All Welcome at the King’s Women’s Network

There are lots of opportunities for women connected with the School to be involved and stay involved long after their children graduate.

The King’s Women’s Network (KWN) empowers women and connects them with the school community. It came about after Dr Jen George talked with several mothers of students who were graduating from Year 12. They were sad their boys were leaving and their own time at and connection with the school was at an end.

“They had invested up to thirteen years into King’s during the week and on weekends, and had made great friends, so we wanted to establish a network of women who feel connected to the school on an ongoing basis,” she says.

With her background in community governance, Dr George founded the King’s Women’s Network to provide a space for women to connect and have an ongoing purpose in the school community and the community beyond. “It’s a non-hierarchical organisation and everyone volunteers their time. It’s up to individual members how much they would like to be involved,” she says.

The committee comprises representatives from all areas within the School, including mothers of boarders and day boys, staff and partners of staff, as well as mothers and partners of alumni.

“The Kings Women’s Network completes our community. The King’s School is a vast community or staff, parents, boys and, with Tudor House now co-ed, girls as well. It’s important to remember the important role women play in choosing our school for their children. The King’s Women’s Network is a way to connect and encourage women in our community,” explains Rosemary Abrahams, Chairman of the Council of The King’s School.

Opportunities for all

The King’s Women’s Network is involved in and organises many different events throughout the year, the pinnacle of which is the Mother’s Day Fun Run. It has also partnered with King’s Community Church to run a Pink Chapel Service. This year the Fun Run and Service raised $5,000 for cancer awareness. Last year, King’s Women’s Network members who are also part of the prayer group got together to harvest lavender growing on school grounds to make 210 lavender posies given to Year 12 mums. Other events include a pop-up café, a showcase for a regional mum who’s an up-and-coming jeweller, and the acquisition of an important piece of Indigenous art.

In 2021, the King’s Women’s Network organised a breakfast for 200 to celebrate International Women’s Day, and it is likely this will become an annual event. The King’s Women’s Network were also behind a book drive for a school on the NSW South Coast. They organised King’s families and the library to collect up-to-date textbooks to send to the School.

Dr George says that the book drive was a good example of how King’s Women’s Network members can be as involved as much or as little as they like in events. While one group of women packed books, another mum looked after coffees, some baked home goodies, and others organised the ute deliveries. Someone else drove the ute. “It’s a chance to pause and get together and do something meaningful. It’s not just about getting together for a cuppa, although that’s definitely part of it.”