Noosa women gathered for a special lunch organised by WomenKind Australia to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday 14 March at Waterfront Restaurant.
WomenKind Australia founder and president Josanne Falla said, “WomenKind was created here in Noosa several years ago to bring women together to share their stories, to connect and to be of service to other women.”
“On the back of a very special ball where nearly $300k was raised during Covid for counselling services in our shire, a committee of women joined forces to create a not for profit to see how we could be of further service to our community.
“Breakfasts, lunches and balls were run with the dream of creating a haven for women in need.
“We signed an MOU with the Salvos and continued to raise funds to fulfill our mission. However a safe car park for women has been secured and we are able to assist them complete this mission, giving women a secure space to sleep safely at night, to shower, wash their clothes and get much needed assistance.
“One woman last week slept her first night in six months, not afraid of being discovered sleeping in her car. We are so proud to have been of service.”
Josanne said they are now pivoting to something equally exciting to assist more local women in times of need.
“We can now offer legal assistance through our law partnership, of up to six hours free of charge, to any women moving out of domestic and family violence (DFV),” she said.
“And we will begin sprinkling ‘fairy dust ‘ through our community by way of gifts, grants and bursaries through existing service networks for women they have identified in need.
“WomenKind is pivoting to become an philanthropic charity to give to all our women and you’re all welcome to join in and be a part of it.
“We need women who have skills in marketing, fundraising, investment, events, and grants.
“Thank you once again to all our wonderful local women in business for donating prizes, our musos for sharing their gifts, and a particular big hug to our WomenKind team; Annie O’Connor, Joanne Mitchell, Emma Lilly, Narelle Cameron, Lea Taylor, Angela Fowler and Nikki Angcelucci. Also to Zanette Perinoni – who assisted us in helping two young girls hiding in Afghanistan. We are also extremely grateful to Di Henshall and Hive Financial for sponsoring the day.”
