Our People
22 March, 2026
Pyrenees women celebrated for community spirit
WOMEN from across the Pyrenees district came together in Beaufort recently to mark International Women's Day, with local community advocates sharing stories of service, resilience and support. The event featured speakers from the Country Women's Association branch in Beaufort including Ann Bunting, Marianne Troup and Catherine Tweddle, alongside Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Simone Field, winner of the 2025 Family Violence Practitioner of the Year Award.
Each speaker reflected on what it means to support community, particularly in regional areas.
Catherine Tweddle spoke about the history of the Beaufort CWA and its longstanding contribution to the township, including helping fund the town’s public restrooms.
She also highlighted the group’s recent recognition after winning a Victorian award in 2025 for attracting new members.
Ann Bunting spoke about the CWA’s strong focus on social justice and the causes supported through branch fundraising.
She praised the work of the Go Girls Foundation, which supports women who have been unable to complete their education due to homelessness, domestic violence, isolation or mental health challenges.
“They set up a program for women who hadn’t been able to complete their education, either as a result of homelessness, domestic violence, migrant women in isolation, people with mental health issues, and the foundation is long-term support for these people,” she said.
Mrs Bunting also spoke about the CWA’s involvement in the national Hope in a Suitcase program, which provides children entering foster care with a suitcase filled with new, age-appropriate items.
“We are very involved in the Hope in a Suitcase program,” she said.
“The stipulation is that everything must be new. These kids have come from a traumatic situation and are going into a new situation and so with this they are given a carry bag that includes age-appropriate things. I think it’s an incredible and worthwhile program.”
She said the need for the program was significant.
“The really scary figure is that from January to July last year, just between here, Echuca and Shepparton, 689 cases were delivered,” she said.
“Next time you buy some of our cakes at the cake stall, think that the proceeds of this cake stall are going to Hope in a Suitcase.”
Marianne Troup told the story of her families involvement with the CWA growing up and her eventual move to join the CWA in 2016 following the Lexton fires, wanting to give back to her community.
“Through CWA I was able to support BlazeAid and help in practical ways during that difficult time.” she said
“It’s about women supporting each other and making a difference where they live.”
Mrs Troup said the organisation had also supported her own family through education grants, with her daughter receiving assistance to help cover the cost of school books. “That support makes a real difference to family and reflects the CWA’s commitment to education,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Simone Field grew up in Avoca and spoke about joining Victoria Police at a time when there was a strong push to recruit more women.
“Christine Nixon was the chief commissioner at the time, and she was all about getting women into this job, because we just don't have enough women, and we still don't,” she said.
She candidly reflected on the challenges of police work and her experience supporting vulnerable people.
“I didn't love it, to be honest. You're helping people, and you're learning on the job, and never seeing them again. And I found it really challenging,” she said.
“Someone said to me when I was on this job, ‘You've now got front row tickets to the greatest show on Earth,’ and it's true. You could not write some of the stuff that we see, and do some great parts of the job, but there are some, parts that challenge you, that's for sure.”
After returning to the region and joining Ararat Police, Senior Sergeant Field moved into the family violence unit.
“I went into the family violence unit as a detective sergeant, looking after our high-risk family violence families,” she said.
“My job now is to train our predominantly male workforce in the themes of family violence and hopefully giving them an understanding of what is required to protect our most vulnerable, particularly our children,” she said.
The event highlighted the many ways women continue to shape and strengthen their communities, from advocacy and charity to education, policing and local connection.
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