International Women's Day - Pearls

Today I decided to wear my pearls. Its International Women’s Day!

I have been thinking about all the inspiring women I know that “Just get on with it” and do amazing things. There are so many too many to mention but you all know who you are. 
When I think about my Grandmother this is exactly how I hear the many stories that she told about her life and how I saw her live. She “Just got on with it”. Not always easy, she lost the love of her life when she was young and raised her 5 children as a single Mum for a few years until she remarried. She ran a small business, she won tennis competions, member of different committees and organisations and this was in the 50’s and 60’s when it was even harder to be a woman to do the many things we take for granted today.
One of the many stories of her life that Grandma shared was Grandma telling me about a women’s group that she started, I think it was in the 60’s. They baked cakes, had afternoon tea and chatted about family life and then she added we bought and sold shares on the stock market and we made a bit of money. I am sure it was hard for women in the man’s world of the 50’s and 60’s for many, these women like many others, just got on with it and did what they needed and wanted to do when they could.
There is a lot of talk at the moment about being authentic, to be ourselves. Grandma seemed to always wear pearls, sewed and made new outfits up unitl she was in her early 90’s from memory. She loved beautiful colours and clothes. She loved to bake and baked the best scones I think in the world and universe! She even started the over 90’s club at the retirement village she lived and once a month the over 90’s would met to share stories of their life with each other which she coordinated. She knitted toys to raise money for children’s charities. She wasn’t perfect she didn’t like the Port Adelaide Football Club or umpires that ruled against her loved team the Adelaide Crows and she was quite one sided and vocal about that. She was authenic to what she liked and didn’t like.
She lived until she was 98 a full and rich life.
Today I wear my pearls proudly inspired by my Grandmother and all women then and now that just get on with it to make stuff happen. Happy International Women’s Day!

Written by
​Tania Ingerson

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