Jenny Ware (Hughes, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year, the women of Hughes celebrated International Women's Day at my breakfast at beautiful Doltone House, Sylvania, on 6 March. This was an opportunity for me to recognise and value the contribution the women of Hughes make within our local community.

My Young Woman of the Year was Grace Thorton. Aged only 21, Grace is an inspiring single mother of two who has designed the THRIVE program—a peer support program for young mothers facing trauma, homelessness, domestic violence, substance dependency and mental health struggles. THRIVE empowers women to build their parenting capacity and break cycles of intergenerational disadvantage.

My Senior Woman of the Year was Dolores Gonsalves, who supports the homeless around Central Station in Sydney by personally providing essential toiletries, ensuring that people who are often overlooked can feel refreshed, more confident, respected and valued. With kindness and conversation, Dolores reminds some of our most vulnerable Australians that they do matter.

My Woman of the Year was Dr Alison Short. Alison was recognised for her lifelong commitment to the allied health profession of music therapy, through which she currently mentors and supports a range of evidence based music projects that make a difference across mental health, special education, palliative care and aged care. Most recently, her research work used music to support anxiety around fertility treatment.

I give a big shout-out to the women of Hughes.