2026 Events

International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2026


Christmas Luncheon - 2025

Held Saturday December 6 - Twin Waters Golf Club

Merry Minstrels Wendy & Sue

Bev and Barbara

Bev Hinz presented an Award to Barbara Campbell in recognition of her contributions to our branch.

In front is Robyn Nolan (in red top) next to her sister Lesley with Jenny Hughes behind them.


For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page:


November Breakfast - 2025

Held Saturday November 8 - Headland Golf Club

Julie Peel

Our guest speaker was Julie Peel, Principal of Milpera State High School in Brisbane. Our Branch provides bursaries to Milpera students to support their studies as they transition to mainstream high schools. Julie is an inspirational leader both in her role as Principal of Milpera and in her other initiatives to provide high quality education for refugee students in rural and regional Queensland.


Our Indigenous Women's Bursary winner this year is Dakoda Smith

President, Sandra Jeffries, Dakoda Smith & Bursary Chair, Gerrie Boeyen

For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page:


AGM and General Meeting - September 2025

The AGM & General Meeting of the branch were held at Twin Waters Golf Club on Saturday 13 September followed by lunch.

A new committee was elected. Outgoing committee members received flowers.

Libby Burge, a foundation member, was honoured for her many contributions to GWQ SC

Bev, Wendy & Libby Burge


We welcomed new President, Sandra Jeffries.

New President, Sandra Jeffries, with Bev & Wendy


Floral tributes were given to Wendy Ashley-Cooper, our President for the past 3 years, from our branch and the state branch.

Presentation to Wendy Ashley-Cooper


Outgoing Treasurer, Pam Wighton, receiving flowers from Wendy


For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:


Bursary Brunch - July 2025

Bursary Recipients with the Committee

For more on the Bursary Recipients

For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:


International Women’s Day Breakfast - 2025

Was held Saturday May 10th - Headland Golf Club

Sonia Martin

The Guest Speaker was Sonia Martin, - Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the National Chair of the Street Health Faculty of the Australian College of Nursing. She is the founding director of OneBridge, through which she works with people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Australia.

For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page through the following link:

Tropicana Trivia 2025 - Fundraising Event

Our Tropicana Trivia event was held on Saturday January 25. Pictured are the 'Flaming Flamencos'.

Christmas Lunch - 2024

"Gerrie & the Pacemakers": Anne Bowyer, Wendy Ashley-Cooper, Jeanette Jamieson-Foard, Theresa Nichols & Gerrie Boyen

Christmas lunch was our last event of the year. A very enjoyable and happy event. We were entertained by the "Merry Minstrels" and "Gerrie and the Pacemakers".

For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:


November Breakfast - 2024

The Guest Speaker

Speaker Angela Shaw (centre) with Ela Malisz (Left) and Wendy Ashley-Cooper

The November Breakfast was held at the Headland Golf Club. The event featured a great speaker, Angela Shaw, and the popular book sale.

For more on the event, please visit our Facebook page:


AGM - Annual General Meeting 2024

Wendy Ashley-Cooper and Janet Sweatman

Janet Sweatman received a special presentation for her hard work in chairing and long involvement with the Multicultural Support Program (formerly Refugee Education Program).

A new committee was elected. Photo of the newly elected committee.


Bursary Brunch - July 13 2024

Bursary Recipients

Over 60 members & guests enjoyed hearing from the 2024 UniSC Bursary winners who were presented with their certificates yesterday at Twin Waters Golf Club. This day is always the highlight of our year of raising funds for the education of women and girls.

A special presentation was made to long time member and former president, Betty Vawser, in recognition of her many contributions to GWQ Sunshine Coast.

May Breakfast - 2024

Helen Lewis-Peel and Dr Susan Davis

An inspiring speaker, Dr Susan Davis OAM described her pathway through life and her group Wildflower Women. A very pleasant relaxing morning in the company of members and guests.

Dr Sue Davis is an independent curator, teacher, writer and researcher with an extensive career in schools and universities.

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.


Tropicana Trivia 2024 - Fundraising Event

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.

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:

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.

Tropicana Trivia - January 2023

Tropican Event Photos

Everyone enjoyed the Tropicana Trivia afternoon, which was a fundraiser for our bursaries.


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