News & Events
26/01 - Australia Day Lunch
15/05 - International Coffee Morning
The Australian Women's Club invites all Australian women, and those with a close association to Australia, to join us in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
Whether a long-term resident or newly arrived in the United Kingdom, the AWC offers many opportunities to meet new people, to explore London and the surrounding countryside and to learn more about living in England.
Club membership opens the door to numerous social activities, including a range of special functions to honour our traditional days of celebration, such as the Melbourne Cup and Australia Day. Every October, the AWC hosts the annual International Coffee Morning where women from various backgrounds and countries gather in the Downer Room at Australia House. Additional informal coffee mornings, often with guest speakers, are held monthly in central London.
The AWC's newsletter, distributed monthly to all members, lists a variety of activities catering for special interests. As representatives of Australian women in the UK, the AWC is a member of FIWAL, the Federation of International Women's Associations in London.
Join the AWC for
Around London Activities
Click here to Join
Interest Groups
Around London
You can participate in a range of activities covering antiquities, historical venues and interesting walks to discover the elusive secrets of London and its surrounds. Members find visiting museums, art galleries and places of government, frequently with a guide, is far
more enjoyable when accompanied by others.
Art History
Join us with our regular Art Historian to learn about and enjoy the art, architecture, design and social history of London. We meet at various locations and usually end with lunch and a chat.
Semesters comprise 10 sessions, held fortnightly on Thursdays between 10.30 am and noon. Groups are kept to a maximum of 15. Members pay
for the semester in full before the first session and can sell off any sessions they are unable to attend.
Book Club
Enjoy a glass of wine and participate in a lively discussion of our Book
of the Month. Held in AWC members' homes, this is an ideal way to get
to know people better while exercising the grey matter. Past novels for Book Club include, Alone in Berlin , by Hans Fallada and Olivia Lichenstein's, Things Your Mother Never Told You . We would be pleased to take on your suggestion.
Film Group
Watch carefully selected films, from the latest blockbusters to art house cinema, in the company of other film buffs. Timing varies between matinees and evenings depending on members' interests. Afterwards, round off the day with a light-hearted critique over afternoon tea or dinner.
Rambling
Come along and stretch your legs while enjoying the beautiful English countryside. Rambles are a great way to keep fit and chat with others as you wander along canal towpaths, beside rivers, up hills and down dales.
In the winter months we stay closer to home and walk the Regent's Canal towpath or hike through Hyde Park to Primrose Hill. When the weather warms up, it is time to explore areas like the Chilterns, the Hertfordshire woods and the South Downs, always stopping along the way for lunch in
a country pub.
Stitching
From creating a family heirloom to simply sewing on a button, why not
join our monthly morning get-togethers in a member's home. When the opportunity arises, attend the lectures and exhibitions London has to offer.
Home Comforts
London is an exciting and vibrant place to live, but there are times when a little bit of Australia is just what you need.
Thanks to Canberra Tourist Office and Tourism Australia for the supply of Australian images on this site.
http://australia.com
Advance Global Australians
Global Networks
http://www.advance.org/
Advance is a dynamic and diverse global community of Australian professionals overseas committed to advancing Australia and Australians.
Australian Times
http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/
For, by and about Australians in the UK, Australian Times is written and compiled by journalists living amongst the Australian community here in the UK. As well as the website and enewsletter, the free Australian Times newspaper has a weekly readership of 50,000plus.
Brit Oz
Britain Australia Society
http://www.britain-australia.org.uk/
The Britain-Australia Society is a social networking society in the UK promoting and encouraging positive relationships between Britain and Australia.
The following restaurants are listed for their Australian connections. These are just the ones we know about and there may be many more in London:
Smiths of Smithfield E&O
Pied-a-terre, Charlotte Street Mandalay
L'Autre Pied, Marylebone XO XO
Petersham Nurseries Cicada
The Ledbury, Nottinghill Nahm _ the Halkin Hotel
Harwood Arms Gastro Pub Giaconda, Denmark Street
Great Eastern Dining Rooms Eight Over Eight
Disclaimer:
Links on this site are for information purposes only and are not a recommendation of any product.
Missing home? For all your favourite goodies, why not pay a visit to Australia Shop, conveniently situated in Covent Garden:
27 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7JS
Email: shop_australiashop.co.uk
website: www.australiashop.co.uk
Tele: (020) 7379 0723
Links
The Australian Women's Club raises funds for CCLEF, the Commonwealth Countries League Education Fund.
