By Margaret Maccoll
Women Initiating New Directions Organisation (WINDO) launched its first Ladies Who Lunch series with guest speaker former Noosa Mayor candidate and community change agent Sandy Bolton.
Born out of Noosa’s first major event for International Women’s Day in 2017, WINDO offers women the chance to create connections and collaborate across the region.
Founder Jeanette Dal Santo told the gathering of about 50 women the not-for-profit organisation that began around her kitchen table was passionate about becoming an international example of a collaborative society and culture inclusive of women of all ages and from all walks of life.
She said it was important for women to hold functions to connect locally, share knowledge and keep their hearts open.
“Women need to see other women loving who they are and combining education, knowledge and heart,” she said.
Sandy Bolton spoke from her experiences which range from living on a million acre property in the Northern Territory to management consultancy.
Sandy said creating change required people to step outside current frameworks, look at tackling issues from multiple aspects and coming up with a different way.
She said not for profits needed to move away from relying on a charity model to a business model to be sustainable.
Sandy said the problem solving focus of business was often more effective in creating change.
An example of this she raised was the issue of clean drinking water in India which had been discussed at length by organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO).
After being taken up by a water purifying company, an inexpensive home water filter has been developed that removes viruses, bacteria, parasites and impurities to meet the US Environmental Protection Agency’s criteria for safe drinking water.
She stressed the need for people with ideas to speak up.
“The majority of people are like you- they want change but don’t know how or what to do,” she said.
For more information visit www.windowomen.org/
