THE Women’s Spirit Project (WSP) held its annual Butterfly Ball at Dromana Estate on 12 September, raising funds to support women who have experienced life’s challenges.
The event raised enough money to support ten-week programs for fourteen women, with guests treated to a sit-down dinner, live auction, raffle, and silent auction.
Managing Director Suzanne Murphy said this year’s ball attracted twice the number of attendees as the inaugural ball last year.
“The word is spreading about what we’re doing, which is really, really good,” said Murphy.
“I think the communities realised we’ve got to come together and support this.”
WSP provides free programs to help transform the lives of women who have been affected by trauma, burnout, isolation and adversity.
Murphy said WSP is unique in the way it supports women through these challenges.
“There isn’t another organisation like ours that is in this gap in the middle between the crisis that’s happened, and the women being able to thrive again in the community,” said Murphy.
Murphy said the ball was a huge success that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community.
“Overall, it was incredible, just a lot of energy, and people arrived ready to give,” said Murphy.
“I’m overwhelmed with the generosity. Absolutely overwhelmed, almost speechless, which is quite impossible for me.”
Jen Willis, who was the first Australian with MS to summit Mt Everest, was a guest speaker (“Peninsula resident becomes first Australian with MS to summit Mt Everest”, The News, 24/06/26).
“Jen Willis was so aligned in terms of the inspirational part of her journey,” said Murphy.
“She showed this transformation is possible, no matter who you are, where you’ve come from, or what’s going on for you; that women are resilient and can transform, and that’s what we support our women to do through every program.”
Murphy said the money raised will change fourteen women’s lives.
“It means that those fourteen women that are on our waiting list for Mornington will have an opportunity to connect with women like them in a program that’s built for them, to build their confidence and well-being,” said Murphy.
“And then they’ll be ready to thrive, potentially give back, or just continue to thrive, versus surviving.”
Murphy said 100 per cent of participants confirm the program transformed their lives.
“Participants confirm a transformational result that leaves them connected, confident, and ready to go into employment or thrive in their community in other ways,” said Murphy.
She said WSP will continue to hold events and fundraise in order to help support and transform as many women’s lives as possible.
“This is just the start of many,” said Murphy.
“We’re not a one-program-at-a-time organisation; we’re continually building, and we’ve got the ecosystem for every woman.”
First published in the Mornington News – 22 September 2026
