This article was prepared by the Women of Note Committee
A Memorable Gathering
On 8 November 2025, 32 women gathered at Mr. Winston’s, the private room attached to Niche on Bridge, a restaurant in Richmond that has played host to many Women of Note functions since 2012.
The occasion was part celebration, part farewell, and part inspiration for the future.
Partly, it was a lunch celebrating 30 years of Women of Note’s support for Guides Victoria, although, in preparation for the speech she gave, Heather Barton discovered that plans for the organisation began as early as 1989.
Partly, it was to say farewell to this particular support organisation.
Partly, it was to hear about ways that the women who have been so important to Guides may still be able to remain involved.
Invitations and Atmosphere
The WON committee invited all the women who have been ‘on the list’ since 2012, plus any Guide leaders who were involved in the Leaders for Life program and could be contacted. Word filtered out that there was a special lunch being planned, and the result was the biggest gathering of members since the days of the Melbourne Mentor Breakfasts, which were the best-known project that WON handled.
Guests were greeted with drinks and generous canapes (which were so big we almost didn’t need a meal). The level of chat in the room increased as more and more women arrived.
We sat down at four tables of eight, not too big for good conversation. Robyn Whiteley acted as MC, which included reading some very special emails received from people unable to attend, including former Senator Kay Patterson, a foundation member; Jennifer Darbyshire, who has retired from her banking roles and now serves on five boards, one of which required her to be in London; Helen Bath (involved with the Ballarat Mentor Breakfasts) who was deep-sea diving in The Philippines; and Rosemary Nixon, who was in Japan on her way home from India. WON Committee chair, Lynne Cox, was unable to be present because her return flight from visiting a grandchild in the UK, landed after the lunch was over. A full list of apologies was placed on each table.
Remembering and Looking Ahead
The opportunity was also taken to remember the many women who had roles in WON but are no longer with us.
Vicki de Hoedt, Assistant Commissioner (Interim), Guiding Victoria, spoke briefly about the Girl Guides Victoria Alumni Network. This network will launch in 2026, with the aim of allowing former Brownies, Guides and Rangers, to stay connected, and inspire the next generation of girls to grow with confidence and courage. After the lunch, Vicki said, ‘It was indeed a significant day and I have been very inspired by meeting such warm, impressive and joyous women.’
After the main course was served, Heather Barton gave a brief history of WON, from its beginnings through the Melbourne Mentor Breakfasts and the associated mentor breakfasts held in other parts of the State. She also talked about the Leaders for Life program and then the subsequent meetings at Niche, to which various speakers have been invited. Heather put in a huge amount of research but condensed it to fit into the time allowed. Her full presentation will be preserved for the record.
Updates and Future Events
Jan McMenamin took the opportunity to talk about developments at Britannia Park and a program she has developed with Mauritius to pass on Guide belts that came to light at the museum there. Subsequent to the lunch, Jan sent the following email: ‘As a result of some lovely donors at the lunch I have been able to send the next box to Mauritius. I’ve also had an offer, from someone travelling to Mauritius, to take a 5kg box with them as they visit family at Christmas time. I’m confident of being able to send more soon.’
Glenda Fleischer from Daylesford announced that there will be a gathering on 22 March 2026 at the Daylesford Mills Market for anyone with a Guiding connection. In fact, it was Jan McMenamin who said, at the last WON lunch, that she didn’t see why thinking about Guides should be restricted to Thinking Day; why not do it on any Sunday in the year that falls on the 22nd of any month? Glenda took up the idea for 2025 and has already planned for 2026.
Over tea and coffee and delicious petit fours, Mary Martin, Secretary of the WON Committee, thanked the speakers and Robyn, and the members present, then outlined the financial history relating to Melbourne Mentor Breakfasts, including sponsorships and donations received, contributions over the years from members and friends, and the WON contributions to various Guiding projects including Leaders for Life and regional Mentor Breakfasts.
It was with some reluctance that the stayers left at 4.00 p.m., when the room was being cleared by restaurant staff.
The day was a true success, and tributes must be paid to Winnie Lam, who took care of financial matters, and kept us pretty much to time; to Mary Martin for her secretarial duties; and to Lynne Cox, Chair of the WON Committee, for her inspiration (she was the driving force for this special lunch) and her continuing guidance and support even while overseas.
Special note of thanks from the Women of Note Committee
The Committee would like to thank Heather for her inspiring speech, which brought back lots of memorable moments, and Robyn for her tireless efforts in supporting the Committee over the years by keeping track of members and sending all the invitations and interesting reports.
Most of all, thank you to all the members and friends for your contribution, participation and support over so many years.
Although we say farewell at this stage to Women of Note, that does not mean that members will stop contributing and supporting Guiding and other worthwhile charitable organisations.
We look forward to new initiatives and functions and to meeting all members and friends in the not-too-distant future. In fact, we have heard, since the lunch, from Karen Chatto, Victoria’s Guiding Manager, that she has already received a number of expressions of interest for the Guides Alumni that Vicki mentioned!