MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The first ever gala women's event hosted by Mossel Bay town council Speaker Venolea Fortuin and the First Lady of Mossel Bay, mayor's wife Riëtte Kotzé, was a roaring success, according to the municipality.
The evening was titled, I am Iconic.On Saturday, 25 February, 250 women, dressed to the nines, arrrived on the red carpet at the Dias Beach Hotel's Chef's Emporium for an evening to remember, the municipal statement noted.
The event, hosted in aid of the Mayoral Fund, was completely sold out.
Fortuin, a history maker herself, being the first woman to be Speaker in the Municipal Council, shared her wisdom in her inimitable manner, the municipality noted in a media statement.
"In a male-dominated world, we often must work twice as hard. I have decided that 2023 will not be such a year. I will not work twice as hard. I will work and take my seat at the table. Equally, as everyone."
'Paying attention'
She added that people must start paying attention to women.
"It's about time they started paying attention - when we speak, when we enter or leave the room, when we sit and when we listen. This will be our Year of Iconicness," she concluded.
Elize Nel, director of the municipality's Community Services Department, who was the programme host, reminded guests of the purpose of the evening, to be a fully sponsored event, apart from the three-course meal served.
"Tonight, by being here, you are making a difference in the lives of people you may never meet, expecting nothing in return. As women, we know all about sacrifice, but we are not here to talk that. We are here to celebrate. A huge thank you to all our sponsors who made this event possible, maximising our fundraising effort," Nel said.
The mayor's wife, Riëtte Kotzé, added her own inspirational flair. "The more [well] positioned you are in life, the more you should walk with humility.
"This means recognising that our aim should not be to see how significant we can become, but to see how much value we can add to the lives of others. Whichever way you choose to reach out, it humbles the world with kindness."
The trailblazing Dorcas Dube-Londt, national marketing and communications manager of Citizen Leader Lab, was the keynote speaker.
'Tell your story'
"We often assume that iconic stories require us to be famous, to have been on global stages, on TV or to have done something extraordinary. We all have a story to tell, but we probably believe it's not a story and hence it's not worth telling. My topic this evening is: Regardless, tell your story. It's iconic. Believe it."
She continued to tell her own story of sacrifice, grace, determination, perseverance and the unconditional love of her parents.
The municipality noted that response to the event had been overwhelming, with members of the public calling for another before the year ends. Although it was a ladies-only event, Alderman Dirk Kotzé made a brief appearance to thank the "iconic women of Mossel Bay" for their effort in supporting the Mayoral Fund. The Mayoral Fund is the go-to source for funding worthy community causes, often youth development.
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