Yesterday Graduate Women Otago and Otago University Staff Women’s Caucus hosted a breakfast to celebrate International Women’s Day — which is today.
Three-time Summer Paralympic gold medallist Anna Grimaldi spoke at the event to 88 graduate women from across Dunedin at Perc Cafe.
Graduate Women Otago president Otila Osborne said the purpose of the breakfast was to celebrate women, their uniqueness and the successes and failures that come with it.
The focus of Grimaldi’s address was her lived experience coming up in the education system, in the paralympic community, and physical as well as psychological challenges.
Ms Osborne said Grimaldi spoke with wisdom about learning more from her shortfalls than her wins.
"As she’s been able to overcome challenges to get to where she is, there’s been the incredible pressure to sustain that success."
Grimaldi spoke about how being treated as an ordinary person was important.
She overcame a lot of her challenges with support from the people around her.
Across Dunedin another breakfast to celebrate International Women’s Day was held in the Heritage Room at The Grand Casino hosted by Zonta Metropolitan Dunedin.
Zonta vice-president Rebecca Twemlow said the energy was electric as it acknowledged the achievements of women, highlighted the challenges still ahead and committed to real action.
The money raised at the breakfast would go towards Zonta’s local fund to support initiatives that empower women and girls in the community.
Otago University senior strategic adviser Janine Kapa and United Machinists chief executive Sarah Ramsay both spoke at the event.
"Their stories were a testament to resilience, ambition and leadership and a reminder that when wāhine thrive, whānau flourish and communities prosper," Mrs Twemlow said.
