When Rae Knopik first moved to Canberra in 2018, she spent about six months feeling pretty lonely. Working from home in a remote EdTech world, she found that it was hard enough just to get outside, let alone meet people and make friends. After trying and failing to meet people through a number of Meetup and Facebook groups, she decided to create her own.
The CBR Gals Network was created as an Instagram page on 6 November 2018 as a community and platform for women in Canberra to connect. Every gal of every age, profession, and in every season of life was included and invited to come along to an event and share in this new community.
On 7 February, 2019, The CBR Gals Network hosted their first happy hour after work where Knopik gave a speech detailing why The CBR Gals exists and who it exists for. Since that first happy hour with 11 attendees, the Network has expanded tremendously to involve more than 1400 women in Canberra and surrounds, while hosting at least two monthly events.
These events are of all kinds: happy hours, panels, clothing swaps, nights out, coffee breaks, and video shoots, and we invite small business owners, makers, and more to partner with us and share in our community. Welcome to the Network! We can’t wait to know you.
Author: The CBR Gals Network
The CBR Gals Network is a feminist not-for-profit organisation established in 2018.