What an absolutely WOW of a day we had at the annual ‘Women of Worth’ Day of Friendship on Sunday July 21st!!

The Shule was buzzing all day with the sights and sounds of 130 women (and one man!), chatting and hugging, laughing and crying, singing and dancing, eating and drinking, watching and listening! Women of all ages from all over Sydney, gathered at The Great to enjoy a full day of activities, discussions and LOTS of laughter and chatter! The feedback was amazing, and it certainly had an impact on many of the attendees.

With a friendship bracelet attached, a cuppa and a ‘dance card’ in hand, the noisy speed-friending session started a day full of new and old connections and reconnections.

Our 16 wonderful speakers and performers delivered with passion and spirit, with the focus on celebrating friendship and sharing ideas, stories and experiences. The range of topics was varied and extensive – and the criteria for each session was it had to be totally WOW!

Starting with understanding The Significance & Styles of Friendship, child psychologist Belinda Blecher and sociologist Karina Veal defined the different types of friendships, how they change and adapt at milestone moments and how friendship supports good physical and mental well-being in women.

Julie McCrossin AM facilitated a lively session ‘The Two of Us’ - Unlikely Friends, celebrating the life-enhancing power of friendship through the experience of three very different and unlikely friendships that just ‘work’. Illana Sussman and Myfi Schostakowski from Mum for Mum, Susan Hertzberg and Debra Marks friends since Batmitzvah, and Julie and her school friend Sophie Inwald, all brought the history of their friendships to life with humour and compassion.

Jackie Loeb comic, actor, singer and writer had us rolling with laughter with her hilarious comedy act and musical performance about friendship, “I Really Am Lovely” Celebrating Female Friendships accompanied by pianist Michelle Lowy-Goldman who had us up singing and dancing in the aisles and all the way to lunch!

The food was delicious and abundant and gave another opportunity to talk and meet new friends before doing Art Activity, with art therapist Amy Hersch, creating our very own ‘Tree of Life’.

The pointy end of the day was a presentation from Danielle Jaku-Greenfield on How To Navigate Uncomfortable Conversations In Friendships, learning how we manage conflict and confrontation in order to keep friendships intact and us composed.

Our final session was held during afternoon tea with a panel discussing The Power of Friendship On Social Media. Angela Zinn moderated Tracy Fischl from WIZO, Julie Klimt from ORAH & Susie Rosen form Friday Night FB page, who have all successfully created and maintained women’s friendships using networking and social media in a really positive way.

The day ended with a final group photo and promises to meet up with new and old friends.

Caroline Lewis OAM, MC and curator of the day said “It was a joyous moment in time to see and hear the sweet sounds of a room full of talking and laughing women! In a year of solemnity, lost friendships and profound sadness, it was wonderful to bring this number of diverse women together in friendship and in a most positive way. Great Women will continue to create engaging events to bring diverse groups of women together for good.”

Stay tuned for next year's WOW ‘Woman of Worth’ and other Great Women activities and events coming up!