More than a celebration: What women and volunteers mean to our community

Last week we marked 115 years of International Women’s Day (IWD), a global event celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

The Gunnedah Shire is full of smart, hardworking, community-minded women of all ages who work across a wide variety of industries from agriculture to health, customer service, trades, childcare and local government. And let’s not forget the stay-at-home mums who are quietly serving within the walls of their own homes.

Almost 50 per cent of council’s workforce is women and there are seven women in management roles. Council also has its first majority female councillor team. This is something I am proud of, and I encourage more women to look into what they can achieve through, and what they can offer to local government.

There are also many women in the shire who own and operate their own businesses. One of these women is Taylah Hudson who was the guest speaker at an IWD morning tea I hosted last week.

Taylah highlighted the challenges of being a wife, a mother, and running her own business. I’m sure many women can relate to this, and I thank the women who juggle the endless tasks that life and work bring every day.

Women also play a significant role when it comes to volunteering. As we all know, organisations thrive only because people are willing to put their hands up and help in so many ways. I would like to sincerely thank those who pave the way for our young people to participate, grow and achieve.

With the incredible support of their families and the many people who give their time and energy, many of our youth are achieving major recognition at regional, state, national and even international levels. These achievements reflect not only talent, but also dedication, teamwork and strong community support. We are so proud of everything our young people are accomplishing in their chosen activities, and of their continued passion to represent Gunnedah Shire on these major stages.

I am also honoured to watch our youth step out with confidence at debutante balls, including the Rotary Club of Gunnedah West’s 49th Debutante Ball and the Combined Catholic Debutante Ball.

These occasions celebrate our young people as they grow in confidence, strengthen their connection with the community, and raise much needed funds. Once again, these opportunities would not be possible without the many hands working tirelessly behind the scenes.

To all our young people — whether in sport, community, or personal achievement — keep giving 100 per cent, take pride in representing the shire, and always remember to thank those who have helped you get there.

Our community events also continue to thrive because of this same dedication, including the Gunnedah Show, which is coming up in a month’s time. The show is a massive undertaking and would simply not go ahead without the hard working members of the Gunnedah Show Society who put countless hours into preparing the grounds, running activities and packing up afterwards to deliver a truly family friendly event for our community. The society is now calling for entries across a wide range of competitions, and I encourage everyone to get involved and support this iconic event.

Another highlight made possible through community effort is the Gunnedah Weeks of Speed. It is fantastic to welcome visitors to town and showcase our local spirit and thanks goes to the Weeks of Speed Committee and everyone involved in bringing these events to life.

There are so many things happening in the shire and volunteers are essential to keep them running, so if you have some time to spare, I urge you to ask how you can help, because it all makes a big difference.