By Alesha Capone
Female leadership was celebrated at two International Women’s Day events in Wyndham last week.
Tarneit MP Sarah Connolly and Lalor MP Joanne Ryan on Friday each hosted sessions to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD).
Speaking at her event in Werribee, Ms Ryan acknowledged the theme of 2021’s IWD “Choose to Challenge” .
“As your local member of federal Parliament, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the challenging time at the moment in Canberra for all women,” Ms Ryan said.
Ms Ryan praised Australian of the Year Grace Tame, an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, and Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer who has gone public with allegations she was raped by another staffer in 2019.
“In the spirit of International Women’s Day, I am hoping – and will continue to push – so that these challenging times do lead to genuine change for women in all walks of life, not just in halls of power in Canberra,” Ms Ryan said.
During the event Ms Ryan also announced the Lalor Woman of the Year – Truganina Fire Brigade community safety co-ordinator and multicultural liaison officer Michele Abbott.
The Lalor IWD Business Award went to the owner and director of Child’s Play Early Learning Centres Sam Johnson.
Lalor’s IWD Community Award winner was Neha Kope, who helps to organise the annual Wyndham Holi Festival of Colours and the Spiritual Melbourne Ganesh Festival.
Singer and author Jo Lally was announced as Lalor’s IWD art category winner.
Almost 100 women and girls attended Ms Connolly’s IWD event in Tarneit, including the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Gabrielle Williams.
Both Ms Williams and Ms Connolly talked about how glad they were that important work such as healthcare, aged care, education, retail and hospitality – fields where many women are employed – was acknowledged as “essential” during the pandemic.
Ms Connolly said she was happy to see a majority of women elected as Wyndham councillors last year – including those who attended her IWD event, mayor Adele Hegedich Cr Jennie Berrera, Cr Jasmine Hill, Cr Susan McIntyre and Cr Sahana Ramesh.
