Saturday January 20 - Tropicana Trivia at IRT The PalmsSaturday March 9 - International Women’s Day Breakfast at Headland Golf Club- Saturday April 13 - Morning tea at Twin Waters Golf Club
- Saturday May 11 - Breakfast at Headland Golf Club
- Saturday July 13 - Bursary Brunch at University of Sunshine Coast
- Saturday September 14 - AGM, General Meeting and lunch at Twin Waters Golf Club
- Saturday November 9 - Breakfast at Headland Golf Club
- Saturday December 14 - Christmas Lunch at Twin Waters Golf Club
International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2024
Was held Saturday March 9th - Headland Golf Club
Rosanna Natoli
The Guest Speaker was Rosanna Natoli, a journalist who has worked with Channel Seven on the Sunshine Coast for 29 years and taught at the University of the Sunshine Coast for 24 years. Ms Natoli has donated her time to MC at charity functions.
Rosanna, a mother-of-three, is patron of homelessness charity Roofs to Recovery, the Sunshine Coast Oriana Choir, the Maroochydore Orchid Society, the Sunshine Troop disabled dancers, and the Rise2 Foundation for domestic and family violence recovery. She is an ambassador for the Buderim Hospital Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation, and is a member of the Journalism Education and Research Association of Australia.
For more on the event, please click on the link below to visit our Facebook page:
Tropicana Trivia 2024 - Fundraising Event
Was held Saturday January 20th
For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:
If you like, you can also see photos of our annual Christmas lunch (2023), there on Facebook.
November Breakfast - 2023
The Guest Speaker:
Catherine Stamp - GAICD JP (Qual)
Catherine was born to Maltese immigrant parents, joined the RAAF at 19 and served in Australia and overseas. Became a Commissioned Officer in 2001 and retired ten years later as a senior officer. Elected as first female President of the Caloundra RSL.
Certificates of Appreciation and flowers were presented to Jenny Hughes and Marilyn Keelty for their superb contributions to GWQ SC over their many years of membership.
For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:
AGM - 2023
Was held on Saturday September 23
Our AGM was held at the Twin Waters Golf Club. The new committee was elected with our current President, Wendy Ashley-Cooper.
A photo of the new committee is here.
Certificates of Appreciation and floral gifts were presented to foundation member, Norma McMichael, and Bev Hinz, for their dedication and enormous contribution to GWQ SC over more than 30 years.
Bev Hinz presenting Norma with flowers and Certificate of Appreciation
Wendy presenting Bev with flowers and Certificate of Appreciation
Bursary Presentation Brunch - 2023
This highlight of the year was held Saturday July 15 at the Innovation Centre, University of Sunshine Coast.
Professor Denise Wood AM, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students), UniSC gave an enlightening presentation about her role, and the achievements made for, and by students at the various campuses including the newest at Moreton Bay. Professor Wood then presented the bursaries to the three recipients:
2023 GWQ SC Undergraduate Bursary Recipients (UniSC)
Gerrie Boeyen, Bursary Committee Chair, with bursary recipients Samantha Aquilina, Poppy Ball and Coby Leahy and chairperson Wendy Ashley-Cooper
Samantha Aquilina - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours).
Poppy Ball - Third year Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) degree.
Coby Leahy - Third year Bachelor of Dietetics (Honours).
For more information, please visit our Education bursaries webpage:
Members donate their time and money to provide these bursaries.
May Breakfast - 2023
Was held Saturday 13th May - Headland Golf Club
GWQSC President Wendy Ashley-Cooper, Dr Mary Crawford and GWQSC past president Bev Hinz
The breakfast event was a great success. Our very accomplished speaker & president of GWQ, Dr Mary Crawford, provided a thorough history of women’s fight to be educated up to the present time. Despite more Australian women accessing tertiary education, the gender pay gap remains in favour of males. Worse, she reminded us that most women in the world are fortunate to receive any education.
New Members: Trish Manley, Kathy De Josselin, Carol Boulanger, Jan Jarman, Emilia White and Leah McKenzie
International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2023
Was held Saturday 10th March - Headland Golf Club
Dr Judi Wickes with Gerri Boeyen
The Guest Speaker was Aunty/Dr Judi Wickes (Kalkadoon/Wakka Wikka nations), a respected community Elder, researcher, author, social worker, historian and educator who writes and presents locally, nationally and internationally on the topics of stolen generation and the ‘certificate of exemption’ and its impacts on generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.The event was attended by 39 members and 22 guests.
A tableful of groceries and baby goods was collected to donate to the STEMM program (Supporting Teenagers with Education, Mothering and Mentoring) at Burnside High School.
A raffle was held and raised over $300 towards our bursary program. Two of the current bursary holders attended as guests.
For more information and pictures of the event, please visit our Facebook page:
New members are welcome. Please contact us at info@graduatewomen.org.au
Tropicana Trivia - Was held Saturday 21 January
Everyone enjoyed the Tropicana Trivia afternoon, which was a fundraiser for our bursaries.
