Mackay Inc

About Mackay Inc

Projects

International Women's Day [March 2023]

An idea evolved into a concept, focussed discussion then created an action plan and networking turned it into an event. Our International Women’s Day event emerged after we had Lauren Pattie (Better together Housing) join our friendship dinner and later our general meeting. The community project acknowledging and collaborating to change homelessness for women 55 years and over, was close to home for members.

But what could we do to change the trajectory! Educate, Empower and Enable young women to have financial literacy, understand their values, work in a job they love, connect and create their community/ network and acknowledge the importance of self-care.

Five local business women, shared their wisdom and industry experience with an audience of 16-18 year old young adults. The result was conversation, connection and empowerment.
Presenters were given the brief of young women with ability, requiring opportunity. As experts in their field, a 10 minute download of information about a topic and then a collaborative task to embed the new knowledge.

The 2 hour event was made possible due to a Community Gambling Benefit Fund grant, support from Mackay Regional Council, and collaboration from our high schools.

The donation of time from our presenters Denise Hof– Director, DGL Accountants; Caitie Becker– Principal engineer, Becker Sunner Consulting; Lauren Pattie – Greater Whitsunday Alliance, BTH project; Elisa Crooks– Community and Youth Development Officer and Maria Surian – B& M Personal Trainers.

Many thanks to Simon and Patrice at The Deli Nook, QCC, B & M Personal Trainers and Linda for our Soroptimist design cupcakes. While the attendees enjoyed the fresh fruit platter, cupcakes and cold drink the networking continued between presenter, Soroptimist members and young women.

Comments
Students:
• The ‘moneysmart’ app will be really useful to look at what I spend.
• I have never considered why I like doing the things I do and relating them to a job.
• Really hard to choose my values, some of them do stand out to me though.
• As friends, we actually have different values.

Presenters/ Attending teacher/ Soroptimist members:
• Fabulous opportunity and good number of attendees for discussion.
• We will do follow up activities with these sheets (values & enjoying life) and explore the money app when back at school.
• I would love to be involved again, let me know when you do another.
• I do not usually like speaking to a group, but I became more relaxed as everyone engaged.
• Great chance to support breaking the cycle and give opportunity to students who have goals.
• Was really nice to chat about topics that were going to be useful for many years to come.

Budget:
Donated items: $100 fruit platter, $100 cupcakes, $25 drinks, $75 notebooks, $60 pens, room hire as part of yearly hire agreement, $80 presenter gifts, $10 cake bags and napkins.
Grant funds: $35 transport (taxis).

Better Together Housing Project - launched as part of our International Women's Day activities [March 2023]

Lauren from Greater Whitsunday Communities [Better Together Housing] was a guest speaker, talking to the SI Mackay members about the local support provided to local women, on International Women's Day month, especially bringing awareness to the issue of homelessness for women 40+.

This provided a great opportunity to undertake a partnership approach to raising awareness throughout the community. Thanks to CQU for the use of their library space, and to the members themselves for creating 8 fabulous video clips that were used on social media to promote the fabulous initiative of creating housing options for older women in Mackay and the greater Whitsunday region.

Cut and Sew event [February 2023]

Continuing again this year, we held a fabulously successful Cut and Sew day for our ‘bags for change’ project. Creating handmade bags that are used to support local groups in needs, and also sold at a market stall crewed by SI Mackay Members. We also sorted used clothing to be washed and delivered to the hospital mental health wing, assisting women transitioning back into the community.

The day proved to be a great success for creating bags and developing friendships and we welcomed the women from Carlisle Gardens who are now regular supporters of the initiative. 

CQU OPEN DAY [March 2023]

SI Mackay was excited to be a part of the CQU Open Day in March 2023 and met some amazing young people along with a great group of support staff. It was a brilliant way to engage with students from all over Queensland as they live and study, often in disciplines that are only offered here, in Mackay.

Wrapping up 2022

So, what a fabulously active year for the Mackay group and a great snapshot of the range of community activities undertaken.