PHOTOS: Toowoomba celebrates women at Protea Place’s IWD event

There wasn’t an empty seat or a dry eye in the room at Protea Place’s International Women’s Day event. See all the photos here.

More than 100 people gathered to celebrate and recognise International Women’s Day (IWD) in Toowoomba.

Protea Place Women’s Support Centre (PPWSC) chief executive officer Amanda Dalton said since hosting the first in 2019, the IWD lunch had become one of its signature events.

“It is a day we can all make some noise and celebrate the achievements and recognise the challenges faced by women,” Ms Dalton said.

“We always say ‘every day is IWD at PPWSC’ and we truly believe that.”

Inspiring the sellout crowd of 156 people, were guest speakers Dr Lauren Humby, Alison Kennedy and Melissa Keogh-Lancaster.

“This year we wanted to honour local women who had faced adversity – each of their journeys are very different but very much share a common thread of adversity, trauma and the challenges that life can throw at us all,” Ms Dalton said.

“Their stories are deeply personal, highly emotional and confronting, however there is also a strong message of resilience, strength and dignity in overcoming difficult life events.”

Originally published as PHOTOS: Toowoomba celebrates women at Protea Place’s IWD event