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PILBARA 'WOMEN IN EDUCATION' 2004 CONFERENCE

Proceedings commenced on a Friday evening at the Pilbara Art Gallery Café. While the women gathered and networked, local artists, Kurt Lockett and Greg Parker created four artistic pieces, which were raffled at the end of the evening for Kurt’s beloved S.A.F.E. fund (Save Animals From Euthanasia). 

Donna Walker, Deputy Principal of Dampier Primary School welcomed all at the gathering and introduced Keynote Speaker, Louise Bywaters - teacher, consultant, leader and shopkeeper!

As time marches on, Louise has no wish to grow old gracefully, she’d rather “… go into the slide with some drama” and puts out the challenge for women to choose their own journey and then enjoy the ride! We were prompted to consider whether we were achieving ‘macro time’, developing ‘power packs’ and making our mark on the social landscape.  

Heads were nodding, thoughts were spinning, Louise spoke to each and every one of us so what jumped out and grabbed other's attention?

  • The invitation to take charge of one's own life
  • The need to 'polish' something other than the physical self
  • The importance of believing in dreams

  • The recognition that teachers are the only practitioners who deal with 30 clients at a time, giving them all individual attention.

  • The need to examine one's 'drivers', to identify one's passions
  • The need to find where one's energy comes from and to charge one's power pack
  • The recognition that while beauty may fade, dumb is forever
  • The knowledge that "tri" means the meeting of the three Goddesses and "via" is the way you get there, which equals TRIVIA and is nothing to be made light of
  • The need to be abundant in one's thinking
  • The challenge to 'go for gold'

Stirring words for a rapt audience of women of all ages and some supportive men, including our artists and the cafe staff.  It was a wonderful way to commence the conference and set the scene for the busy, productive schedule ahead.

Finally, the lucky winners of the art works were drawn by Kurt - congratulations Ann, Jess, Carla and Angie  - your memories of the evening will be lasting ones.

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