International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024 was a day of celebration, empowerment and recognition at Belgravia Leisure venues across the country.
Ahead of IWD, we celebrated just a few of the inspiring women of Belgravia Leisure (who make up over 60% of our workforce), but our teams also celebrated the day in style! From morning breakfast gatherings to women’s only splash nights and heartfelt acknowledgments, our teams went above and beyond to honour the spirit of IWD and continue to empower women in our communities.
International Women’s Day serves as a timely reminder of the importance of creating a world where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered. It’s a time to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history and to work towards greater gender equality not just on March 8th but every day.
Here’s what our teams got up to:
Knox Leisureworks and Monbulk Aquatic Centre
At Knox Leisureworks, the day began with a members’ morning breakfast, setting the stage for a day of celebration. Monbulk Aquatic Centre filled the venue with purple to show passion for the cause and to continue to empower women in the community.
Knox also hosted its first Women’s Only Splash Night, marking a significant step towards providing a safe and inclusive space for women of all backgrounds. Ruby Southam, Knox Community Engagement Coordinator, said, “A lot of smiles, laughter and excitement filled the pools where participants were able to enjoy this experience.
“The highlight for many was the slide, where they were able to “feel like a kid again”. The feedback from the splash night has been nothing but positivity and the excitement for it to be held again.
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Belgravia Foundation for supporting this event and making it happen. Thank you to Bernadette, Michelle and Jan from the Rotary Club of Boronia for volunteering your time for the BBQ spread,” Ruby concluded.
Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre and Warragamba Swimming Pool
The team at Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre and Warragamba Swimming Pool – Mary Walker Memorial Pool took a moment to appreciate the remarkable women within their team with a team photo.
Byron Gulpers, Venue Manager, emphasised the dedication and hard work of these women and thanked them for their invaluable contributions.
Thomastown Recreation & Aquatic Centre (TRAC)
TRAC celebrated IWD by highlighting the remarkable women on their team and acknowledging the significant increase in female members.
Jarrad Carey, TRAC Venue Manager, expressed his pride in celebrating alongside these remarkable women and highlighted the strides made towards inclusivity, with the number of women members doubling over the past two years.
“We’re proud to share that between January 2022 and January 2024, our efforts have seen the number of women members soar from just over 600 to more than 1000,” Jarrad shared.
Tobruk Memorial Pool took the opportunity to congratulate lifeguard Annabel Galea, a finalist in the Cairns Regional Council International Women’s Day Awards.
Annabel’s achievements in swimming, teaching, leadership and community service were celebrated as a testament to her dedication and excellence. Congratulations Annabel!
Ascot Vale Leisure Centre (AVLC) and Keilor East Leisure Centre (KELC)
AVLC and KELC marked IWD 2024 with a morning tea for members and guests, alongside free swimming entry for all women in the community. Amy Cross, Area Manager, expressed pride in the diverse team of women at MOVE Moonee Valley, highlighting their integral roles across various departments and levels of leadership.
“At MOVE Moonee Valley, we are proud to have so many women within our diverse team of staff, extending across every single department, as well as positions of leadership and management. A big thank you also to the women from the Moonee Valley community who came to celebrate with us and be part of our day.”
As we reflect on women’s achievements and the progress yet to be made, we remain dedicated to creating spaces where every woman feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
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