East Gippsland Days for Girls celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
First registered with the Days for Girls national body in March 2015, the group started meeting weekly the following July.
“And we are still here,” said a jubilant group leader Merle McRae.
Days for Girls groups make menstrual kits for girls and women generally in developing countries. Recent distributions in Australia have been prompted by both economic and environmental reasons.
“To the end of 2024 we had produced more than 8500 kits. The majority of these kits have been distributed to women and girls overseas. In 2024 we sent 525 kits to World Vision Canada for distribution in Burundi and Somalia, plus 100 kits for distribution in northern Bali. We also arranged for the distribution of 50 kits in East Gippsland,” Ms McRae said.
Women and girls in Australia are realising the reusable kits are far more economical than a disposable product.
“The cost is very strong influencing factor on the rise in popularity of a reusable, environmentally friendly product,” Ms McRae said.
The local group now has around 25 volunteers and still meets weekly, each Monday afternoon, to sew and assemble the kits.
“We are very fortunate that the Bairnsdale Uniting Church has supported us from the start. The church continues to provide us with working space for our volunteers, and storage for our equipment. We are extremely grateful to the church as it has also supported us financially from time to time over the years,” Ms McRae said.
The group relies on donations from the public and other organisations, as well as the occasional grant.
Donations for the group can be made to the Bairnsdale Uniting Church.
