{"id":6780,"date":"2026-08-06T18:37:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T16:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/?p=189025"},"modified":"2026-08-06T18:37:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T16:37:20","slug":"there-is-something-better-about-woman-only-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/there-is-something-better-about-woman-only-events\/","title":{"rendered":"There is Something Better About Woman Only Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

I like to joke with the ladies from BELA (Built Environment Ladies Association)<\/a> that I am their token male just to balance out their mission.<\/p>\n

August being Women\u2019s Month, BELA President Sue Parkin and her committee presented their annual Women\u2019s Event last night at Astro Paints<\/a> on Willow Road.<\/p>\n

This year was the third year that BELA has held a Women\u2019s Day Event in aid of Yokhuselo Haven \u2013 if you have a few spare Rand please do consider sending them the way of Yokhuselo, they will really appreciate it as they are once again in desperate need of funds to support abused women and children.<\/p>\n

As Anotonette from Yokhuselo Haven<\/a> says; \u201cIf you are in a relationship and worry why your partner treats you in a specific way, you may be the victim of abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>
The \u2018Sometimes Crazy\u2019 BELA Committee. Photo: Alan Straton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At every BELA Event I marvel at the different atmosphere \u2013 men only events can be exhausting: all that competition, rivalry and testorone flow can sometimes get in the way and be overwhelming. Plus, the fact that I do not drink creates instant suspicion in the minds of many men. I remember my late Father saying that he did not trust a man who didn\u2019t drink \u2013 a reflection of the times, yes, but still relevant amongst my peers these days.<\/p>\n

Granted, there are also undercurrents of competition amongst the women but it is not so in your face as between men. Women have this incredible capacity to fight and make up. With men we just seem to simmer for a very long time when slighted.<\/p>\n

But, back to BELA at Astro Paints \u2013 man can these women put together a classy event with literally no money!<\/p>\n

Most of the BELA Women are professionals in the building industry \u2013 already a testorone charged environment \u2013 and, to the women\u2019s credit they are bringing a softer, wider, more holistic feel to this male dominated industry.<\/p>\n

In the space of a few weeks Sue and her Committee put together an event that featured on Bay FM, and was supported by a host of businesses \u2013 Astro Paints, Eurolux, Major Tech, Geberit, Woolworths \u2013 all had stands \u2013 along with many prizes from local businesses.<\/p>\n

Former BELA President, Clair Crone presnted a talk titled; \u2018Presenting your best professional self!\u2019 \u2013 listening carefully to her I re-iterated my thanks that I am not female. Appropriate dress for a man is a very simple and quick affair. For a woman you have to be aware of how much you are showing \u2013 cleavage, shoulders, legs \u2013 how appropriate your make-up is; your choice of skirts or pants; your shoes; your hair; the list has an end that stretches far past a mans \u2013 pants, collared short, practical shoes, clean.<\/p>\n

It was most gratifying to see just how much the woman attending the event supported Yokhusela Haven with care packages and free spending on the raffles offering big prizes.<\/p>\n

Great was the joy when Yokhuselo won one of the big prizes of the evening \u2013 a whopper package of electrical equipment sponsored by Bevan Barkhuizen from Major Tech.<\/p>\n

And then, in a strange twist of fate, Bevan won the prize of a Eurolux Chandelier sponsored by Natasha Stroebel. Strange because technically Major Tech and Eurolux compete against each other in certain product lines.<\/p>\n

BELA have now opened their directory of women professionals to all women in the built environment in South Africa \u2013 listing is free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Images:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>
Bevan Barkhuizen hands Antonette Hamman her prize from Major Tech. Photo: Alan Straton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Bevan Barkhuizen receives his Eurolux Chandelier from Natsha Stroebel and BELA President, Sue Parkin Photo: Alan Straton <\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Boilerplate and Editor\u2019s Notes<\/a><\/strong>.
More Info on There is Something Better About Woman Only Events<\/a> here:<\/strong>
Facebook<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100082946182029<\/a><\/p>\n

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Track Your Press Release HERE:<\/h3>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Check Online Visibility<\/h4>\n

Verify where this release is currently indexed:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Pages: Page <\/span>1<\/span> Page <\/span>2<\/a><\/div>\n

CLICK HERE to Read the Original Press Release on MyPR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I like to joke with the ladies from BELA (Built Environment Ladies Association) that I am their token male just to balance out their mission. August being Women\u2019s Month, BELA President Sue Parkin and her committee presented their annual Women\u2019s Event last night at Astro Paints on Willow Road. This year was the third year …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic","date":"2026-08-06T17:13:49+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3msgk3imyyf2n","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:revymtt5qssww7e7avbruzic\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3msgk3imyyf2n\",\"cid\":\"bafyreic4zdshoc7ogoj32r5nwgahyp3ah3b6px7bbc4o5ybyhrbeicjc5m\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreifefsuxrb64ibwxkqf4bwocxp2w6oxhoitnixo7fttbmd3hfzftuy\",\"rev\":\"3msgk3in7t52n\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","autoblue_publish_document":false,"republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,3],"tags":[29],"class_list":["type-post","category-featured","category-news","tag-mypr-africa","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6780\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}