Crones in Cabaret performing their award-winning show ‘Not Dead Yet’ for the South Illawarra Older Women’s Network. Crones in Cabaret is the Sydney-based OWN Theatre Group. Photos: Supplied.
After a successful inaugural year of inspiring guest speakers, the South Illawarra Older Women’s Network is gearing up for a dynamic second year in 2025, with plans to focus on advocacy issues affecting older women, including homelessness and social isolation.
The group, founded by Wendy Saunders, has rapidly grown into a hub for connection, education, and support for women over 50 in the southern Illawarra area, with monthly meetings, expert-led talks, and plans to address pressing community challenges.
Coordinator and publicity officer Julie McDonald said while the Older Women’s Network was a national organisation, the South Illawarra branch was closely tied to the NSW office, which was where the network started in 1987.
Julie said that when Wendy put out a call in January to gauge interest in starting the South Illawarra group, it resulted in more than 60 people turning up to the first meeting.
However, she said there were some distinct differences between the umbrella organisation and South Illawarra branch.
“Their real focus at the state level is pretty much on advocacy around older women’s rights, employment of older women, issues of older women at risk of homelessness, as well as the abuse of older women, whether it be domestic violence or in aged care facilities,” she said.
Julie said it also ran online programs open to members nationally, such as tai chi, ukulele and dance.
She said there were then local groups established throughout NSW, such as the South Illawarra branch, which were about supporting women in their communities.
“The real focus for this year has been on a monthly meeting and women speakers,” she said.
Among the topics of interest so far were wellness and exercise, keeping healthy and birds in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, with members highly engaged in all topics.
“We also had some speakers on dementia, both from a prevention point of view and also talking about the support that carers need,” she said.
“Cyber security was another one we’ve had follow-up sessions on as well because people were very interested in that.”
South Illawarra Older Women’s Network committee members (l-r) Wendy Saunders, Julie McDonald and Anne Chan.
Julie said the meetings also included afternoon tea and networking to build social connections.
“Our purpose is really about linking women into existing groups and activities,” she said.
“There’s just so much that goes on in the Shellharbour, Kiama and Berry districts in particular, that for new women that come into the community, it’s really about linking them into those groups.
“We support the development of those networking opportunities, and promote advocacy on key issues that affect older women.”
She said the advocacy work would be the role of a subgroup next year, with two key issues already emerging.
“They talk about older women at risk of homelessness, which is a statewide and national issue, but it’s certainly affecting women in this community,” she said.
“Also social isolation. A lot of couples move down to this area, away from family, but they think the lifestyle is very good, and then the partner may die.
“You often find that some of the women can become quite isolated, and it’s tricky identifying them.”
Julie said the subgroup had a tough job ahead in identifying those older women at risk of homelessness or experiencing isolation due to them often being hidden.
She said not having a taxi service in Kiama only made it more challenging for those women to build networks.
“We really need to be working with the [Kiama] council and with other organisations to address some of these issues,” she said.
“So that will be a bit of a focus for next year, as well as continuing on with the monthly meetings.”
She said with many often involved in other more hands-on organisations, the group was an opportunity for members to determine what level of involvement they wished to have.
“Some come for a relaxing time, to have a bit of a social chitchat, listen to a speaker, and that’s all they really want,” she said.
“There are other people who probably want more purpose in terms of advocacy.”
A subgroup of the South Illawarra Older Women’s Network from Berry and Shoalhaven Heads areas, called The Southenders, also meet monthly for coffee and conversation.
She said interested members could join by visiting the website or emailing [email protected], with meetings likely to start again in February.
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