About Mandurah

Soroptimist International of Mandurah, is a service club of women who meet on a regular basis to support our projects to transform the lives of women and girls. Please see our projects below.

We welcome potential new members to our monthly Club and Social Meetings held at Sunbreakers Restaurant.

Please email us to let us know that you're coming so we can be ready to welcome you.

We also acknowledge the following sponsors who support us with our events:  Cape Chauffeurs, Seashells, Timeless Skin & Beauty Singleton, City, North Beach, Stay @ Margaret River, The Sebel Mandurah, Kevin Green Real Estate, Zoo Bridal and South West Trailers.  Visit this link to find out more:  Soroptimist International of Mandurah Club

Calendar

Club Meetings  

• MONTHLY MEETING Thursday 16 March 2023 at 6:00pm at Sunbreakers Restaurant, Mandurah.  Fellowship from 5:30pm

• MONTHLY SOCIAL MEETING Thursday 6 April 2023 at 5:45 pm at a venue to be advised in Mandurah.  An opportunity for interested people to meet Mandurah members socially over a meal and a drink.

• MONTHLY MEETING Thursday 20 April 2023 at 6:00 pm at Sunbreakers Restaurant, Mandurah.  Fellowship from 5:30pm.  

• MONTHLY SOCIAL MEETING, THURSDAY 4 May 2023 at 5.45 pm at a venue to be advised in Mandurah.  An opportunity for interested people to meet Mandurah members socially over a meal and a drink.

• MONTHLY MEETING Thursday 18 May 2023 at 6:00pm at Sunbreakers Restaurant, Mandurah.  Fellowship from 5:30pm.   Guest speaker:  Frances Luns, SI Bangkok 

Potential members welcome. Click here for our meeting guide. Please email us for information (particularly if you are interested in attending our Social Meeting as the venue changes from month to month).

Events

• Watch this space for news about the events we hope to hold in 2023 and for upcoming events.  Volunteer Event Planners and Assistants may be needed. Please contact us.

• In partnership with OVIS Community Services, we will be hosting a Mothers' Day High Tea at a venue to be confirmed on Saturday 13 May 2023 commencing at 1:30pm.  Live music by Ali Hill will be a feature of this event along with raffles and more.  Cost:  $60 per head.  Theme:  Pink and White.  More details coming soon.

News

STUMBLING BLOCKS OR STEPPING STONES

SI Mandurah member, Regine Andersen, has recently published a book entitled "Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones - Creating calm and confidence through conscious choice".  This is her true story of triumph and the power of positive thinking.  It is more than a story, this book comes with a self-help manual, complete with session plans and self-assessment tools in support of emotional wellness.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will support Soroptimist International of Mandurah club and Blackdog Institute Research into suicide prevention.  The book retails for $24.95 and can be purchased from Ocean Reeve Publishing or Regine Andersen's website.

MODERN DAY SLAVERY

In 2018 SI Australia agreed to SI Mandurah's proposal to advocate on a national scale for the fair treatment of students, backpackers and other migrant workers in Australia, especially women, to contribute to a safe and positive experience whilst travelling, studying and working in this country.

We will be working in conjunction with SI Australia to establish how Soroptimists in Australia can collectively and individually contribute to the wellbeing of these people whilst they are in our country. Some of the ideas that we're brainstorming are:
• Advocate for better laws and enforcement - e.g. write to politicians and sign petitions.
• Identify and focus on local areas of need.
• Befriend local farms and hostels to set up good lines of communication.
• Organise hands-on community events to assist integration and mental well-being.
• Offer essential care packs for female workers with your club's contact details and other useful numbers.*
• Utilise the Soroptimist Network for rapid response rescues.* If permitted, we will use the term SoroptiMums.

*SI Mandurah and partners will provide a Useful Numbers Template and a Rapid Response Model that can be adapted by clubs.

NEW Federal Parliament passed the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 (Commonwealth Bill) on 28 November 2018. Read more here courtesy of SBS News.

Projects

• OVIS Community Services (Mandurah) by providing essential items to women and families escaping violence. Also providing the catering after the the Annual Silent March.

• The Compassionate Friends (Mandurah) by providing girlpower and funding for events to support  bereaved women.

• Carolia (Mandurah-based organisation) by providing housing, education and essential supplies for disadvantaged families in Bali, and taking bags of clothes there.

• Prize award to support a Peel female resident enrolled in a nursing degree at the Mandurah campus of Murdoch University.

• Stellar Children's Trust (WA-based organisation) by providing funding for student laptops and social support in Cambodia.

• Care packs, information, support and advocacy for backpackers, students and migrant workers in Australia - especially women - in conjunction with SI Australia. 

• Greenfields Primary School.  Support for a year 6 girl providing essential items to enhance her school experience.  Provision of care packs for young girls moving into adolescence. 

Recent projects include:

• Red Cross Migration Support (Perth) by providing craft supplies for the migrant women’s morning tea program.

• Peel Youth Medical Service (Mandurah) by providing contraceptive implants to young girls in the Peel region.

• Bindjareb Yorgas Health Program (Pinjarra) by providing healthy cooking classes for Bindjareb Nyungar women.

• Stellar Children's Trust (WA-based organisation) by providing funding for a women’s sewing centre.

We welcome ideas for new projects. Please email us if you'd like to speak at one of our meetings.

Who we are and what we do

Soroptimist International (SI) is a worldwide volunteer service organisation for women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Through our General (Category One) Consultative Status as a non-governmental organisation at the United Nations we seek equality, peace, and international goodwill for women.

Through international partnerships and a global network of members, Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls by:

• Advocating for equity and equality;

• Creating safe and healthy environments;

• Increasing access to education;

• Developing leadership and practical skills for a sustainable future.

Our organisation comprises approximately 95,000 members in more than 125 countries and territories worldwide who contribute time and financial support to community-based and international projects.

Soroptimist members belong to local clubs, which determine the focus of service to their communities.

The name "Soroptimist" was coined by combining the Latin words soror "sister" and optima "best", and can be taken to mean "best for women".

Below, Liz Butson AM accepting her SIWA Region President regalia from Past President Anne Allen at the recent Changeover Dinner held at Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club.