Women’s Week celebrations are set to kick off right across the Western Plains Region thanks to a significant injection of NSW Government funding. 

The Cobar Shire Council, Coonamble Evening Branch CWA and the Narromine CWA branch have all received up to $5,000 in grants to host their women’s week celebrations that are aimed at empowering and inspiring country women. 

In Cobar, a jam packed program for their ‘Week of Women’ event includes exercise classes, morning tea, meditation and networking events throughout the entire week from 6 March to 11 March. 

On Friday 10 March, a special “celebrating women” evening will be held at the Cobar Youth and Community Centre from 6:30pm, where a line-up of inspiring guest speakers are booked to speak and mingle with local women. 

Sig Peters of The Pink Galah will emcee on the night, while advocate for diversity in leadership, Angela Elliot, along with Sam Longmore of OhhBulldust and Health, Safety, Environment and Training Consultant, Tanya Gilbert.

The Coonamble Evening Branch CWA are also hosting a Women’s Week event, with a ‘Home Grown Brunch’ designed to empower mums and carers in their region. 

“As a rural woman with young children I know what it’s like to suddenly feel like you don’t have a voice, to be overlooked in terms of access to appropriate facilities, services and events,” said CWA Coonamble branch member, Sharon Single. 

“Home Grown aims to champion rural and remote mothers through local community action,” she said.

The event will include children’s entertainment so mothers are free to fully participate, a delicious morning tea and an address by guest speaker Claire Booth. 

“Claire is from Guerie, she’s an ex Nuffield Scholar, she’s a mum of two kids, a specialist in succession planning and an entrepreneur, so I asked her to come speak and she’s really happy to.”

Mrs Single says the event won’t just be a talk-fest however.

“Morning tea will be followed with a panel of various people from the Shire and from different community groups who will be asking young mothers how they can help empower them to contribute to their community,” she explained. 

“This discussion will then be made up into a report that we can use for future funding opportunities and for evidence for community organisations when they’re looking for new activities to do.”

The Home Grown Morning Tea will be held Saturday 11th March from 10am at the Coonamble Golf Club. 

Narromine CWA branch were also successful in securing funding for Women’s Week, with a centenary celebration planned for the 10 March. 

The branch is hosting an evening event with special guest speakers and a panel of professional country women including 2019 NSW Business Woman of the Year, Leanne Heywood, long term health advocate, Margie Fenwick, and Agronomist, Keiley Noble. 

Guest speakers will include Felicity Roberts who’s a prominent pharmacist in Narromine, CWA of NSW State President Joy Beames and Narromine CWA President Jean Richardson.

“We were just really pleased to be able to get that grant because it means the event is free to those who are coming and we’re expecting about 100 people to come and help us celebrate the achievements of country women,” said Narromine CWA member, Sharon Bonthuis.

The NSW Women’s Week Grants Program provided grants of $3,000 to $5,000 for events that support at least one of the key priorities of the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026. These include improving women’s economic opportunities, health and wellbeing, and participation in community. 

“We are celebrating women from all walks of life and I’m absolutely delighted that the schedule of events reflects the creativity and diversity of women across metro and regional NSW,” said Minister for Women, Bronnie Taylor.