Women’s subgroup established in 1991, became a separate association in 1998, and reverted to being a subgroup in 2006.

When the Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association was established, one of the subgroups formed was the Women’s Subgroup. It was established in 1991. The founding members were: Feriha Reşitoğlu, Sacide Dede, Halide Boca and Turkish Cypriot Aycan İbrahim. With the large number of Australian Western Thrace Turkish women taking part in the 1992 and 1993 mother’s day celebrations, it was felt necessary that the women’s subgroup should become official. Following the elections in May 1993, the women’s subgroup started work in full capacity under president Rukiye İbrahim and conducted many successful activities aimed at the Western Thrace women within the association. In 1998, the women’s subgroup was transformed into a separate association. This re-structuring was aimed at making the activities for Western Thrace women more comprehensive. Also, it was hoped the change would make it easier to obtain material and moral support from the government and to exercise authority in terms of certain projects. The activities of the Women’s Association were regularly presented in the Avustralya’da Elele magazine. Among them are health seminars targeting women and other routine cultural activities.

The handicrafts exhibition, one of the important projects and activities that take place every year, has played an important role in making Western Thrace Turkish culture known to the Australian public. As the women continued with their activities as a subgroup and as an association, they have contributed greatly to the fulfilment of the Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association.

Considering that it would be more efficient and more productive for all its members and the community to be under the same umbrella, the Australia Western Thrace Turkish Association, at its meeting of 6 August 2006, decided to change the Women’s Association to a subgroup. At the extraordinary general meeting of the Women’s Association of 19 August 2006, the new management committee started functioning as the ‘Women’s Subgroup’. Meanwhile, the Needlework and Proverbs book projects that were underway were suspended. In January 2007 Sihem İmam-Hüseyin, who was responsible for the association’s publications activities, undertook the continuation of the Proverbs book project. As nobody could be found to start and continue the Needlework book project, it had to be cancelled.

The Australian Western Thrace Turkish Women’s Association was officially abolished on 21 July 2007. The women started to carry out their activities as Women’s Subgroup of the Australian Western Thrace Turkish Association.

The elections held in January and February 2009 for the Women’s subgroup management committee were unsuccessful. With the resignation of the president and some committee members, important activities are left to be carried out by the association.

The following table shows the presidents of the Women’s Subgroup / Association.