International Women’s Day Breakfast Celebration
Empowering, Equipping, and Elevating Women in Today’s Society
In the heart of the Yarra Ranges, surrounded by lush greenery and a spirit of community, Cire’s inaugural International Women’s Day Breakfast on March 6th, 2025 brought together stories of resilience, empowerment, and hope.
Dawn broke with a lively performance by Oxley College’s wind ensemble, Sforzando, under the direction of Christine Clarke. The sound was perfect amongst the greenery and bushland that surrounds the Hub.
The Oxley students were happy to share in a delicious continental breakfast prepared by Emily Sullivan and Rebecca Raphael of Cire Training. Over toasted croissants, home-made muffins, and ripened local fruits, the crowd laughed and listened.
Helen Ruddell, Cire’s Executive Manager – Training and Community Hubs spoke of the first International Women’s Day which was not as recent as one might expect. In 1911, a day was announced to advocate for women’s rights, including suffrage, better working conditions, and gender equality. It was observed in Europe by men and women, with over a million attending rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. In 2025, the day has become a broader celebration of women’s achievements and a call to action for gender equality worldwide.
EMPOWER
‘Everyone Can Be Kind’. Cire’s keynote speaker was the tenacious and compassionate author, Edita Mujkić. Originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has lived in Melbourne, Australia, since 1994.
 
The story she shared began in a familiar setting to many of us. A normal night for an educated woman, her husband, and two young children. She expected the next day to be a normal one: a drive to school and work, continuing her family’s modest, hardworking lifestyle, same as any other.
In the morning, she woke to her country at war.
Her courageous tale is best told in her award-winning memoir, Between Before and After, but her words over breakfast were more than enough to instil a message of hope and a push towards community.
‘The generosity of countless people is what I remember,’ Edita says. ‘You don’t think it much, but even a single clean sheet can mean so much to a struggling family.’
Edita is now a National Ambassador for the Refugee Council of Australia, empowering everyday Australians with the knowledge that even small things, if coming from a place of kindness, will contribute to a greater outcome for others.
The Facts
The Australian Government 2024 Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality Report notes:
- 3 million women are looking for work or additional hours.
- Women constitute approximately 69% of all part-time employees and are more likely to work multiple jobs.
And a fact that Cire can verify through our experience: Older women are one of the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness.
 
There is always time for kindness and room for improvement. The Australian agricultural sector is one place to find facts worth celebrating:
- Women are increasingly staking their claim in the agricultural sector, with more than 88,000 women working in agriculture in 2023.
- From 2016 to 2021, the number of women employed in agriculture grew by 7,105 workers, representing almost two-thirds (66%) of the overall expansion in the agricultural industry.
EQUIP
The gathering was treated to a talk by Alison Jones, leader of Wandin Valley Farms and President of the Cherry Growers Australia. Her work ensures that Australian cherries continue to be recognised for their quality and flavour on a global scale.
Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the cherry farming industry, Alison has always been passionate about continuing the family tradition of producing premium quality cherries. Along her journey, she made good choices, poor choices, and learned to take risks with support from her loved ones.
It’s okay to find yourself lost, she learned, as long as you find yourself again. Take time, look at a map, and surround yourself with people you trust. That’s how you navigate a new place in your life.
Her tale featured all that International Women’s Day is here to celebrate. Alison built her success through a passion for her family and their work. Wandin Valley Farms has flourished under her supportive leadership and highly motivated team. As a woman in business, Alison highlights the importance of family, friends, and community.
‘Be kind, be genuine, be yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be anyone else.’
ELEVATE
How fortunate are we to receive such a message. Gone are the days of women and girls donning men’s clothes to be admitted to places of learning, as Émilie du Châtelet did in the 18th Century. A brilliant self-educated mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, her contribution to science was her French translation and commentary on Isaac Newton’s work which remains relevant today.
In 2025, we celebrate each other’s unique identity and potential. Cire supports efforts to even the statistics, and Helen is proud to continue developing the initiatives with her team to Empower, Equip and Elevate Women in Today’s Society.
Cire’s First Impressions has assisted over 200 women across the Yarra Ranges in walking pathways to employment and community engagement. Our continued plan is to educate and outfit those in need through personalised training, professional mentoring, and providing quality attire.
First Impressions is ready to help long-term unemployed women gain employment and independence. With kindness and support, we seek to empower women to find their success and be who they are – their wonderful, unique selves.
    
Thank you to our friends for their generous donations for our prize draw: Chandon, Combe Yarra Valley, Four Pillars, Tokar Estate Winery, and Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.
Are you interested in mentoring our program candidates? Contact us to find out how you can make a difference.
