The Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala brings the community together to celebrate women’s achievements while supporting local organisation Big Yellow Umbrella.
As dusk settles over Camden’s historic town centre, the Camden Civic Centre begins to glow with quiet anticipation. Cars arrive in steady intervals, their headlights briefly illuminating sandstone façades and the soft silhouettes of gum trees along the street. Inside the venue, tables are laid, glasses catch the light, and conversations begin to rise in a gentle hum.
The evening gathering is more than a formal event. The Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala has become a moment in the local calendar when community, recognition and reflection meet around a shared table.
Guests arrive in small groups – colleagues, friends, mothers and daughters. There is laughter in the foyer, introductions exchanged over welcome drinks, and the sense that the night ahead will offer something more than speeches and ceremony.
For Camden, the gala represents both a celebration and a quiet acknowledgment of the work happening every day across the community.
Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala Brings The Community Together
Over the years, the Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala has grown into one of the council’s most meaningful annual gatherings. Now in its sixth year, the event has established a rhythm that blends civic recognition with personal storytelling.
The evening unfolds gradually. Guests settle into their seats as the hall fills with conversation and anticipation. A two-course meal is served, glasses are raised, and the atmosphere shifts from casual arrival to shared purpose.
While the gala celebrates the achievements of women locally and globally, it also focuses on the power of collective effort within the Camden community. Each year, funds raised through the event are directed toward organisations that work quietly but tirelessly behind the scenes.
In 2026, that support found its way to Big Yellow Umbrella, a Narellan-based organisation dedicated to strengthening the community through connection, services and opportunity.
By the end of the evening, more than $23,000 had been raised – a figure that reflects both generosity and a strong sense of local commitment.
The Meaning Behind The Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala
International Women’s Day is observed globally on 8 March, marking both the achievements of women and the ongoing pursuit of gender equality.
In Camden, the Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala translates that global message into a local gathering. The event offers a space where community leaders, residents and advocates can come together to recognise progress while acknowledging the work still ahead.
The 2026 theme, #GiveToGain, framed the evening’s conversations. It reflected a simple but powerful idea: when individuals and organisations offer support, opportunity expands.
The theme was evident in the event’s purpose. Funds raised will allow Big Yellow Umbrella to provide volunteering opportunities, accredited work placements through Registered Training Organisation partnerships, and pathways that help local women build confidence and independence.
These opportunities are rarely headline stories, but they form the foundation of community life.
A Voice For The Evening At The Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala
The highlight of the night came with the keynote address from Jelena Dokic.
Known internationally for her career as a professional tennis player and now as a respected broadcaster and analyst, Dokic has also become a powerful advocate for resilience and personal strength. Her story – one that spans sporting success, personal hardship and public reinvention – resonates far beyond the world of tennis.
Standing before a room filled with community leaders and local residents, her address carried both honesty and reflection.
Moments of laughter mixed with quieter pauses as she spoke about perseverance, identity and the importance of finding supportive communities.
In a setting like the Camden Civic Centre, the words felt less like a formal keynote and more like a conversation shared across the room.
Recognising Achievement At The Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala
One of the evening’s most anticipated moments is the presentation of the Camden Woman of the Year Award.
The award recognises women who contribute significantly to the life of the region – often through volunteer work, leadership or community advocacy. The stories behind these nominations reveal the many ways people shape their communities beyond public recognition.
Throughout the night, guests also heard reflections from Camden’s Mayor, Therese Fedeli, who spoke about the importance of gathering together to acknowledge the work and achievements of women.
Her remarks emphasised the role of organisations like Big Yellow Umbrella, which provide services and programs that connect residents with opportunities, support networks and each other.
The atmosphere throughout the evening remained warm and reflective – a room filled not with formality alone but with a shared sense of respect.
The Quiet Impact Of A Local Gathering
As the evening moves toward its close, the tone softens.
Conversations continue around tables, business cards change hands, and groups linger near the doors reluctant to let the night end too quickly. The formal program may conclude, but the connections formed during the Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala often extend well beyond the event itself.
For some guests, the night offers inspiration. For others, it provides a chance to reconnect with colleagues or discover organisations making a difference locally.
The impact of the evening, however, becomes clearer in the weeks that follow. The funds raised will translate into real opportunities – volunteering roles, training pathways and moments of confidence for women building new futures.
Outside, the quiet streets of Camden return to their usual calm.
Inside the Civic Centre, the lights dim slowly, leaving behind the memory of a gathering shaped by generosity, reflection and the shared belief that communities grow stronger when people lift one another up.
Event Details
Event: Camden Council International Women’s Day Gala
Date: Thursday 5 March 2026
Time: 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: Camden Civic Centre, Camden NSW
Purpose: Celebrating women’s achievements while raising funds for community organisation Big Yellow Umbrella
Official Information: https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/annual-signature-events/2026-international-womens-day-gala