May Breakfast - 2022

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.

We had 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.

International Womens Day Breakfast - 2022

Guest Speaker was Emma Thomas, CEO of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Emma 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.

November Breakfast - 2021

Celebrating Indigenous and Multi-cultural Australia

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.

Speakers at 2021 November Breakfast

Welcome Members Morning Tea

Saturday June 12th - Twin Waters Golf Club

Morning tea at Twin Waters Golf Club was enjoyed by a happy group of new members welcomed by existing GWQ Sunshine Coast members. President Bev welcomed our new members.

May Breakfast 2021

Was Held on Saturday May 8th - Headland Golf Club

Guest Speaker – Stephen Vagg

Stephen Vagg, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Queensland, and MA in Screenwriting and MA (hons) in Screen Studies, Australian Film Television & Radio School

Stephen is a writer and historian based in Brisbane. For over three years he was story producer on the internationally screened serial drama “Neighbours”, supervising the writing department and helping plot over a thousand thirty-minute episodes. Prior, to that he was a story producer, writer and script editor for several years on the serial drama “Home and Away”. He wrote the feature films “Jucy” and “All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane”, earning an AFI Award Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the latter. He won an AWGIE Award for his “Neighbours” script for episode 6857, the first time the show had won in that category in a decade

He is the author of the biography, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in LA, which was turned into the documentary, “Rod Taylor: Pulling No Punches”, in which Stephen appeared as an interviewee. He has always worked as a journalist, script editor, researcher and consultant, and is the author of several plays which have been performed around the world, including the AWGIE-nominated “Friday Night Drinks”

International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2021

Held Saturday, March 6 - Alexandra Headland Surf Club

Guest Speaker – Professor Helen Bartlett, Vice-Chancellor and President UniSC, addressing the audience

Over 70 people, including 3 brave men, were present at the wonderful International Women’s Day Breakfast on Saturday 6th March 2021.

Ruth Howard - Bursary Recipient thanking GWQ SC members for the bursary and their hospitality.

A bursary was presented to refugee student Ruth Howard who has commenced her Social Work degree at QUT. She aspires to helping others from similar backgrounds as she was helped. She spoke with joy and gratitude about her 2 weeks on the Sunshine Coast staying with members of GWQ SC.

Professor Helen Bartlett, the new Vice Chancellor and President of the University of the Sunshine Coast, then told us of her journey from student through academic positions in the UK, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia. Gerontology has been her research focus, and she described what she’d gained from working with people from other cultures. She talked about the attributes of good leaders and how she sets goals in each position and is then “relentlessly focused”. A very enjoyable morning. This writer even won a raffle prize!!

Professor Helen Bartlett with GWQ SC Chair Bev Hinz

International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2020

Was held on Saturday, March 7 - Headland Golf Club

Guest Speaker – Dr Gail Crimmins, SFHE

Senior Lecturer and Program Area Coordinator for Creative Industries at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast - March 2019

Commodore Sarah Sharkey RAN CSC

Director General Garrison Health Operations

Director General Navy Health Services

Commodore Sharkey has served as a Medical Officer in the Royal Australian Navy for more than 20 years. CDRE Sharkey began her service under sponsorship while an undergraduate medical student at the University of Queensland and has since enjoyed a range of postings both at sea and ashore with her clinical background mainly in submarine and diving medicine.

In her more recent career she has enjoyed serving at the Director General level in Joint Health Command and as the Head of the Navy Health Community.

 

Previous May Breakfast - 2019

Guest Speaker – Dr Bridget Boyle

Bridget is a co-founder of debase productions - www.debase.com.au

Bridget spoke on the highlights and challenges of forging a career in the creative industries.
‘Everyone has a story’.

 

Bursary Presentation Breakfast - July 2019

Recipients of 2019 Undergraduate Bursaries

International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast

Dr Katie Seidler & GWQ SC President Bev Hinz

Katie presented: “The Psychology of Violent Crime: Lessons from the Inside"

The IWD breakfast at Maroochy Surf Club was a function to be remembered. In addition to members, we had a large group of guests, in total, 64 members and guests.

Our guest speaker Dr Katie Seidler was able to present a complex topic in a way that everyone could understand. As Member Robyn Nolan wrote: Our amazing speaker, Dr Katie Seidler, addressed “The Psychology of Violent Crime: Lessons from the Inside”. She wowed us with her twenty years’ experience as a Forensic Psychologist working with the violent and abusive people that others fear and avoid, whether they’ve been in prison, are in danger of incarceration or have been released. She has provided rehabilitation to murderers, violent and sexual offenders, and offers ongoing support after release. She explored the development of criminality from prejudicial childhoods, marked by poverty, abuse and neglect, or socialisation, into crime, by poor role modelling or conditioned by learning; or some or all of these factors. Her professional opinions are welcomed by the courts, media and Police. Her enthusiasm and optimism for the benefits of the work to society were impressive.

We were finally able to formally acknowledge the REP success at the 2017 Community Access Awards. Everyone in attendance was able to have a close look at the stylish trophy – the cheque for $2500 was already in the bank and being used!

A visual presentation on IWD breakfasts past provided many interesting and wonderful memories – from the almost debacles (weather and gales when Senator Claire Moore visited) to the inspirational women that have spoken to us with wisdom and love.

Marie Gracey, Elaine Wise, Barbara Campbell, Donna Lyden

Members Yvonne Koster, Nnenna Ike, Jan Dopson and guest Maureen Turner.

Members Coral Usher, Marilyn Keelty and Kayla Szumer.

The raffle (put together by Jan Leaks-Jones from member and other donations) raised an amazing $372!

Funds raised from this breakfast are directed toward our bursary program for the education of women and girls, including:

• Undergraduates at UniSC
• The STEMM program at Burnside (for young mothers returning to education)
• Refugee girls at Milpera SHS in Brisbane

Book sale November 2018 breakfast raised $257.55. It was organised by Bernice Anderson (seated).

Through the sale of paintings inspired by her recent trip to Central Australia, Sally Chandler has raised over $3,000 to fund a study bursary for indigenous women.

It’sinthebag# - Three shopping trolleys full of donations. The collection was organised by Judy Allinson, to provide women in reduced circumstances (e.g. homeless or in crisis accommodation) with personal items.

May 12 Breakfast

Guest Speaker was Captain Jan Becker, midwife, CEO Becker Helicopters Pilot Training, 2017 UniSC Alumnus Student of the Year, and QLD Woman's Telstra Business Owner Winner. Jan combines her role in the family business with her humanitarian work in Tanzania, assisting mothers and babies.

Australia Day Lunch - 2018

The annual Australia Day lunch was held at Palmwoods Hotel on January 15. Many attendees participated in the Acrostic competition, demonstrating that creativity and wit does not just reside in the young. The overall winner was Betty Vawser (right), who admits to being over 90

The 2017 International Women’s Day Breakfast

Dr Bridie Scott-Park and member Val Ross

The Guest Speaker was Dr Bridie Scott-Parker (Senior USC Research Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council)

Dr Bridie Scott-Parker leads the Adolescent Risk Research Unit (ARRU) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. As leader of ARRU, Bridie is also interested in adolescent health and wellbeing generally and includes risk taking and the influence of personal, social and structural influence upon risky behaviour.

Theme for 2017 is “Be Bold For Change” – help forge a better working world, a more inclusive, gender equal world.

Bursary Events