General News
19 May, 2024
Volunteer Week: Women who make good things happen
A DETERMINED group of Loddon women have spent the best part of a decade transforming a disused railway station into a growing hub for community connection. Kooyoora Women’s Network was established in 2007 and has since set about bringing people...
A DETERMINED group of Loddon women have spent the best part of a decade transforming a disused railway station into a growing hub for community connection.
Kooyoora Women’s Network was established in 2007 and has since set about bringing people together.
Regular dinner meetings throughout the year have interesting, enlightening and thought-provoking guest speakers.
The group annually recognises a Loddon resident for the outstanding voluntary contributions to the community - previous recipients have been honoured for unselfish service to local groups,. churches and organising or being part of town events.
Yet it the background work that members of Kooyoora Women’s Network quietly perform, arranging support and assistance for people after natural disasters.
Members organised a community barbecue on the 10th anniversary of the 2011 floods that impacted Bridgewater and other Loddon communities.
Since being granted use of the old Bridgewater Railway Station, the network has since had many community groups make use of the facility.
Bridgewater Garden Club is one group that holds its regular meetings in the old station.
The network has also developed a partnership with the nearby primary school and Loddon Plains Landcare Network with a community garden taking shape in the station precinct. Development of the precinct has also been supported with grants from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
Kooyoora Women’s Network members have also been part of the organising committee for Women on Farms Gatherings hosted in the Loddon Shire.
The old station is now also a Foodshare location to families in need of food and provisions during challenging times.