Inspiration back in town

WHEN Aguil de’Chut Deng became one of the first South Sudanese community members to settle in Toowoomba 22 years ago, she did not know she would go on to speak at the United Nations or be a strong advocate for her people in Australia.

Ms de’Chut Deng spent four years in Toowoomba, learning English and studying at USQ.

“I moved to Canberra in 2000 as I was interested in advocating for my people,” she said.

“I moved back to South Sudan in 2010, to help rebuild the new nation.”

The founder of the South Sudanese Australian Women’s Association said she was back in Toowoomba to visit her mother, who still lives in the town, when she was invited to come along to PEACE’s International Women’s Day lunch at the Engine Room cafe.

“International Women’s Day means power, it means connection, it means networking, coming together as women and looking at issues to see how you can make the world better for all of us,” she said.

“Many women don’t understand their power, but if we come together to unite then we can care not only for our communities, but for the world.”

Anti-racism campaigner Prudence Melom was the keynote speaker at the event.

“Women have to work two times harder than men,” she said.

“Hopefully we won’t have these problems in the future.”

Photo: Bev Lacey WOMEN: Lunching at USQ for International Women’s Day are (from left) Rachel Bhatt, Allison Grintey, Kristen Randall and Samantha Walker.

Selwa Ibrahim (left) and Jamela Simo at the Engine Room Cafe.

Photos: Bev Lacey INSPIRATIONAL: Aguil de’Chut Deng speaking at the PEACE lunch at The Engine Room.

Organiser Genevieve Allpass (left) with Farida Rasif.