On Monday, 15 September 2025, a function was held to celebrate the achievements of the Lane Cove Women’s Action and Information Group (WAIG).
After 42 years, a difficult decision was made to wind up WAIG. While attendances at meetings have been consistent (18-25 members), there were not enough volunteers to take on the work needed to keep the group functioning. Thus, reluctantly, the decision has been made to close the group.
WAIG, originally known as the Lane Cove Women’s Safety Group, was established in 1983 when the women of Lane Cove decided to take responsibility for their own safety following a series of sexual assaults in the area.
During this early period, the group organised self-defence courses for women and girls.
While WAIG’s activities have diversified over the years to include weekly discussion groups on a range of topics, book groups and annual seminars. WAIG branched out into community education programs and ran an information and referral service, provided voluntarily by telephone, for women in the community and several agencies on the Lower North Shore.
The group initially met at members’ homes, then at the Meeting House, and finally, they met on Monday mornings during the school term at the Lane Cove Library.
There would be guest speakers (Jacky Barker, Founder of In the Cove, has spoken at WAIG). After the guest spoke, WAIG members would discuss ideas, share morning tea and enjoy each other’s company.
In 1995, WAIG became an incorporated association, signifying its intention to maintain a significant presence in the women’s movement.
Over the past forty-two years WAIG women have organised seminars on a range of topics, marched together at International Women’s Day marches, written letters to Members of Parliament made submissions to government inquiries, run self-defense classes, held book stalls in the Plaza, and supported our local women’s refuge, Delvena, through twice-yearly donations to Women and Children First (the organisaiton that runs Delvena Women’s Refuge).
An example of their advocacy and support of Women’s Refuge is below – a submission to COAG National Summit on reducing violence against women in 2016.
“Members of the Lane Cove Women’s Action and Information Group (WAIG, est. 1983), would like to register our congratulations on holding a COAG National Summit on reducing violence against women, to be held on Friday 28th October.
We are collectively dismayed to note however, that WEL’s submission for funding by State/Federal governments into crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence, is not on the agenda for the Summit.
We actively support our Lower North Shore women’s refuges and know that the funding cuts hit all NSW refuges extremely hard. Most of the refuges are now operating as homeless shelters, which are clearly not suitable for traumatised women and children. Of the fourteen refuges that remain, their funding has been cut by 50% and they are running on skeleton staff. Demand for places by women and children seeking safety is overwhelming and it is not unusual for at least 25 women to be turned away each week.
All the topics listed for discussion and consideration are tremendously important. However, before the remedial education, and other means of educating for prevention take effect, the issue of a safe haven for women and children running from domestic violence should be considered, as well as the trauma counselling and legal aid available to help them through this difficult time.
Lane Cove WAIG calls on the COAG Summit to include support for WEL’s “2 cents a day” campaign, asking for long-term, secure Federal/State funding for women’s crisis services.”
Some WAIG members have helped pack Birthing Kits. They are designed to support hygienic practices and environments during childbirth in under-resourced settings.
Above all, WAIG has been a group that supports women and what women can achieve through collective experience, companionship and action.
Tonight (15 September 2025) was an opportunity for WAIG members, former members, and women who have spoken to and supported the group to come together to celebrate all that it has achieved.
The group heard from Shauna Forrest (an original member of the Lane Cove Women’s Safety Group), Mayor Merri Southwood, Katherine Gordon, Tina Russell and Michelle Povch CEO of Women and Children’s First.
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