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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-03-09 Daily Xml
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International Women's Day Awards

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:15): International Women's Day was celebrated worldwide yesterday, 8 March, and I acknowledge other contributions made in the house yesterday and the art installation out the front of Parliament House, which I know everyone will look at before it finishes on 20 March.

Here in Adelaide, the UNIFEM breakfast last Friday was again a sell-out with 2,400 women and men gathered at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Hosted by Senator Penny Wong and her staff, and we must commend them for the amazing work they do in making the day such a success, it is now the largest event of its kind in Australia. The guest speaker that day was Fran Kelly, a South Australian girl of Radio National fame, who gave a thought-provoking address, and it is always good to leave an event thinking about what you can do to be active and promoting the causes dear to your heart.

Yesterday saw women and men gather again at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the International Women's Day Committee (SA) lunch, and in honour of that event I again dressed as Muriel Matters, that wonderful South Australian born suffragist and activist who has inspired me and many others since the formation of the Muriel Matters Society in 2009.

The International Women's Day Committee of South Australia's patrons are Robyn Layton and Maude Tongerie. The death of Auntie Josie Agius was remembered at the beginning of the event, and we must also remember her connections as she did the Welcome to Country every year for as long as I can remember. Uncle Lewis O'Brien very kindly stepped in yesterday and welcomed all the important guests, including the wife of our Governor, Mrs Lan Le.

Karen Ashford again acted as mistress of ceremonies and Professor Tanya Monro, Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation at the University of South Australia, was a very welcome guest speaker. A wonderful committee supports President Toni Jupe, and we thank her and all of the committee for their dedication and commitment. The Feisty Feminists Choir performed for the assembled guests, including the Minister for the Status of Women and the Minister for Education and several other of our parliamentary colleagues, including federal colleague Senator Anne McEwen.

Award nominees this year for the Irene Bell Community Award were: Nan Berrett, a Clare Zonta member with a lifelong volunteer commitment to her community; Grace Falland, a Riverland volunteer with, among other groups, an involvement with Meals on Wheels for over 20 years; Allison Murchie, with an extensive commitment to conservation, animal issues and the Adelaide Zoo, as well as women's groups; and Yvette Reade, who is involved with Rotary, women's groups and the Cora Barclay Centre. All four of these nominees were considered so worthy that they were awarded the joint prize.

The Young Women's Community and Spirit Award nominees were: Glory Gatwiri, an African community leader and educator and advocate; Nava Revalk, who shines in many performing arts areas, a really inspiring young woman; Lauren Zwaans, an inspirational role model, leader, advocate and mentor of young professional women, and she was named the winner.

The Irene Krastev Award, an award dear to your heart, too, no doubt, sir, recognises achievement in the multicultural community. The nominees this year were: Dr Joy Penman, a leader, educator, mentor and advocate from Whyalla with Filipino heritage; Vivian Shae, a leader, educator and advocate in the Chinese community; and Emily Tanui, a passionate advocate, leader and mentor in the African community. Dr Joy Penman was named the winner.

It was a very good lunch, heavily supported by school students. It was unfortunate that International Women's Day fell on a sitting day, which means that we cannot attend to the very end of the event, but I hope that one year it will happen on a non-sitting week so that we are able to attend and see all the wonderful things that happen at the lunch.

Earlier in the week, at the invitation of the Northern VIEW clubs, 'Muriel' gave a presentation on Sunday at the Gawler Racecourse. I acknowledge that in attendance that day was their local MP, the member for Light. What a wonderful group of women the VIEW club ladies are. They are involved in so many areas, fundamentally to assist The Smith Family. Their energy is infectious and their good works reflect the ideals of International Women's Day.

Earlier this year, I was able to attend a function, where I saw some of the outcomes of the work of The Smith Family. It is to these good ends that the VIEW clubs not only get together to have a good time, but also to make sure that their fundraising is targeted. In particular, the Tea Tree Gully VIEW Club, of which I am a member, meets regularly. Again, it is really committed group of women who have made community work in their area fun as well as functional.

I commend the work of the VIEW clubs and all the women's groups that have worked so hard to celebrate International Women's Day. The marches that used to happen—I am not sure if any of my members can assist me—is there a march this year?

Ms Cook: I don't think so.

Ms BEDFORD: No, and I think that is lamentable, because there is nothing like a good march or a rally, is there? So, perhaps that is something we can get involved in next year to make sure that the rally or the march actually happens irrespective of the weather, because, as we know, nothing holds a good woman back.

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