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ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ IWD breakfast 2021

The annual ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ International Women's Day breakfast was held on Wednesday 10 March 2021 in the Savio Centre. Over 240 students and adults enjoyed breakfast, prayers, music and reflections from our guests. Over 10 years, the breakfast has become an important community event where we celebrate and discuss ways we can help our students, especially our girls and young women, grow and contribute to their world. We also raise important funds for our sister school in Samoa for scholarships for young girls to attend a Salesian school.

Each year ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ invites an old scholar to be the special guest at our Women's Day breakfast. Ms Meg Webb, old scholar, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ Year 10 Class of 1990, is the Member for Nelson in the Tasmanian Legislative Council and is the first Dominic old scholar elected to the Tasmanian parliament. Meg enrolled at ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ in Year 2 1982 and was at Dominic for nine years.

Meg enjoyed primary school at Dominic Primary down at the primary campus in Bowden Street, even though her father was the principal there. She had lovely teachers, especially Sister Ann Conden in Year 3. Meg enjoyed her learning and her sports, such as hockey, netball from Year 5 and softball.

At high school she again enjoyed her subjects and especially the imaginative lessons of her teachers. She was in 7 Purple, 8 Maroon and in Mr Williams 9 Orange – in those days each class had the name of a colour. She loved English, Social Sciences and was a good student in all subjects. Part of the ethos of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ was care and compassion in the community, helping people who were experiencing difficulties or were disadvantaged. This resonated with Meg from an early age.

After college Meg began Arts at university but took a break and moved to Melbourne where she began a family, but Meg returned to Tasmania after 5 years and started working in the community sector.

Meg began working very much hands-on in service delivery in community aged care with the Salvation Army. She coordinated volunteer programs in the community and health sectors before a role with Volunteering Tasmania, where she found that working in a peak body allowed her to focus on systemic issues, policy and research.

Meg undertook a Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and moved to working with the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS). She became Deputy CEO at TasCOSS in 2015 and then manager of Anglicare Tasmania’s Social Action and Research Centre.

Advocating for change, advocating for social justice and for a better future for our people has always been important to Meg. She was interested in politics, but not parties and when she saw an opportunity to run for parliament. Though many candidates had a higher profile than Meg she was successful. She lives her values and passion every day.

Meg spoke to students about her life and passions and offered simple advice and strategies for girls to meet challenges as they grow.

Other very welcome contributors to the event included College Captain Rachel Glidden and her auntie who spoke about women's contributions and the progress in a number of areas; old scholar and parent, Kirsty Schulze, who spoke along with her mother and her daughter, three generations of students; and College Vice Captain Zoelle Lin and her mother who introduced the guest speaker and our Valdocco choir performed an inspiring performance.

Thank you to all who made this event, once again, successful.

You can see photos on our website gallery: IWD breakfast 2021.