The Soroptimist Regional Conference in Narrandera welcomed inspiring local speakers and presented local advocates with awards for effort in the empowerment of women.

Soroptimists is an International group that supports women to reach their full potential and improve the lives of women and girls.

The conference welcomed keynote speakers and representatives from Soroptimist groups across the region to share ideas and to discuss projects including fundraising and advocacy.

Retired Chair of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District Gayle Murphy and Therapies for Kids Physio Clare Hoogers spoke at the conference.

“Gayle Murphy spoke about commitment and her approach to challenges and values,” said the Vice-President of the Narrandera Soroptimist branch Emily Currie.

“Throughout her career she ended up usually being the only female in the room. It was a very inspiring presentation.

“Clare Hoogers talked about what she was doing and what she studied before opening her practice. It was a lovely story in that that she actually received a scholarship from the Narrandera Soroptimists to continue her tertiary studies.

“She talked about business and management. There weren’t many dry eyes in the room.”

Ms Hoogers completed her Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Community Health at Charles Sturt University in 2017.

Ms Currie said the event was a fantastic opportunity to share resources and plans with other branches to progress some of the Narrandera branch’s objectives over the coming year.

“We are setting up activities including self-defence classes soon,” Ms Currie said.

“One thing we want to work on is a program to support young women of school age with life skills. We’re working with the youth advisory council and Narrandera High School to identify what we might do.

“The regional conference was for NSW and ACT and all groups from that area. One of the groups runs a program similar to what we want to do and shared their material to kickstart us to look at implementing it.

“It was so good to meet other women in other groups and hear what they are doing.”