Proud moment as women open centre

Beagle Bay women’s group, a vital and core part of the community, has celebrated the opening of its newlyrefurbished women’s centre.

Incorporated last year, the group is now able to apply for funding.

Plans include a catering enterprise, an op-shop, an art and craft program, providing meeting and conference facilities, equipment hire and functions.

Around 100 people attended the opening last Tuesday, ahead of a visit this week from Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin, during which the women will present their building and their strategic plan.

The group’s co-ordinator Kathleen Cox said the women would be proud during that visit to present their building and their strategic plan.

“This women’s group is central to the community – people and governments come and go, but the women are always here. We’ve been meeting for a long time,” she said.

“The most important thing is this strategic plan. We’ve been working on it for a long time, and it has been created by the women.

“There is a sense of ownership and commitment to a shared vision about how we want to go into the future, and fitting in with our families and our community’s lives.”

Chairwoman Monica Stumpagee said the group now had a more efficient building.

“For too long the Beagle Bay Community has been without these facilities.

We are determined to make this successful. We are a bunch of women who care about the future of our children and our community,” she said.