INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:23): For some years now, I have endeavoured to hold a dinner to mark International Women's Day in the south. It is not easy for people who live and work in the south to get to some of the major celebrations in the city, so we have been holding our own for quite some time. A feature of this event is for members of the community to submit women who they believe should be recognised for their achievements in their own lives or for their contribution to the community. I have been pleased, over the years, to recognise what now must be around 50 women in the south for the work that they have done, their contributions to the community. I would like to record something about the women who were recognised by the 70 women who attended this year.

The first one was Toni Davis who had been nominated by the Woodcroft/Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre. They see her as a role model for other young women through the work that she has done, having come to the community centre at a time in life when she was feeling very vulnerable. She decided that she had to work to improve herself and the future for her children and has now completed a Certificate III in Children's Services and Certificate IV in Community Development, and in 2010 was a graduate of the City of Onkaparinga leadership program. This is a considerable achievement for somebody who originally approached the centre for help with literacy.

Karen Christensen is now the chair of the board of the Christie Downs Community House. She also began her involvement as a fairly tentative volunteer, really not confident about her skills or her role in life. She started in the kitchen assisting in the preparation of community meals. By 2007, Karen was a paid employee and a team leader for the children's program. She completed her Certificate III in Children's Services last year and is now undertaking her Diploma in Children's Services.

Brenda Weir was nominated by both her daughters for her long commitment to volunteering in the southern area, and this is not the first time we have had women nominated by their proud daughters. Brenda has been a volunteer since 1962, and that has included roles in the Old Reynella Primary School, neighbourhood watch, and Flinders Medical Centre. During the time of her volunteering, she has inspired her family, especially as she managed to study at night to gain matriculation while working full-time and raising eight children.

Karen Bartel, while not coming from the south, was nominated because of the important role that she has played in advocating for the rights of low-paid women and, unfortunately, there are many women in the South working in low-paid occupations who, hopefully, will benefit from the pay equity case. Among Karen's 'firsts', she was the first female commissioner and then first deputy president of the South Australian Industrial Relations Committee.

Wendy Perry was nominated by members of the Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre. She is a very successful businesswoman who has been able to juggle her child-raising responsibilities while building a small company. She works on a national basis and employs four full-time staff and up to 60 service deliverers at times, and she does all this from home.

Eunice Hearne has volunteered at the Reynella Neighbourhood Centre for over 12 years and has been recognised for her extraordinary and longstanding commitment. Eunice spends much of her time helping other volunteers gain skills through her positive and encouraging approach and is a great asset to the centre.

Madam, I can see that I am not going to have time to pay tribute to all the women who were recognised on the night and I will seek another opportunity to conclude my remarks because I think that it is very important that we recognise the silent workers in our community who make such a difference to the world in which we live and who often overcome considerable obstacles to play their role in our community.