TO celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day, a Warrnambool group is raising awareness about the need for equal representation in leadership positions in the community.
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The Warrnambool Day VIEW Club, with members from the city and district, will host a morning tea and lunch today for its 53 members as part of international celebrations to recognise the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Warrnambool Day VIEW (which stands for Voice, Interests and Education of Women) recently invited Warrnambool mayor Jacinta Ermacora to speak at a meeting to hear about her experiences as a mayor and the lack of female representation on local councils.
Club president Jan Sadler Sadler said it was important for women to continue to be inspired by the past plights and achievements of other women.
"We want to ensure that the next generation of women have every opportunity to become a leader in their community and that inequalities are not barriers for future generations to realise their potential," she said.
In 1911 more than one million women and men attended rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, to vote to be trained , to hold public office and end discrimination.
Today International Women's Day is a global day of celebration and thousands of events are held across the world to celebrate achievements and raise awareness of issues facing woman.
Part of The Smith Family, VIEW was established in 1960 as a women's social group which aslo aimed to help overcome social isolation and improve opportunities for women to have their say.
Today it is a national, self-governed women's organisation with 20,000 members in almost 400 communities.
IN Portland, a breakfast will kick off local celebrations to mark International Women's Day.
Twenty businesses and organisations have sponsored the event, which is free to women and starts at 7am in the Richmond Henty Hotel.
Those gathered will hear stories from Kay Antony and Jill Gallagher, two women who have made major contributions to Victoria's indigenous community.
Breakfast co-ordinator Ann Kirkham said the morning was a chance for women of all ages and backgrounds to recognise their peers.
"To hear two local guest speakers talk about their experiences and journeys and how they have overcome barriers to be where they are today will inspire women to become involved in their community," she said.
The Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service is hosting activities from 10.30am to 3.30pm today that celebrate the lives and achievements of local Aboriginal women.