Tucked away on a leafy street in Sandgate is Womenspace – a welcoming hub where women can come together to connect, create and support one another. For nearly three decades, the volunteer-run organisation has been offering workshops, community activities and fostering conversations.
Womenspace committee member Janine Quine explained that the organisation was originally started in Kedron but has been located in Sandgate for almost 13 years now.
“It was originally started as a place for women to share stories, explore spirituality, provide literacy support to refugee women, and to understand gender-based discrimination and violence,” she said. “Sandgate volunteers have continued to build on that foundation through emphasising diversity, kindness, and building community.”
Janine said that they are looking to expand their reach by creating programs that are relevant to a wider range of ages, cultures and religions.
Voices and Visionaries: New Programs and Musical Storytelling
“We are starting a couple of new ventures,” she said. “Peakers is a weekly early morning trekking group, Poetry Pharmacy is a unique way to write and share poetry, and our Australia Becoming Group will explore how to understand where we have come from and where we are going, including Aboriginal Worldviews.”
Their Women Weaving Stories through Song initiative continues to remain a focus as well, as it doubles as a fundraiser for the organisation by showcasing a monthly performance of stories woven through a performer’s music.
“This is a ticketed event which enables us to pay the musician as well as raise much-needed funds for Womenspace,” Janine said. “We know that song adds a unique layer of emotional resonance and memorability to stories, making women’s experiences even more impactful.”
With performers from a wide variety of backgrounds – including a jazz singer, folk singer, and an internationally acclaimed composer, performer and visionary artist – the events will cover a range of musical styles and talents.
“We acknowledge that women are often underrepresented in a number of areas because of child-rearing or caring for others – often in a voluntary capacity,” Janine said. “As such, we are committed to supporting women in their creative endeavours and will be paying the performers with some of the proceeds from this fundraiser.
“We have built a community that fosters creativity and well-being, and builds solidarity by tapping into the diverse and current needs of women who ultimately ‘hold up half the sky’ and are the cornerstone of society.”
To learn more about Womenspace and upcoming events, visit facebook.com/WomenspaceAust.
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