EXPLORE
International Women's Day, 2026
WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER ROCHELLE COURTENAY
FRIDAY 13 MARCH, 2026
This year's theme: balance the scales
Join Women in North East Network for our International Women’s Day Lunch, a relaxed and fun afternoon designed to bring women together to connect, reflect, and be part of something bigger.
​
This one's going to be special: we've secured Rochelle Courtenay, Founder of Share the Dignity, to come to Mansfield as our keynote speaker for International Women’s Day Lunch, 2026!
What does “balancing the scales” really look like in North East Victoria?
For us, it looks like women backing women. It looks like shared stories, local action, and practical support. It looks like recognising resilience, while creating space for fairness, opportunity, and real change.
​
What the lunch includes:
​
-
A sit-down lunch with women from across the region
-
An inspiring keynote address from Rochelle Courtenay
-
A panel discussion featuring inspiring and insightful local women
-
Raffles, prizes and a silent auction all donated by generous local businesses!
The speakers & panelists
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rochelle Courtenay
FOUNDER OF SHARE THE DIGNITY
As the unstoppable force behind Share the Dignity, a national charity dedicated to ending period poverty in Australia, Rochelle Courtenay has a simple yet profound vision: a world where period products are freely accessible, and dignity is never compromised by menstruation.
Her journey began in 2015, after reading about women using socks and newspapers to manage their periods. Despite self-doubt and zero experience, this former personal trainer took action, believing from little things big things come. With a reputation for fearless advocacy, Australia’s “Pad Lady” has spent the past ten years not only working to change policies and outdated ideas that don’t serve women and girls, but has created a cultural shift that shows with enough moxie and fire in your belly, you can ignite a movement and change lives on a national scale.
With her eye on the next 10 years, Rochelle is ramping up Share The Dignity’s mission, evolving to tackle whole-person holistic wellbeing, addressing deeper systemic issues preventing people from living with dignity. If anyone can do it, Rochelle can.
PANELLISTS
Nola Evans, OAM
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL RECIPIENT
Nola Evans OAM is a lifelong Bonnie Doon local, retired nurse and community leader within the Mansfield Shire. A witness to the town’s 1955 relocation, Nola has dedicated more than four decades to community development and heritage preservation. She was awarded Mansfield Shire Citizen of the Year in 2003 and received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2025 for her outstanding service.
Bonnie Clark
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND MANSFIELD SHIRE COUNCILLOR
Bonnie is a local community development specialist, a Councillor with Mansfield Shire, a single mum, and a passionate advocate for strong, inclusive rural communities. Known for speaking up on the issues that matter, Bonnie brings lived experience in community recovery, leadership in challenging times, and a deep commitment to fairness and dignity for all. She is driven by the belief that real change happens when women back themselves, back each other, and aren’t afraid to take up space at the table.
%20Dowling.jpg)
Marian (Maz) Dowling
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AND LEADERSHIP MENTOR
Marian (Maz) is actively retired and a resident of the Mansfield district for 35 years, moving from a corporate governance background in Melbourne. Initially involved with the SES mounted group and the Merrijig community, this commitment to volunteering grew exponentially to embrace events for the Cancer Council (Relay for Life), Mansfield & District Community Bank, and the Mansfield Racecourse. A 2002 graduate of the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program, Maz strongly advocates that by strengthening your personal foundations, knowing yourself, we can enable opportunities for others through mentoring and leadership. Marian (Maz) Dowling
Dr Emily Dirksen
GP OBSTETRICIAN, WORLD CHAMPION ROWER & COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Originally from California and a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Sydney, Emily’s path to medicine began far from the consulting room. After being told she was “too small” to make the U.S. rowing team, she joined forces with three other overlooked athletes and together they stunned the sporting world by winning gold at the 1996 World Rowing Championships.
Her journey has included elite sport, coaching, teaching in underserved communities, and now more than a decade serving rural women and families in Mansfield as a GP Obstetrician. A mum of three boys and a familiar face on the sidelines of local soccer and basketball, Emily embodies grit, compassion and community spirit.
The details ...
TIME
11:30am - Doors open
12:00pm - Lunch, speakers, raffle, panel & silent auction
2:30pm - Finish
​​
​​
LOCATION
Mansfield Golf Club​​
​24 Kidston Parade, Mansfield VIC 3722
​
PRICE
​​​
$55 per person - for members
$65 per person - for non-members
$600 per table - for 10 people
​
Discounts for WiNE social members (we've emailed you a code)
​TICKETS
​
Tickets are on sale now.​
​
Sign up for a yearly WiNE Membership ($10) for a 10% discount.
Event partners + sponsors
Our International Women's Day lunch is made possible by a Community Bank Mansfield & District grant. Proof that your banking really can make a real difference!
Click through to support the businesses and organisations that support us ...
COMMUNITY BANK MANSFIELD & DISTRICT
​
Our event wouldn’t be possible without the support of our major sponsor Community Bank Mansfield & District! They do so much for our community, but their impact depends on people choosing to bank with them. The more they grow, the more they can help our community thrive.
