CH OWN’s formal presentation to young women from Toormina High School Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 5, 2022 Lorraine Penn, Coordinator, Coffs Harbour Older Women’s Network (left) with Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh and certificate recipients (l-r) Katie Homes, Ella Drewell, and Maya Farmer. A COLLABORATION between Coffs Harbour Older Women’s Network (CH OWN) and young female students at Toormina High School has the students receiving Certificates of Appreciation. CH OWN committee members and Gurmesh Singh, in conjunction with GenHealth were delighted to officially recognise the three young women, Katie Homes, Ella Drewell and Maya Farmer from Toormina High School, who willingly participated on an interactive Focus on the Future Through Mentoring Forum during this year’s International Women’s Week at the Surf Club Conference Room on 13 July 2022. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au This event was funded by NSW Government, via the 2022 Women’s Week Grant Program. “It was an incredible opportunity to have these young ladies participate on the panel together with three businesswomen, who discussed how they empowered others and who empowered them in their working life,” Lorraine Penn, spokesperson for CH OWN told News Of The Area. This was an intergenerational event in conjunction with GenHealth, which also included breakout discussion groups about building confidence, resilience and life skills, involving the young women’s participation and attendees. The resulting outcome demonstrated the importance of utilising the untapped, shared knowledge and experience of older women and younger school-aged women in a collaborative approach. Yvonne Kachel, Chair of GenHealth said, “Headspace Coffs Harbour has a wonderful youth reference group and we thought some of the older girls would be interested in participating in a mentoring forum so Shelley Rowe, the CEO of Genhealth, Kirra Ratcliffe, Community Engagement and youth participation officer and myself met with Katie and Elle. “Maya came along as a friend and the three young women were told about the forum, what they would talk about, and asked if they would like to come and join in. “Katie, Elle and Maya decided they would speak, and the result was an exciting forum where these young women excelled in expressing their hopes and dreams for the future and what was needed to help young women and girls to face the future with confidence.” By Andrea FERRARI NEWS_CHOWN_AF_PY2 Lorraine presents Katie Homes, year 12 student, with her Certificate of Appreciation. NEWS_CHOWN_AF_PY3 Maya Farmer, year 11 student, receives her Certificate of Appreciation. NEWS_CHOWN_AF_PY4 Ella Drewell with Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh at the CH OWN presentation.
