Leading the way

Catherine Hay, of Finley, has notched up another milestone during a long and satisfying career in childcare.

Catherine is celebrating 20 years of providing Family Day Care through Intereach (previously known as Deniliquin and District Family Day Care).
She describes her time with Intereach Family Day Care as being “such a privilege”, with the most special part of her work being “the many beautiful children I have cared for over the years and all the fun we have had together”. Catherine says there have been so many wonderful learning opportunities.

“You become part of each child’s family as you work in partnership with them. The children often tell me, ‘I love you Cathy’, and I feel the same way about them. It is very humbling when, years later after children have moved away, they come back to visit you and tell you some of their favourite memories.

“You develop such a bond with your families that you can become lifelong friends.”

She recalled the time when a child arrived back from an overseas family holiday and presented her with a gift she had bought because Catherine was “one of her special people”.
“I have received many beautiful hand-made cards and gifts from my little friends. I even had a child offering to buy me a new dress (well, her Mum would buy the dress!) so I could attend a family wedding and watch the child walk down the aisle as a flower girl.”

Intereach Family Day Care nominated supervisor Bec Fitzpatrick says Catherine has always provided a caring and nurturing approach not only to the children in her care but their extended family.
“Catherine is such a committed educator, always looking for ways to improve the quality of care she provides and ensuring children’s learning, development and wellbeing is at the forefront of her decision making.
“It is such a privilege to work with an educator that gives so much to her role; 20 years is an amazing milestone,” Bec said.
Catherine says there have been many changes to Family Day Care over the last 20 years through regulation, electronic timesheets, the Early Years Learning Framework and child development.

“Intereach Family Day Care has been a great place to work through these changing times, and I have valued their constant support, professionalism and encouragement over the years,” she said.

Catherine’s quality of care has been recognised during her career, and in 2015 she was the regional winner in the national Family Day Care awards. At the time she said she was “very honoured”, adding “I have loved each child in my care and see each child as being so much fun, eager to learn with so much to offer. But most importantly, I view each child as being unique and very special.”

In Family Day Care circles, Catherine Hay is, herself, “very special”.

To learn more about Intereach and its Family Day Care services go to www.intereach.com.au or phone 1300 488 226. The community and human service provider also offers support and assistance across community services, children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers.

An inspirational poem, specially written for the day by Mary Catanzariti, was one of many highlights at the International Women’s Day event in Griffith on Monday, March 8.

Mary’s attendance at the function to present her poems was organised by Intereach, which has supported her over a number of years to achieve her goals. These included obtaining her licence (she had previously used the Intereach Community Transport service), publishing her poetry, and becoming a public speaker.

At public speaking engagements Mary, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, shares her story of overcoming adversity and getting the best out of life.

The IWD event also featured Griffith woman and human rights lawyer Lucy Geddes, who spoke of her achievements and passion for women and law.

More than 60 women attended the picnic and various activities at Pioneer Park Museum, organised by the Griffith Women on Fire group with the help of funding and support from Intereach. This included cooking dishes which were gratefully shared by all at lunch.

Another of the day’s many highlights was a performance by Griffith’s Indian-Sri Lankan dance troupe, ‘Rhythm’. Attendees were also able to participate in drumming activities.

In an inspiring speech, Ms Geddes told those gathered that “women are the fabric that hold our community together”. She shared her journey from Griffith High School graduate to international human rights lawyer, with a message to “keep moving forward”.

“Every day in Griffith there are women who are making a difference quietly to those around them. International Women’s Day is a reminder to celebrate our potential as women as change-makers and leaders in our community,” she said.

Intereach Community Links Project Leader, Simone Murphy, who helped organise the day, described it as an “awe-inspiring event”.

“Intereach is delighted to have been able to support the Women on Fire Committee in bringing this 2021 IWD event to fruition.  The Women on Fire volunteers are an amazing group of women dedicated to promoting inclusion for women from culturally diverse backgrounds in the Griffith community.

“It is extremely satisfying to be part of such a successful day that celebrated the achievements of women. But, as we were reminded by Lucy, there is still much more to be done if women are truly to be treated equally in Australian society.”

Intereach team members from across its footprint (it has 17 offices in northern/central Victoria and the NSW Murray/Riverina) also participated in a range of International Women’s Day events.

Intereach staff across its offices in southern NSW and northern/central Victoria are raising their hands high to support International Women’s Day.

Staff are joining the challenge to pledge their support for the day and its theme #ChooseToChange. The Intereach challenge is being led by its International Women’s Day champion, Mardi Chartres.

The #ChooseToChange theme this year aims to highlight the importance of challenging biases and misconceptions, in the interest of creating a more inclusive and gender-equal world.

The global initiative is encouraging supporters to raise their hand high to show they are committed to ‘choose to challenge and call out inequality’.

“Members of our Intereach team have joined the challenge, pledging support by holding their hand up high and taking a photograph as recognition of their commitment,” Mrs Chartres said.

“These photos, from across our footprint, are our way of saying we support the day and its theme.

“As a collective, we have the means to challenge inequality, call out bias, question stereotypes and help forge an inclusive world,” Mrs Chartres said.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity, as groups come together to celebrate

women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality. The day is marked annually on March 8.

IWD has support of the 17 Intereach offices, which operate across the Riverina/Murray, central and northern Victoria and the Mallee, and its team of more than 400 employees and 100 volunteers. Intereach supports children and families, older people, people living with disability, mental health and carers.