Murray Bridge Soroptimist branch comes to an end

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After nearly 44 years of great service to the community, the Murray Bridge branch of Soroptimist International is winding down.

With just seven members left attending the monthly meetings, the branch could no longer fill spots within the committee.

The international group has over 90,000 members, who are trying to make a difference to the lives of women and girls.

Peggy Bennett, the most recent president, became involved with the branch in 1993.

Ms Bennett said she loved the groups enthusiasm to make changes within the community and their "go-getter" attitude.

Back when Ms Bennett was the Murray Bridge librarian, the Soroptimist advocated to keep the library up and running - this won Ms bennett over and she joined for herself.

"They didn't just talk about doing stuff, they actually did it."

One of their main projects has been the $2000 scholarship to help graduating students on the way to university.

Over the many years the scholarship has run students from Unity College to Mannum Community College have been the grateful recipients.

Unfortunately the scholarship will discontinue with the closing of the group, but it can be looked back on fondly by receiving students.

"We've got doctors, chemists, and scientist who we can say we gave a leg up," Ms Bennett said.

The branch also did several projects with the Murray Bridge hospital, including the garden in palliative care and hospital family rooms for the maternity ward.

"If families came from the Mallee, there was no where for them to go... so this was a way for the whole family to come and wait for the baby," Ms Bennett said.

The room was set up so the husband could do overnight stays, especially when coming from out of town.

Most of the fundraising for projects came from packing and selling wine to the community sourced from Langhorne Creek.

Past president and member Bronwyn Heard said their annual international women's day events was also highly celebrating in the community.

"That's actually what got the Murray Mallee wig library running," Ms Heard said.

The wig library was inspired by the team at Caroline Bristow wig library in Barmera, and the need for something similar in Murray Bridge was obvious.

Fortunately the wig library will be passed onto the community centre in which it currently runs out of on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Along with the wig library, the group also handed over some of their remaining funds to the community centre to keep the library going, she said

"All our funds were distributed, so we also had some money go to Catherine House and a project we've supported for quite some time, for a school in Cambodia," Ms heard said.

In 2021 the group celebrated their 40th birthday anniversary, with past and present members enjoying reminiscing on their time together.

Some other activities and projects include:

• Local school awards
• Workout equipment at Sturt Reserve
• Children's science magic show
• Single mothers and their children seminar
• Breakfast club at Fraser park
• Baby packs to new mothers
• Bridge along Lavender walking trail
• Support to the local women's shelter
• White ribbon day
• Community vigil for domestic violence
• KESAB road cleanup
• Support for young mothers completing secondary education
• Red Cross disaster team
• Women of Steel free screening at Cameo cinema

To say the members of the Soroptimist's in Murray Bridge have been busy in the last forty years is an understatement.

The community have greatly benefitted from their service and will be forever grateful for each contribution, activity, workshop or seminar.

"It's sad it's finished but those involved will still be involved and trying to do something within the community," Ms Heard said.