THE CELEBRATE Her! project held a closing party following a successful 12-month long project profiling 23 extraordinary South Gippsland women.

The celebration was held at the Stockyard Gallery in Foster with an exhibition featuring photographs from the project and the artwork of Sue Gilford and Kerry Spokes. 

A surprise final donation amount totalling $20,000, was made to Bec Matthews from Manna Gum Community House.

The funds will be directed into their outreach program, ’The Hub,’ helping women and children from the Corner Inlet region.

$10,000 of the donation was generated from the Celebrate her! books, 500 of which were sold via donation and $10,000 was donated by La Trobe Health Services.

Celebrate her! Stories of South Gippsland Women 2022, was launched at a chamber music concert on March 13, 2022, presented by Prom Recitals.

The project was the brainchild of Michelle Gordon who, on International Women’s Day, reflected on the wonderful contributions of South Gippsland women, and decided they should be found and acknowledged.

The 12-month documentary project aimed to shine a light on some of the extraordinary women who live among us. 

The people of South Gippsland were asked to nominate a woman they wanted to see celebrated.

Susan Westwood and Karin Ruff interviewed the women, wrote the profiles and organised and administered the project.

One of the results was a beautiful book filled with photographs and stories of 23 remarkable women in South Gippsland.

The project also saw the formation or reformation of long-lasting connections between women nominated and those working on the project.

The project was led by women for women, with many volunteering their time and talents including Karli Duckett who took all the photographs and significant contributions were made by Anne Miller, Robyn Park, and Farrah Plummer.