An Inclusive Greek Australian Women's  Network   

CONNECTING  GENERATIONS,  PROFESSIONS , CULTURES

Vision: to make a difference and build your leadership capability through supportive and empowering networks  and educational seminars.

The Food for Thought Network was founded in 2001 by Varvara Ioannou It  is an incorporated not for profit organisation. It has an educational  focus and runs inspirational events aimed at connecting cultures, generations and professions. Enablers and inhibitors in relation to career, family, health, wellbeing and culture are explored. 

Motivational speakers from different professions, businesses, generations and cultures are profiled, thus providing fantastic development and networking opportunities  for personal and professional growth.  

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 

Sunday 18 March   

Topic: IDENTITY & BELONGING

Join us for a memorable and inspiring evening with your family and friends:

The Food for Thought Network is celebrating International Women’s day with an evening of sharing and storytelling around the theme of identity and belonging –inspired by the internationally renowned performance Odyssey.

·         Odyssey weaves the story of the Litras family and their migration from Greece to Australia through Homer’s epic poem. 

·         Odyssey is the story of Angelo, a migrant seeking fortune in a new land.

·         Odyssey is the story of Paraskevi his proxy bride who travels across the world to marry a man she had only seen in a photograph.

·         Odyssey is the story of their son Andreas growing up between two cultures and two identities.

·         Odyssey celebrates the extraordinary courage of ordinary people. 

“and it is Paraskevi, married to a man she had only seen in a photograph, left a widow with four children and nothing but a fish and chip shop to support them who emerges as a heroine.”  The Age

“This is theatre with humour, guts and depth which everyone can appreciate – a rare diamond cut with taste and precision.” Canberra Times

Special Food For Thought fundraising Performance with discussion to follow

Play:  Odyssey  5 pm Sunday March 18, 2012

Venue:  Open Stage, Carlton 757 Swanston Street Carlton  (Corner Swanston and Grattan St’s)

Tickets:  $38:00 .Limited tickets issued for this performance.

Please call below numbers to secure your booking:   0419663257, 0438660301,  0403034527     

 All proceeds  from our 2012 events will go towards supporting the teaching of Greek at Latrobe University and providing a $500 prize for the top student of the  Managing Diversity and Culture Unit  which is part of the Masters in Business Administration at Swinburne University.

in 2011 FFTN supported an inspiring woman Michelle Errichiello (neeWinkler) and many other worthy causes.

To read more about the positive publicity that Food For Thought has received please click here.

The  Inspiring People Series  2 was  held on Tuesday 21 June 2011, please click here to read the media coverage. 

In February 2007, Michelle went to work not knowing her life was about to change forever. When taking out a rubbish bin while on duty, an out-of-control car mounted the footpath, crashing into Michelle and instantly amputating her right leg.

Once out of surgery she set herself three goals – walk again, dance again and run again. Although Michelle only started running to keep fit, she was soon identified as a potential elite athlete and began to focus seriously on her training. Under coach Tim Matthews, she made rapid progress and made her debut at a major championships when she contested the 2009 Arafura Games in Darwin.

Whilst at home, Michelle enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends and is studying to become a trauma counsellor. She is currently about to commence training at the NSI Canberra as she has her sights firmly set on representing Australia at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. 

But her inspirational journey of triumph has been tough. Michelle  described the first six months after the incident as "extremely frustrating".

"Lots of falls ... I didn't want to give up because it could not beat me. I had to deal with it. I knew I was going to be fitted with a prosthetic leg soon.

"There was a lot of frustration, there was anger. The frustrating thing was before [the incident] I was so active and so capable and then literally, in an instant, I was having to rely on other people."