Soroptimists fight the good fight on International Women’s Day

An afternoon tea has given Murray Bridge women an opportunity to reflect on pioneering women of the past, present and future.

Soroptimists fight the good fight on International Women’s Day

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Cathy Smith, Carol Bath and Helen Mattick celebrate International Women’s Day on March 7. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Members of a Murray Bridge service club have celebrated one of the most important days on their calendar with an afternoon tea at the Square Community Centre.

International Women’s Day coincides neatly with the purpose of Soroptimist International Murray Bridge, a global movement by and for women and girls.

Haven coordinator Helen Mattick, whose job at the Edwards Square centre revolves around helping local women, said the day gave an important opportunity to reflect.

“For me, International Women’s Day is about the amazing women who have come before us and fought hard for the privileges we have, but it’s also about understanding the fights to come are equally as important,” she said.

“We’ve got to get up for the women to come, because their fights are going to be just as important and equal to ours.”

In keeping with the 2024 theme, “inspire inclusion”, Soroptimist Carol Bath noted that important fights were still being fought for women and girls around the world.

She hoped those present would come away with an understanding that not everyone was as privileged as women living here in the Murraylands.

Not all were free of burdens like genital mutilation or childhood marriage.

The afternoon tea was to have been one of two International Women’s Day events in Murray Bridge, but the other one – a celebration of remarkable local women at the Round House – had to be postponed until April 19.

It was still a busy day for the Soroptimists, though.

They awarded their annual scholarship that evening.