Triple Olympian Lisa Curry inspired about 520 guests at the Redlands Centre for Women’s High Tea fundraiser on Saturday.
Ms Curry was ranked as one of the top 25 swimmers in the world, competing for 23 years.
She swam in three Olympic games, two World Championships and three Commonwealth Games.
Ms Curry made a comeback into swimming at the age of 30 after having two children.
“It’s about what you want to achieve for yourself,” she said, emphasising the importance of taking action.
“There is no point in having dreams and goals if you are not going to do things differently.”
Ms Curry said she learnt to swim after going on a boat with her father to Coochiemudlo Island at the age of five.
She went on to be selected for her first Australian team when she was 14 years old.
Founder of the Redlands Centre for Women Katrina Beutel said her organisation started as the Pink Pamper Packs in 2008 and had grown to the charity it is today.
She said the centre ran ten programs, provided nurture boxes to new mums at Redlands Hospital and pamper packs to women going through a tough time, and organised a number of other activities.
It also enabled women to make social connections through events such as a book club and regular coffee chats.
She paid tribute to the team of volunteers who operate the centre, sew and knit items for nurture boxes, organise events and run programs.
The high tea is the Redlands Centre for Women’s primary fundraiser.
It has been held annually for nine years to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Guests were entertained at the high tea by a fashion parade by Cleveland’s Urban Outlet and all-girl band Mama Juju and the Jam Tarts.
