Lisa is the co-leader of Days for Girls Derwent, a local group of women who meet in Bridgewater to create kits of fabric reusable menstrual pads for women in need, and they’ve recently partnered with the Migrant Resource Centre in Glenorchy.

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? I grew up in Melbourne but moved here 32 years ago. I’ve lived in the same house in West Hobart the whole time!

What do Days for Girls Derwent do? We are a local branch of an international charity which creates kits of fabric reusable menstrual pads for women in need. Having these essential supplies allows women and girls to remain engaged in work, school and family life – “giving days back to girls”. DFG also provides women’s health education and advocacy around period poverty.

What made you want to join Days for Girls Derwent, and what is your role? I thought it was a way to help others that was concrete and would make a direct improvement in women’s lives. I knew that increasing the education of girls and women’s empowerment raises whole communities. I liked the environmental sustainability of the kits that are sewn robustly to last for three years. I joined two years ago and am now co-leader. I like getting together monthly with this group of women and doing something practical with our hands.

What is included in your kits and where are they sent to? The kits include two waterproof shields which attach to underwear and eight flannelette liners, two pairs of undies, a face washer and a waterproof transport bag for the liners, all in a drawstring bag. Our group has sent kits to developing countries such as Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Philippines and Burundi in the last year. We have also distributed kits to students who use the food bank at UTAS and refugee and migrant women at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Glenorchy.

Do you have any upcoming events or fundraisers? We are currently raising funds for our new partnership at the MRC, for new intakes of migrants to the Women’s Group, and to deliver women’s health education and free kits to the girls and young women in the youth programme. We need funds to buy all the materials to create the kits and have a new Gofundme fundraising campaign. We aim to make 160 kits which cost $25 per kit in materials alone. We’d love Tasmanian people to support us by donating using this link: www.gofundme.com/f/period-products-for-refugee-and-migrant-women-in-hobart.

How can people join or help out? We’d love new volunteers! Anyone who would like to join us on the third Saturday or Monday of the month at the community room of St Paul’s Church, Paice Street, Bridgewater would be very welcome. There are lots of tasks that don’t involve using sewing machines such as pinning elements together, tracing templates, cutting out patterns etc. We bring morning tea to share and our own lunch. Sewing days start at 9:30am and go until 3:30pm but it’s a “come when you can – go when you must” arrangement. Anyone interested could email derwenttas@daysforgirls.org or call team leader Christa on 0418982307. We are also on Facebook and Instagram.

Who do you admire? My migrant English students Betelhem and Meseret who are refugees from Ethiopia and are building new lives in Hobart.

Favourite podcast or tv show? The Rest is History. Dominic and Tom present the stories of history in such an engaging and fun way.

Secret vice? Watching tv shows about babies being born.

What are you reading now? Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarcuk.

Do you have any pets? Goldfish and a budgie called Bluebell.

What was your first job? Caring for intellectually disabled adults.

What are your daily news/social media habits? I read The Mercury and ABC news on my phone. I have Facebook and run the Days for Girls Facebook page.

Your favourite place for…

Breakfast: Home! It’s madness to leave home without breakfast.

Lunch: Smolt Kitchen in West Hobart.

Dinner: I enjoy trivia and dinner at Shambles Brewery.

Dream holiday destination? Europe, especially Germany and Austria as I have been learning German at Adult Ed for a year. I’m off there in July.

Favourite Tasmanian secret? Binalong Bay beach is the best beach in Tassie and my happy place, but don’t tell everyone.

Parting words? Volunteering is life enriching!