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St Vincent de Paul Qld’s first female President encourages the community to ‘Give to Gain’ 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL QLD'S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO 'GIVE TO GAIN'

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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="270411661" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{59}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">Give to Gain, the theme of International Women’s Day 2026, holds<span>&nbsp;</span>special meaning for Patricia McMahon,<span> St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland’s first female State President in </span>its’<span> </span>130+ year history. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1876953782" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{73}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">Patricia has dedicated the last 13 years supporting her community as a Member of St Vincent de Paul and, since 2022, has led the Society’s efforts to support vulnerable Queenslanders through an ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="141676785" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{79}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">For International Women’s Day 2026, held on 8 March, the<span> </span>theme of Give to Gain emphasises the power of reciprocity and mutual support.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="17290417" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{89}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“I can certainly relate to the theme.<span> </span>I dedicate a lot of time to helping others in my community, and most days<span> </span>it feels<span> I get more out of it than they do,” she said.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="611796332" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{103}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“We offer a place for people to come in,<span> </span>open up<span> and to freely </span>be themselves.<span> To be able to </span>provide them with help and hope<span> </span>is such a joy.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="246349767" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{125}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“I’m<span> blessed to be able to work with so many fantastic women who are dedicated to their community.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1788294519" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{131}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“By supporting each other and working together, we can build a stronger Queensland.”</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1173035345" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{137}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">Patricia said there was one area with<span> </span>unwelcome<span> </span>growing female representation – Queenslanders struggling with homelessness.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1731665146" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{147}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“When I started, we would see more males struggling with homelessness and poverty than females, but now that split is more even,” she said.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1214224866" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{153}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“During<span> </span>our state<span> </span>housing and cost of living crisis,<span> </span>we’ve<span> seen a significant increase in domestic and family violence cases and single parents struggling to </span>afford the basics.<span> Those are </span>certainly<span> </span>issues that impact men<span> </span>too, but<span> are </span>predominantly female. </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="379535010" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{181}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“In fact, women over 55 are one of the fastest growing cohorts of Australians facing homelessness.” </span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1983022060" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{187}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">Patricia said the St Vincent de Paul Society had come a long way since<span> </span>its’<span> male-only origins in France in 1833.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="184279548" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{201}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“For an organisation that started as male-only, we now have more female Members<span> </span>than men<span> </span>on the frontlines of support in Queensland,” she said.</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="2082024890" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{211}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“It<span> ha</span>s<span> changed a lot, and </span>I’ve<span> been privileged to be able to work w</span>ith the most<span> </span>dedicated<span> </span>and thoughtful people you could meet. That goes for both<span> men and women.</span></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="1828464310" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{241}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">“When it comes to<span> </span>compassion, what matters the most is what<span> </span>is<span> </span>in your heart, not just your chromosomes.”</span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="543560940" paraeid="{9a4c4953-a097-4f91-b9aa-0c2812e11cc2}{255}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">For more information about joining St Vincent de Paul Queensland, visit <a href="/qld.vinnies.org.au/joinus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">qld.vinnies.org.au/joinus</a></span> </p>
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<p class="Paragraph SCXW193841802 BCX0" paraid="558670937" paraeid="{ccdc8d78-1b45-4990-8aad-9201aa1790fc}{8}"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW193841802 BCX0">For more information on International Women’s Day, visit<span> </span><a href="/internationalwomensday.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">internationalwomensday.com </a></span><a href="/internationalwomensday.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a></p>
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