Women from across Australia listened to authors and entertainers in Sydney on 23 July at "Time Out For Women". The day-long symposium, sponsored by Deseret Book Company, was held at Olympic Park. Each attendee donated personal hygiene items, which were there assembled into "possibility packs" to be given to women in refuges.
Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Human Services and Australian Labour Party Representative for Sydney, addressed the crowd of 2,000. Catherine Gander, Executive Officer of NSW Women's Refuge Movement, received the Possibility Packs and expressed appreciation.
"Time Out for Women" is designed to uplift and inspire women and assure them of their value. The events always include the making of Possibility Packs, which are given to local shelters.
When asked about the symposium experience, Jenny Xu of the Ashfield Ward, Harbour Stake, felt one of the speakers "answered questions I had been pondering." Carolyn Woolley, Ourimbah Ward in the Newcastle Stake, met up with her daughters there and said, "It was a wonderful event--I felt inspired and uplifted."
One conference-goer, remaining anonymous, bought fifty tickets and arranged a bus for her family and friends. Because she attended, she said, she has chosen to become a better person.
Featured Speakers included:
Sheri Dew, author, President and CEO of Deseret Book
Hilary Weeks, singer, author, songwriter
Virginia Pearce, MS in social work, author
Brad Wilcox, Ph.D, associate professor at BYU, author
Laurel Christensen, Director "Time Out for Women," motivational speaker