2023 EVENTS
Autumn Luncheon 2023
MWF members and guests gathered at Denmark House Friday, 5 May for our Autumn Luncheon to connect and hear Dr Gypsy O’Dea, Clinical Psychologist on The Royal Women’s Hospital Women’s Mental Health Service Team.
Dr O’Dea’s presentation provided valuable insights into the risk factors underpinning women’s mental health, how the increased number and depth of these factors can exacerbate a woman’s potential for mental health challenges and create barriers to accessing assistance, and the evidence-based, customised treatment plans ‘The Women’s’ deliver to address each woman’s situation.
The luncheon included the presentation of the Sue Beecher Memorial Award for outstanding leadership and contribution to MWF, which was awarded to MWF’s pro bono Executive Officer, Christine Darcas. Plus, thanks to the generous Wheelton family, all attendees received a copy of the book ‘Because She Can’ by Marina Brbot.
Our thanks to everyone who attended. Your contribution achieved a sell-out event with several new members signing up to our Giving Circle on the spot!
Next Gen – Australian Philanthropic Services Workshop
On March 22, several of the Melbourne Women’s Fund Next Gen cohort gathered for a workshop, generously presented by Australian Philanthropic Services at Macquarie Private Bank, to learn how to develop and deliver a well-constructed and documented philanthropic giving strategy.
The session empowered our Next Gens to connect, share and consider their individual values and understand how to link them to the ‘why, what and how’ of their personal giving in a structured way. The group came out feeling inspired, informed and excited. Our thanks to Australian Philanthropic Services for this special opportunity!
Generously hosted by Evans & Partners, our first in-person gathering for 2023—our ‘Welcome Back’ Morning Tea—took place on Friday, 24 February. Members and guests connected with people who share a concern for supporting our community while hearing Dewi Cooke, CEO of The Social Studio, discuss that organisation’s collaborative work with Aboriginal women in clothing design and production. The Social Studio has collaborated with several Aboriginal female textile artists to successfully launch their work as seen by garment examples with arts centres in Broome and Mt Isa.
Attendees also heard from Nina Fitzgerald—Co-Founder of Laundry Gallery and Director of Going North Agency—who zoomed in from Darwin to discuss her experiences in Indigenous art, clothing design and production.
Special thanks to Monique, Briana and Katrina of Evans & Partners, and our dear Jo, who made this event possible.
Melbourne Women’s Fund is a Charitable Fund Account of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation