International Women’s Day is on the 8th of March.
The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter is hosting an event on the 27th of February in honour of IWD. This year marks 10 years since the shelter has been operating in the community, providing refuge for women experiencing hardship and domestic abuse.
At the Pymble Golf Club in St Ives, HKWS is inviting the community to book tickets. All event proceeds directly support the work of HKWS.
Keynote speakers for the event will be Jess Hill and Annabelle Daniels OAM.
Award-winning journalist and Australian of the Year 2025 nominee, Jess has dedicated her career to investigating and documenting domestic violence. In 2020, her work “See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse” won the Stella Prize.
Annabelle Daniels OAM is the CEO of Women’s Community Shelters. She has been pivotal in establishing shelters across NSW, including in Hornsby, Forster, Castle Hill, Penrith, South Penrith, Bayside, Parramatta, Revesby, Camden, and Guildford.
The Master of Ceremonies is HKWS Ambassador, journalist, and sports broadcaster Nick McArdle.
‘It’s important for the community to come together and listen to powerful women’s voices,’ says Catherine Knox, CEO of HKWS. ‘Celebrating women but acknowledging the challenges.’
In previous years, HKWS’s IWD events have sold out, flooded with women and men in the community, championing the work of the not-for-profit.
‘Our whole community supports us,’ says Catherine. ‘It’s a lunch for everybody… it’s so important to recognise the men in our community who are our allies. They play a really important role.’
For more information about the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, visit hkws.org.au