Small Steps 4 Hannah International Women's Day

Celebrate International Women's Day 2024 with a special gathering filled with delectable cuisine and inspiring conversation. The 2024 International Women's Day campaign theme is #InspireInclusion. For International Women's Day 2024 and beyond, let's inspire Inclusion. When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.

This is a fundraising event for Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation. We welcome you to our IWD annual Luncheon with our Ambassador Frances Whiting as one of our Guest Speakers along with Melissa Downes and Jessica Lodge from Channel 9 News. Our Foundation celebrates Women each International Women's Day and recognise the important qualities each and every one of you have and how important it is to celebrate and acknowledge all Women collectively.

The event will consist of a two course luncheon and a two hour drinks package. There will be a cash bar along with superb entertainment, raffles and auctions to help us reach our fundraising goals.Our fundraising focus for 2024 is to assist with the roll out of our two Educational Programs - "H.A.L.T." to commence in schools in the South East and "Hannah's Story" which is already being presented in Corporations here in Queensland. We will also continue to help small grass roots charities who need assistance with their DFV Programs and goals.

Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support in attending our IWD Luncheon. We can't wait to see you all at this incredible event!

Remember to book as one Group if you would like to be seated together.

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Guest Speaker: Frances Whiting, Author, Feature Writer and National Columnist.

Frances Whiting is one of Australia's best known and favourite columnists. For more than twenty years her weekly Sunday Mail column has engaged readers in the highs, lows and the wonderful of the every day. She is also an award-winning journalist and Senior Feature writer for Q Magazine in the Courier Mail. She has published two collections of her columns: Oh To Be A Marching Girl and That's A Home Run Tiger! and a novel, Walking on Trampolines.

A keen advocate for improving literacy in schools, Frances mentors would-be-writers, visits schools regularly and also speaks to University students regularly about journalism as a career choice.

A former school teacher, Frances's keen interest in children is reflected in her charity work. As an ambassador for the Make a Wish Foundation, the Cressbrook Committee and the Queensland Emcee for all the Kids Help Line Breakfast series each year, Frances is also the Ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease foundation and regularly lends her support to many other charitable organisations.

Guest Speaker: Melissa Downes, Nine News Presenter and the podcast series 'Hannah's Story'.

Melissa Downes is a popular media identity who's graced Queensland's television screens for nearly 30 years, presenting Nine News Queensland with Andrew Lofthouse for 15 years.

During her time as weeknight presenter, the well-respected journalist has covered just about every topic relevant to Queensland - from State Elections to many natural disasters: fires, drought, cyclones and floods, like those that hit Brisbane in 2022 and 2011, hosting hours of rolling coverage, as well as Cyclone Debbie and its aftermath in 2017. Downes also covered the Royal Wedding in London in 2011.

Aside from her work in television, Downes has a strong commitment to charity. She regularly hosts fundraising events and in 2016 trekked 250km across the Simpson Desert to raise funds for Youngcare. Born and raised in Brisbane, Melissa is a proud Queenslander and loves calling the River city home. Downes is married to D-J Wendt, owner of music group The Ten Tenors. The couple has two daughters.

Guest Speaker:  Jessica Lodge, Senior Producer on the Brisbane Nine News Team and podcast series "Hannah's Story"

Jess Lodge is a Senior TV Producer with Nine News Queensland.

Throughout her journalism career she has reported across multiple networks and cities covering everything from politics to crime to natural disasters. The majority of her early career was with the ABC, before spending a year in Toronto at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation producing on national current affairs programs.

Her passion for producing developed while working on the ABC’s ‘News Breakfast’ national morning show in Melbourne. But her passion for storytelling began as a young reporter in Queensland’s regional bureaus, sharing local community stories. Now, with experience under her belt, Jess is combining these two passions - producing and storytelling - to focus on impactful and meaningful journalism that can help create change, or simply add to the conversation.

Abby Coleman B105 - Our Emcee and Ambassador