Fatima Halloum
At the Werribee South Country Women’s Association’s morning tea, residents ate finger foods, freshly baked by CWA members, participated in a raffle, and raised over $3000 for a local charity.
Branch president Julia Toffolon said the group likes to “keep moving towards raising awareness and funds for our community”.
“The money, all of it, is going directly to a women’s and children’s refuge in our shire,” Ms Toffolon said.
“Because it’s women elevating women and children, and making sure that every child has the right to feel safe.”
Julia believes it’s important to look beyond privilege and be socially aware of issues happening in the municipality.
“We benefit the community because we raise awareness,” Julia said.
“The CWA aren’t afraid to go into the sticky stories, the stories that people don’t want to know, ‘don’t tell me about the homeless, that makes me feel guilty, don’t tell me that kids are hungry’, they aren’t afraid to go in there and do something about it.”
Julia says the group is “friendly” and “kind” and always open to new members.
“On your own you can do not much, you can give $20 to the guy sitting there with his cap out…but as a group you can do so much more,” Julia said.
“$3000 to this refuge is going to be life-changing for some people, these women will get what they need, the children will get what they need, for now, because we have to keep doing it.”
