50 students inspired at mentor dinner

Fifty year 10 female students recently attended the Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN Inspiring Young Women’s Dinner was held at the Warragul Reception and Conference Centre.

The students represented secondary schools across Baw Baw. They were joined by 50 mature age women from a range of different backgrounds.

They heard from three inspiring speakers. This year’s Ggest speakers included Elizabeth O’Callaghan, a community dietician with the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Kate Simmons, an engagement and partnership coordinator with Medicare local Gippsland and Danielle Press, the chief executive officer of Equip Super.

Former Baw Baw Shire mayor Ruth McGowan compered the evening.

A highlight of the evening was a presentation by Elizabeth and Kate who shared letters they had written to their fifteen-year-old selves. Themes covered for the evening included believing in your own abilities, not being afraid to say yes to opportunities and the importance of establishing networks and making connections.

The students had the opportunity to speak with their mentors and ask questions about their career and the pathways they undertook to get where they are today.

This year’s dinner was also a special celebration with the Inspiring Young Women program celebrating a 10 years milestone.

The Inspiring Young Women’s Dinner was f irst developed by Michelle Weatherall and Kerrie Timmins as part of the Gippsland Lead- ership Program in 2005.

Since then the Inspiring Young People program has seen more than 3000 young people and 800 guests take part and be ‘inspired’. In recognition of this milestone, Michelle Weatherall of the Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN was presented with a memento of the occasion by Kim McFarlane, a member of the LLEN board.