SI Maylands Peninsula Art Exhibition – July 2011

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Two Soroptimist International clubs (On The Terrace and Maylands Peninsula) combined with UnitingCare West to hold an art exhibition and auction to raise money to assist the Trinity Learning Centre develop and pilot a peer mentoring program for pregnant and parenting teens.

The Trinity Learning Centre, a part of UnitingCare West, was established 25 years ago by Dr Harry Cohen (King Edward Memorial Hospital) and Rev Wes Hartley (Trinity Church) to provide academic, social, personal and emotional support to enable young mothers to continue their education. The program promotes active citizenship and provides a space for young women to share their experience of pregnancy and parenthood.

The young women are enrolled in external studies at secondary level through the School of Isolated and Distance Education or in TAFE courses. The proposed Peer Mentoring Program will train these young women to act as peer mentors to provide support for other pregnant and young parenting teens and to encourage them to continue their education. It is proposed the peer mentors will gain a Certificate II in Leadership as a result of their training, offering them another developmental pathway.

The fund-raising art exhibition and auction attracted 46 participating artists with over 140 art works on display for direct sale at the Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery in Maylands throughout the month of April. The exhibition culminated in an art auction of 36 selected works. Auctioneer Mathew Donelly facilitated the auction and well known Perth art reviewer Carl Altmann was on hand to talk about each item. Special guest, Dr Harry Cohen, a co-founder of the Trinity Learning Centre, gave a delightful overview of the early history of the development of the Centre and the need to support young mothers. A raffle of selected art pieces also contributed significantly to the fund-raising.

A working group of Soroptimist members including Anna Alderson, Rosemary Cant, Pam Eaves, and Sandie Kiely (from SI On The Terrace) and Anne Butorac, Lata Gain and Sue Mulholland (from SI Maylands Peninsula) met every two weeks from August 2010 and weekly as the exhibition and auction approached. The event was hosted by the Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery, which donated the exhibition space and curation free of charge.