Thanks to all who attended.
Please visit our Facebook page for photos of the event.
November Breakfast - 2022
Celebrating Indigenous and Multi-cultural Australia
Speakers at 2022 November Breakfast
Wendy Ashley-Cooper - Incoming President
Nasteho Mukhtar - REP Tertiary Bursary Recipient
Taryn Miller - Indigenous Tertiary Bursary Recipient
Wendy Ashley-Cooper, our new president, described her fascinating life, from childhood in South Africa, Rhodesia & Australia to becoming principal at The Glennie School in Toowoomba.
Taryn Miller, Recipient of the GWQ SC Indigenous Tertiary Bursary, told us why she chose to study Occupational Therapy at UniSC overcoming a number of hurdles. Her proud grandmother attended with her.
Nasteho Mukhtar, Recipient of the GWQ SC Refugee Education Program (REP) Tertiary Bursary, recounted her journey from South Sudan via Kenyan refugee camp to Australia. She credited her brave, resilient mother with saving her and her siblings from a war zone, & encouraging her studies to tertiary level. She is studying Social Work & Psychology.
Taryn and Nasteho were so inspiring and confirm why we work to give bursaries to assist in the education of women.
A sale of favourite books added to the enjoyment and raised money.
For higher resolution photos, please visit our Facebook page:
AGM - 2022
Was held on Saturday September 10
Our AGM was a successful event followed by a delicious buffet lunch provided by Twin Waters Golf Club. The new committee was elected with new President, Wendy Ashley-Cooper.
Gratitude and thanks we’re expressed to long-serving President, Bev Hinz, who was indefatigable in her service to GWQ SC over several terms.
Jenny Hughes presenting Bev with flowers and card
Bursary Presentation Brunch - 2022
Professor Helen Bartlett, Vice-Chancellor & President of UniSC
provided an inspiring update of progress made on all campuses before presenting the bursary certificates.
2022 GWQ SC Undergraduate Bursary Recipients (UniSC)
Jahne Café - Bachelor of Law (honours) degree (fourth year). Jahne has achieved the position of Judge’s Associate for Honourable Justice Paul Freeburn
Rebekah Belte-Dewet - Completing Honours in Psychology. Planning for a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology
Belinda Christensen - Bachelor of Nutrition / Bachelor of Biomedical Science (fourth year). Planning for a Honours year and PhD in 2024
Gerri Boeyen, chair of the bursary committee and Bev Hinz, our chair, introduced the proceedings.
May Breakfast - 2022
Was held on Saturday May 14
Guest Speaker Diane Carter, spoke on the subject of 'Dare to Live - Trust yourself!'
Bev Hinz, Ingrid Gray, Diane Carter (speaker)
Diane was an inspiring speaker with tales of a dangerous life in Africa & elsewhere that were opportunities for growth & resilience.
It was wonderful to have the company of postgrad students from University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) as well as mentees and their GWQ SC mentors from the university's special training program Skilling Queenslanders for Work. The aim of the traineeship is to build the confidence and skillsets of mature and migrant women who, for any number of reasons, have found it difficult to secure employment on the Sunshine Coast.
For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page:
International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2022
Was held Saturday 12th March - Headland Golf Club
Guest Speaker was Emma Thomas, CEO of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council
International Womens’ Day breakfast today at Headland Golf Club was very enjoyable! CEO of Sunshine Coast Council, Emma Thomas, entertained and inspired us with her career history, from when she followed her dream to become an aeronautical engineer in RAAF & Boeing, and other leadership roles resulting in her current role.
We congratulated Mealat Gehrehiwet from Ethiopia who was presented with our Refugee Education Program Tertiary Bursary by Janet Sweatman, chair of REP committee.
Years of membership Certificates were presented.
And finally singer/songwriter Melinda Wells delighted us with her beautiful song, Woman, just released.
November Breakfast - 2021
Celebrating Indigenous and Multi-cultural Australia
Was held on Saturday November 6th 2021
Headland Golf Club – Golf Links Road, Buderim
We all enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast on Saturday 6 November. Norma, our archivist & memory keeper, told us about our 30 years as a group raising money for the education of women & girls. She focused on the challenges and joys of the last five years. She and Libby are foundation members. Our Indigenous bursary winner, Rachel Taylor, spoke movingly about her life of giving to others as a pastor and her future goals in indigenous child welfare.
Certificates were presented to members for 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 & 5 years of membership.
Libby & Norma are seated beside President Bev (in blue) in photograph of all recipients
Rachel Taylor - with bursary certificate and bursary committee
Speakers at 2021 November Breakfast
Norma McMichael - Life Member, Archivist and Memory Keeper
Mealat Gehrehiwet - REP Tertiary Bursary Recipient
Rachel Taylor - Indigenous Tertiary Bursary Recipient