SI Port Pirie Inc

Where we meet: At Sanctuary Corner Cafe (Woolworths car park area), Port Pirie on the second Tuesdays at 5:30pm. Meetings consists of either a business  meeting or occasionally a dinner meeting at a motel with a guest speaker (6 for 6-30pm start) Both formats incorporate time for friendship activities. On 5th Tuesdays of the month, social/training evening at a member's home starting at 5:30pm.
Secretary: siportpirie@siswp.org  Mail: PO Box 1010 Port Pirie 5540  Facebook: Soroptimist International Port Pirie

SI Port Pirie had our SISA patron- her Excellency Frances Adamson AC, Governor of SA- as our guest speaker on 15th March at our annual IWD lunch. We felt very honoured. It was an excellent event patronised by 135 people, including 14 students and staff from the three secondary schools, Rowan Ramsey, Federal member for Grey, Leon Stephens, Mayor of Port Pirie and Regional Council , Sue Scarman, Mayor of Northern Areas Council and Lynette Pole, Team leader of St Johns, Port Pirie.

jenny hughes oam

Jenny Marlene Hughes has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in January 2023 for service to the community through a range of organisations. 

Check out this story in the Recorder newspaper about Jenny Hughes
https://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/story/8064894/oam-for-local-teacher-and-volunteer/?cs=356

birthday celebration 

Members’ feedback - It went very well and we were happy with the amount raised. It was a very cold day, but we coped and some of us bought 2 cups of delicious soup to keep warm while in between customers. We decided we might repeat the exercise again next year.

Click here to gain more insight about this event

SI Port Pirie Club Projects and Activities

Ongoing projects

Look Good Feel Better Workshops

We facilitate 2 or 3 workshops each year at the Anglican Hall in Port Pirie for women who have recently undergone or are currently experiencing treatment for cancer. This involves liaison between the Breast care nurse at the local hospital, who assists in finding women to invite, volunteer beauticians and hairdressers as well as a relaxation therapist. Soroptimist members set up the hall, display the donated make-up kits, wigs, scarves and hats, welcome the women and provide afternoon tea. In this relaxed atmosphere, the women find moral support and a new energy. 

IN RECESS FOR 2022

Women Achievers Awards

We recognise contributions of local quiet achieving women to the community by inviting them to a dinner meeting and presenting them with a framed certificate. They are then given the opportunity to inform the members and guests about the field they work or volunteer in. An article and photo usually follow in the next week’s local newspaper so that the wider community is also aware of their achievements. (See the nomination form for the 10 categories and the dates linked with them where possible.)

Annual Bursary to Female Students

$200 is awarded to three high school girls at local secondary schools who have excelled in the area of education and leadership. This is presented at the end of year ceremonies for John Pirie Secondary School,Mid North Christian College and St Marks College by the president of our club or her representative.

Essential Packs for Women in Domestic Violence

Packs are provided to women who have sought help at the local women’s refuge. When supplies run low, members obtain more items and bathroom bags and pack about 50 kits. On two occasions these have been presented to the manager of the Refuge on November 25^th, White Ribbon Day, being an apt time to remind the community of the need to prevent violence against women and girls.

Supporting Combined Service Clubs of Port Pirie

with their Driver Reviver stall at Easter and the long weekend in October. 

Annual or frequent events

Celebrating International Women's Day Port Pirie Style

Thank you to Dr Alison Edwards for an insightful speech about female doctors , their history, achievements and disparities which can still exist.This annual lunch was attended by 80 women and men and six senior secondary school students from Port Pirie and Region. It was held at the Port Football Club rooms, which catered for the lunch with delicious gourmet finger food.

Pasty Drive - OUR FOND MEMORY

Our major fundraiser held at Baker Bears, Main Road Solomontown usually in May or early June for many years, provided us with sufficient funds for our three bursaries in leadership and education for senior school girls, plus a contribution towards a new local project each year ( eg provision of essentials packs for desperate women seeking help at the local refuge; computer, printer and white board for the use of young parents receiving training at the Parenting House run by  Boys Town under the auspices of the local Catholic Church).

Other fundraising is achieved through holding a fundraising stall at the Port Pirie market.

( For 20 years from 1991 to 2011 we ran a Second-hand Book Exchange as our major fund raiser).

This enables us to contribute towards projects in our South East Asia Pacific Federation and the current annual International project.

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