The Rotary Club of Seymour recently hosted an evening at Little Stones in celebration of International Women’s Day, which is recognised globally on March 8 each year.
Almost 40 women attended the dinner to listen to an inspiring address delivered by Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital associate professor Jill Keeffe and Goulburn Options outcomes manager Megan Montgomery.
Dr Keeffe spoke about her rural outreach work in Nepal in conjunction with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, where an eye chart that she had developed was employed to test eye function among the local population.
Many Nepalese had trekked on foot in challenging conditions to attend the clinic and to receive treatment, which for some included an operation performed in a school classroom.
Based on her own past experiences, Ms Montgomery emphasised the need to be appreciative of our lives and the tasks that we achieved on a daily basis.
Her work with Goulburn Options encourages her clients to achieve their maximum potential as individuals. She is passionate about supporting the disadvantaged and believes that everybody can develop their own skills in order to live a more fulfilling life.
All proceeds from the dinner will go to the ‘Seven Women’ project, an organisation in Nepal that empowers marginalised women to reach their potential through education and employment.
The slogan of the Seven Women organisation is ‘celebrate the potential in all’, which is also a fitting motto in recognition of International Women’s Day.