed for a kitchen, linen and other essentials. "The Bookshop" is set in a small town in 1959 England. It is the story of a woman who decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop, a decision which becomes a political minefield. Previous years have been a sell out so get in quickly! Our Extended FamilyTo provide our women with all they need, Mary's House needs the help of our "Extended Family". Here we introduce you to Mummies Paying it Forward.
Thanks to a special donorA big thank you to the many people and organisations who donate to Mary's House each year. We'd like to highlight one such donor. Annie is a year 6 student at St Philip Neri School. The Parents and Friends at St Philip Neri supported Mary's House through their Christmas party. After hearing about what Mary's House does, Annie decided that instead of presents for Christmas she wanted to receive money which she would then donate to us. As requested, all her family gave her money. You can see Annie here presenting the cheque to Maggy Farago, our executive officer and Richard Harpham, one of our board members.
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