"We felt it was too important not to mark it in some way," Mrs Rankin said. "[International Women's Day] is an important day to celebrate the achievements of women and to raise the profile of what women are doing in their communities."

That brainchild proved a success on Monday when the Orange Uniting Church - in conjunction with Fusion Central West and the Migrant and Refugee Support Services - hosted its first lunch to celebrate mark the day.

The sold-out event saw close to 100 women turn up to hear the day's guest speakers: including Aboriginal mental health worker Cathy Cooper, social worker Julie Cunningham, Housing Plus's Sarah Priestley, Orange City councillor Joanne McRae, medical practitioner Dr Jawahir and the ABC's Joanna Woodburn.

Speaking about the significance of the day and the challenges women still face, Mrs Rankin said there was still a lot of inequality between men and women.

"We take for granted that women can have careers and well-paid jobs but I don't think we really value the struggle that goes on... We sometimes disrespect the women who build community.

"Young women today are often pressured about how soon they are going back to work [after having a child] when they should be given the right to choose how soon they go back to work, and if they want to go back work.

"We still need to value choice and the role of caring for children in our community, and the fact so many women are juggling both [work and motherhood]."

Sarah Priestly from Housing Plus's domestic violence services spoke about Orange's new women's refuge, The Orchard which opened in December.

"Orange has double the state average of domestic violence-related assaults and at Housing Plus our domestic violence services have received just under 1200 referrals for assistance over the past 12 months," she said.

"Too often women and children are expected to hide away while the perpetrator['s life remains] unaffected. The Orchard was constructed to challenge that."

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