International Women's Day

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:32): Today of course is International Women's Day and, for me, that is a time to celebrate the strong women everywhere who are not able to attend corporate breakfasts or special events. In my community, there are hundreds of strong, incredible, talented women whose work often goes unseen, unheard and, unfortunately sometimes, undervalued.

We know that women are still, by a significant majority, primary caregivers for their children and, later in life, their elderly parents. We know that the gender pay gap is real, as is the value of unpaid labour, what used to be called women's work, but is in fact everyone's responsibility. Women are often the ones behind the scenes, both at work and at home, and today I would like to thank those women in my community whose names are not up in lights, but who make our community strong.

Today I would like to list, for Hansard, just a few of the amazing, dedicated, hardworking, fierce women in the Gully. I acknowledge:

Alison from Caking Mad in Banksia Park who helped me with cookies to celebrate my village today;

Sharon from the front desk at the Civic Centre;

Deb, Courtney and the team at the Gully library;

The women from Tea Tree Gully VIEW Club; VIEW, as we know, stands for the voice, interests and education of women;

The women from Modbury Ladies Probus;

Denise, an absolute firecracker, from Haz Beanz at Clovercrest Shopping Centre;

Deb, Mel and the team at St Agnes Florist for getting me through many an anniversary, birthday and special event;

Gabbi from Coles TTP, who we met on the doors, though many of you would know her by now, and her advocacy. She has been fierce;

Rosie from Fast Cats Racing at Modbury High School;

Linda from the Beat Movement in Banksia Park;

Sara from Ridgehaven Primary;

Rachael, an absolute powerhouse, from Modbury Basketball Club;

Jazzi, a young woman who wrote to me telling me she would like to change the world;

Nella from Tea Tree Gully;

Di from Tea Tree Gully Primary;

Joanne and the team at Modbury High;

Madeleine, an amazing women's cyclist from Tea Tree Gully;

Julie, my queen, from Cafe Verde at Fairview Green;

Meg and the team at Banksia kindy;

Lilly from Tea Tree Players;

Wendy from Tea Tree Gully Rotary and Hope Valley;

Joylene from Tea Tree Gully Rotary, who volunteers at every community organisation around;

The wives behind the scenes at Tea Tree Gully Lions, particularly Margaret, who is a beautiful porcelain painter;

Marijka, our new mayor;

Jodie from the Modbury Hawks;

Renee from Banksia primary;

Anna from the front desk at Modbury South;

Denise and Kristen from Modbury South;

Rosie from St Agnes estate;

Ginny from Modbury Special School;

Angela and Kristen from Tango netball;

Lyn and the ladies at the toy library;

Rachael and the team at Backpacks for Kids;

Rachael's daughter Holly, an amazing young woman who held a quiz night for domestic violence awareness in year 12;

Anna and her girls, ready with a hot coffee at Shelley Street;

Jill from the Heritage Museum;

Makeely, 15 and going places, from Tea Tree Gully;

Ashleigh, my best friend from St Agnes;

Lucy, another best friend who has recently joined us in St Agnes;

Maisey, her brand-new puppy;

Miss M from Tea Tree Gully primary;

Lisa from Ardtornish;

Andrea from Denim Hair in Banksia Park—thanks for the colour;

Rose and Adla from the CWMS action group;

Naomi from St Agnes, a BMX champ;

June, the biggest supporter and part-time grandma I could ask for;

Paula and Toni from the Jets;

Kitty from the Modbury Hawks;

Meredith, a truly selfless person from Ridgehaven;

Molly Byrne, who no longer lives in Modbury but is thought of often;

Sarah and her three girls who are growing way too quickly for their auntie in Ridgehaven;

Lyn, one of life's few trailblazers from Modbury North;

Natasa from Banksia International High;

Wendy, our graphic designer extraordinaire from Ridgehaven;

Angela, from next door who brings in my bins;

I would like to acknowledge the women in the Gully who fight alongside me: Rhi Rhi, occasionally known as the member for King and the Boyer girls who handed out for me at the Modbury pre-poll under the age of 10.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the best woman I know, Megan, my hero from Banksia Kindy, Banksia primary, Modbury Hawks and the Newland Electorate Office.

How lucky I am to be part of this village. Happy International Women's Day.