We celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022. This global awareness day celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future.
Inspirational stories of women in our community
This International Women’s Day, we’re sharing the stories of 5 inspirational women in our community who have shown strength and resilience despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athena Katopodis – Business owner
Athena is President of the Maling Road Business Association and has been a business owner in Canterbury for 26 years. Athena proudly represents small business owners and managers in the Maling Road shopping strip, the majority of whom are women.
Su-Mi Hsu – Pastor
Su-Mi is a mother of 3 and a Pastor at the Rhema Chinese Christian Church of Melbourne. She is in charge of the children’s church, youth and family ministry. Su-Mi witnessed firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic made the everyday challenges people go through even harder.
Lee Tsourvakas – Young leader and disability advocate
Lee is a local student attending school in Boroondara. She is a disability advocate and a member of the Youth Disability Advocacy Services COVID-19 Advisory Group. In this group she has been involved in developing a report published in September 2021 titled ‘Disability in the time of COVID-19’. She also helped to start a podcast titled ‘Reasonable, Necessary and Essential’ in July/August 2021.
Alana Marsh – Emerging community leader
Alana is an emerging leader hailing from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who has lived in inner eastern Melbourne for over 17 years. Alana is a Wayapa Trainer and facilitator, delivering certified Wayapa Wuurrk Practitioner Training, focusing on system re-setting by aligning systems of knowing, being and doing (head, heart and hands) from a place of abundance, gratitude, joy and health.
Margaret Rogers – Boroondara Volunteer of the Year 2021
Margaret has taught Tai Chi in Boroondara for 26 years. She believes this gentle exercise is beneficial for people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. Margaret was also a member of the Camberwell Community Centre Management Committee for 21 years. She advocated for and supported the redevelopment of the Camberwell Community Centre in her position as President.
More information
For more information about these events, please email [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4898.