THE next International Women’s Day (IWD) Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 and nominations for the 2023 IWD Coffs Coast Woman of the Year Award are still open.

Shelley Lowe, who won in 2019, said, “With huge thanks to Zonta Coffs Harbour Inc, BPW Coffs Harbour and Coffs Coast Business Women’s Network, the money I was awarded has assisted me to expand my existing ‘UcanDO’ exercise classes to Bellingen, where the classes are proving extremely popular.

“The IWD award money has helped to expand the classes by assisting with advertising costs, hall hire, purchasing equipment and providing a uniform at a discounted price, again fostering a culture of inclusion.”

Lily Isobella won the award in 2020.

The donation of $1000 from the 2020 IWD allowed Lily and her team to create fully funded places in the ‘Get Up Girl’ self defence program, as well as supporting the pilot and development of ‘Walking 2 Womanhood’, a mentoring support program for girls aged fourteen to seventeen.

Emma Aspden used the money from her 2021 win to enable multicultural women to purchase sewing machines, fabrics and equipment.

“Developing a skill that can become an enterprise and an income is empowering and I am extremely grateful that this acknowledgement allowed me to help others,” Emma said.

The winner of the IWD Coffs Coast Woman of the Year Award is someone who demonstrates innovation, commitment, and a significant contribution to empowering members of their local community.

She should be a resident of the City of Coffs Harbour or Bellingen Shire Local Government Areas who makes a key contribution in enhancing and improving the lives of citizens within the local community, promotes economic, cultural and or social wellbeing of citizens within the community, and is actively engaged with the local community in either a voluntary, community, business or professional capacity.

The Woman of the Year Award and the runner up Award each consist of cash prizes, an inscribed trophy and publicity for the women and their cause.

The cash prizes of $1,500 for the major Award Winner, co-sponsored by the City of Coffs Harbour and The Physio Movement (TPM) and $1,000 for the Runner Up, sponsored by One Agency Coffs Harbour.

All finalists are recognised and acknowledged for their own achievements.

Nomination Forms are now available by email from iwdwotycc@gmail.com and via the IWD Coffs Coast Woman of the Year Award 2023 Facebook page.

The closing date is November 14, 2022.

By Andrew VIVIAN