Catherine McAuley Celebrates International Women’s Day

09 Mar 2023

McAuley Westmead

Catherine McAuley celebrated International Women’s Day, Wednesday 8th March.

Catherine McAuley has celebrated International Women’s Day, Wednesday 8th March, with a full week of special events.

The celebrations began on Wednesday, 1st March with guest speaker Rosemary Kariuki speaking to all students at a school assembly. Rosemary is a Multicultural Liaison Officer with NSW Police where she links and facilitates communication and interaction between the police and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Rosemary co-founded the African Women’s Group and her work has earnt her many recognitions including Australia’s Local Hero 2021, Community Fellow - Western Sydney University 2021 and Parramatta Citizen of the Year 2021, to name a few.

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Guest speaker Rosemary Kariuki spoke to all students at a school assembly on Wednesday, 1st March

Rosemary told the students many interesting stories about her own life and arrival in Australia. She spoke in particular about the importance of women helping other women. “If you see something which you know will be good for others then share the information”, she said.

She said that she found in Australia people don’t always give information and it is hard to ask a question you don’t know. She also encouraged students to check in on each other. “We can all make the world a better place if each one of us just does something small…Let us care for each other”. Rosemary said she is proud of International Women’s Day because as a woman she has made a lot of change. “My journey is to see other women smiling”.

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Year 7 Religious Education students of Mrs Lowrencev were inspired by guest speaker Rosemary Kariuki and collected their thoughts in class

McAuley Westmead

As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations the Social Justice Leaders made a special video which was shown in Homerooms

As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations the Social Justice Leaders made a special video which was shown in Homerooms. The video featured interviews with student leaders who spoke about why International Women’s Day was important to the Catherine McAuley community. The leaders also spoke about a woman that they will be honouring and celebrating this International Women’s Day.

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Rosemary Kariuki with the School's Leadership Team

Sophia P., Hospitality Leader, said that IWD is important because “it is a day when we can look up to other women and celebrate their achievement and we can realise that they reached their potential so we can do that too”. Sophia B. said International Women’s Day is important at Catherine McAuley “because we are raising the next generation of women”.

The Student Leaders also spoke about who they will be honouring this International Women’s Day with many mentioning their mothers, grandmothers and sisters. “My mum’s a huge role model to me and my sister is somebody who I’m pretty much with every moment so I really want to honour them”, said Mya L., Coolock House Leader.

Liz S., Dobson House Leader said she will be celebrating her Grandma. “Back in the Philippines she was living as a single mother and supporting my Mum and her two sisters so I feel like she’s a really strong woman who really worked with the situation that was given to her. This International Women’s Day I want to emulate that and reflect those values and that determination she had”.

On Wednesday students were encouraged to wear a purple ribbon in solidarity with women around the world. Social Justice Leaders Claudia N. and Alyssa A. told students “As a school, this year our focus has been to embrace and enhance the McAuley spirit by being each other’s cheerleaders. International Women’s Day is an excellent opportunity to not only acknowledge and appreciate renowned women and their wonderful contributions but also the women who are important in your lives: your friends, family, teachers and colleagues”.