General News
6 March, 2026
Options aplenty to celebrate
FROM a carers’ morning tea and all-women music lineup, to awards nights, and long lunches, this month’s acknowledgment of International Women’s Day provides plenty of options to mark five decades of official recognition.
On 8 March – and every year since 1977 – women around the world recognise the United Nations (UN) International Women’s Day, which promotes women’s rights and international peace, as well as celebrating women who have made a difference in their families, workplaces and communities.
This year’s world-wide theme is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”.
Why? Because in 2026, women around the world still have only 64% of the legal rights that men hold worldwide, according to the UN’s IWD website. If progress continued at this pace, it would take 286 years to close legal protection gaps across fundamental areas of work, money, safety, family, property, mobility, business, and retirement.
In Cairns, the IWD events began today, with the Wellways Carer Gateway Hub hosting a morning tea “to connect, reflect and celebrate the many contributions women make every day”.
The morning included storytelling and acknowledging the important role carers play in supporting family members or friends who have a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, terminal illness, or is frail aged.
Tonight, at the Tanks Arts Centre, a six-artist lineup led by Australian singer/songwriter Dana Gehrman will take to Tank 5, for ‘Female Frequency’ – see page 14.
Tomorrow night, Cairns Regional Council, in partnership with Cairns Central, will host the IWD Awards, which honour women and girls whose resilience, contribution and leadership have helped shape Cairns’ past, present and future.
The ticketed event will transform Centre Stage into a glamorous evening featuring a fashion catwalk, gourmet dining, a three-hour beverage package and an all-female line-up of local entertainment.
The winners of the Award categories - Woman of the Year, Young Woman of the Year and the Women’s Recognition Award - will be announced on the night.
For a Sunday celebration, a bottomless lunch is available at Palooka restaurant in Stratford, from 12-to 3pm. The IWD ‘A Seat at Our Table’ lunch, is priced from $63.79 with tickets available at Your Tribe Australia events.
On Tuesday, March 10, Study Cairns Student Hub in Lake St will be holding an afternoon tea with cupcakes, to celebrate IWD, from 2.30 to 5pm. The event is free.
Later this month, on Saturday 21 March, the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Cairns Inc and FNQ Diverse Communities Council will host the IWD Luncheon at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort.
Starting at 11am through to 2:30pm, the afternoon will feature a fashion show; live entertainment; guest speakers, including Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, Dr Mona Mohammed, Dr Hurriyet Babacan and Mrs Chen Laichu; raffles and prizes; and a special two-course meal.
Tickets cost $70 – and are available by contacting Pauline: 0477 377 775, Kesa: 0449 101 024 or Rojina: 0452 539 698.
Rounding out the month, Cairns African Association will be celebrating IWD on Saturday, 28 March, from 1pm, at the Tigers Club.
Under the powerful theme ‘Give to Gain – When We Give, We Gain,’ the vibrant cultural event honours African women’s leadership, resilience, and collective strength with performances, authentic African cuisine, fashion, music, and storytelling. African attire is encouraged. Tickets are $35 at Eventbrite.