Their mission is to raise money to help girls in over 25 Commonwealth countries build a better future through education.
www.ccl-int.org
The Federation of International Women's Associations in London (FIWAL) is an umbrella organisation comprising 29 international women's associations and clubs based in London. Its role is to provide a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and expertise between its member organisations.
www.fiwal.org.uk
Australian High Commission
www.uk.embassy.gov.au
British Home office (UK Border Agency immigration, citizenship, employment, travel) www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau (health, rights, employment, services)
www.adviceguide.org.uk
UK Public Services, including drivers licences,employment,health
www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
Transport for London (tube and bus information)
www.tfl.gov.uk
Walking around London
www.walklondon.org.uk
Theatre Guide
www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk
BritishMuseum
www.britishmuseum.org
National Portrait Gallery
www.npg.org.uk/home.php
National Gallery
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Living in London
www.londonnet.co.uk
City Lit - Centre for Adult Learning
www.citylit.ac.uk
British Pub Guide
www.britishpubguide.com
Dining throughout the UK
http://trustedplaces.com
Eating in London
www.london-eating.co.uk
Top Table
www.toptable.com
UK travel guide
www.bugbog.com/english speaking_countries/united_kingdom/travel_uk.html
Traffic England (live traffic information)
www.trafficengland.com/index.aspx
Eurostar
www.eurostar.com
Qantas
www.qantas.com.au/uk
Landmark Trust (accommodation)
www.landmarktrust.org.uk
World weather
www.wunderground.com/global/stations
This group helps expat spouses network and find employment in the UK.
www.global-networker.com
UK weather (MetOffice)
www.metoffice.gov.uk
World Telephone Codes
www.countrycallingcodes.com
Department of Health (primary care, hospitals, insurance)
www.dh.gov.uk
Register of Health professionals
www.hpc-uk.org
Royal Mail (post codes, mail delivery)
www.royalmail.com
Conversion calculator
www.metric-conversions.org
Currency converter
www.xe.com
TV Guide
www.tvguide.co.uk
About us
The Australian Women's Club started in 1985. Pam Douglas, wife of the then Agent General for Western Australia, became aware of the many isolated and homesick Australian women in London who lacked the companionship and stimulation needed to make the most of their time in Britain.
A small committee was formed of like-minded women who had also travelled the world and understood what it was like to be alone in a strange place and missing home.
From those beginnings, the AWC has expanded into a thriving organisation. Some members have made their lives in the UK. Others are here on fixed-term contracts and will return home in a few years. Some members live in central London, others in the capital's suburbs and surrounding counties. Regardless, a warm welcome awaits, along with the opportunity to enjoy lively company and to form strong bonds with others in the same situation.
The Western Australian connection continues today through the invaluable support of our patron, Kerry Sanderson AO, the Agent General for Western Australia in the UK and Europe.
"I would encourage all Australian women in the UK to join the AWC and take the opportunity to enjoy the varied range of outings and meetings. A number of members have said how much more settled they have felt because of this opportunity to meet and interact with women of a similar background. I have also enjoyed my role as patron because it has given me an opportunity to meet a number of wonderful women who have come from Australia or who have connections with Australia." Kerry Sanderson AO
Membership
Welcome to the Australian Women's Club membership page. Through joining the AWC, you will enjoy many benefits and become part of an active and supportive community.
Who Can Join
•All Australian women
•The spouse, partner or daughter of an Australian
•Women with a close affiliation to Australia
How to Join
A Membership Form can be downloaded from this page or is available from the Membership Secretary.
Post the completed form with the fee to the Membership Secretary or bring the completed form with the fee to an AWC event.
Please click here to download a copy of our Membership Form:
Membership form.doc
AWC Membership Form.pdf
Our membership year is 1 July to 30 June.
Annual subscriptions are £25 and are due and payable in July each year.
New applications received in the last half of the financial year (ie from January to June) need only pay half of the annual subscription.
As a financial member, you will receive our monthly newsletter and will be invited to the many activities and events held during the year. You will have the opportunity to serve on the committee and to be involved in the planning of events.
For membership enquiries contact:
Nicky Reid
Membership Secretary
07875 132 635
Contact us
If you would like further information, please email or contact any of the members below:
Annette Vlismas
President
020 7723 3992
president_awclondon.org.uk
Kerry Foster
Vice President
020 75810615
vicepresident_awclondon.org.uk
membership_awclondon.org.uk
Coffee Mornings are held at:
Western Australian Business Centre
Australia Centre
Melbourne Place
The Strand
London WC2B 4LG
Closest tubes: Temple (5 mins) Holborn and Covent Garden (10 mins)
Copyright 2010 Australian Women's Club, London
