It was a busy month in September. Just three short weeks after the Lifeline Gala Ball on the 30th of August, I attended the gala dinner for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter (HKWS), where the charity celebrated 10 years of providing vital assistance to women and children in our area.
The gala dinner was a booked-out event in Sergeants Mess in Mosman. Their guest speaker was Australian actress Mary Coustas, known for her stereotypical portrayal of a Greek woman with her character ‘Effie’.
Amidst the teased and lacquered hair, ‘Effie’ delivered a fabulously funny and yet touching tribute to the women in the room. In the face of such a serious cause, ‘Effie’ received a roaring applause and lit up the room.
I’ve always been pleased to attend special events across the community. It is important for me to not simply write about why others should support these events, but join in and make new friends and memories. It’s been a highlight of my journey with The Post.
Throughout recent months, I’ve been refocusing my career direction and have landed on a new exciting opportunity which I will share next month! It’s been great to have a break and spend time with family.
It’s truly inspiring to watch the face of Australian politics change like never before as we watch what’s left of the Liberal Party search desperately for relevance in this new paradigm. Equally, it’s been delightful to watch Nicolette Boele stepping effortlessly into the 48th parliament and her role as the Federal Member for Bradfield. It is wonderful to have a strong woman represent our community.
While Ms Boele attended the HKWS event on Friday night, it was disappointing that other local members were not seen. Although the event was a night of celebration, it is still sobering and important to remember that many in our own community are crying out for increased services and funding for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.
Even as crises unfold internationally, it is important to remember the old political adage “all politics is local”. I urge Julian Leeser and James Wallace to not forget that it is the people of Berowra and Hornsby who elected them as their local members. Community organisations such as the HKWS are critical to our area—we must do well to support them.
