ALL it can often take is one person to get the ball rolling, Loreto alumna Grace Beechey says.
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Grace unexpectedly found herself with her dad in a b-double truck to Bathurst this summer, chock full of donated products for fire recovery. All because she wanted to get a few to send and extended the offer to friends on social media.
Ballarat media, including The Courier, got words of Grace's collection and Grace found a whole community behind her.
Her efforts were recognised in sharing the Loreto alumnae spirit award for the school's annual International Women's Day breakfast on Friday.
One person to get the ball rolling to spark change at Loreto was student Stella Watson, who was named Loreto Woman of the day. Stella and her friends have set up a weekly, inclusive and non-judgmental catch-up for school for girls to pop by, have a chat and feel heard.
A lot of people don't have their say at school and me and my friends wanted to organise something so anyone can come and feel heard.
- Stella Watson
"A lot of people don't have their say at school and me and my friends wanted to organise something so anyone can come," Stella said. "All year levels. We've had a lot of year levels come so far but trying to get more year sevens to join in."
Loreto alumna Stefanie Seeary is using her rowing experience and love for the sport to help other girls develop courage and confidence. Stefanie was Loreto's boat captain and crew member when the school re-entered Girls' Head of the Lake and last month, Stefanie coached the open girls' division one to victory.
"I was always a quieter kid very studious, but loved rowing and just gained so much confidence from being a part of that sport, and also that club," Stefanie said. "I wanted to instill that in the girls, knowing they can go out there and do anything they want to."
Disability champion Maddie Fogarty was recognised for her community advocacy. Maddie drew on her story as part of the Heywire youth forum in Canberra. She was a guest speaker for City of Ballarat's International Women's Day event.
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