International Women’s Day was celebrated in style in Singleton on Friday, March 6 with an elegant garden party. The event was a wonderful success, and through its partnership with the event, the Local Buying Foundation sponsored school students from several of the local regional high schools to attend, giving them the opportunity to hear from inspirational guest speakers and network with the local business community.
The garden party was held at the breath-taking Sacred Spaces in Singleton with catering provided by students from Singleton High School.
The guest speakers were women from within the Singleton community who challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broarden perceptions and improve social situations every day.
Speakers included Renee McDonald, Program Manager, Girls Academy at Singleton High School who was also accompanied by some of her students who not only provided a special Welcome to Country but also bravely spoke about their personal experience with the Girls Academy and the impact the program has made on their lives.
Attendees also heard from Ngaire Baker who has an extensive career in mining with her current position as External Relations Manager at Mach Energy, Mt Pleasant. Ngaire was also a 2019 finalist for NSW Minerals Councils ‘Exceptional Women in Mining NSW’.
We also heard from locally raised Mary-Anne Holland who is Warrant Officer Class Two at the School of Infantry based in Singleton. Mary-Anne spoke about her desire to work in the military as a teenager and her travels around the world, leading teams of men and the challenges and change she has seen for women equality in the infantry over the years.
The event was attended by a number of our Singleton based suppliers as well as buyers and representatives of BHP’s Mount Arthur Coal.