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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-15 Daily Xml
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HELLENE AND HELLENE-CYPRIOT WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:18): The Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia and New Zealand recently held their national conference in South Australia. Will the minister tell the chamber more about the Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia and New Zealand organisation and its national conference?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question and interest in this matter. On Friday 10 October I had the great pleasure of hosting the welcoming reception of the National Biennial Conference of the Federation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia and New Zealand in Parliament House. The conference explored the roles, challenges and achievements of Greek and Cypriot women in the 21st century. The organisation through the passionate work of its members fosters leadership and cultural understanding, and it helps to promote the important role women play in building better and stronger communities. I was extremely pleased to see the breadth of women in attendance—from young to old, from different walks of life and from professional and business backgrounds. It is always pleasing to hear a breadth of women's voices in order to ensure that they are heard.

Greek culture and language have long been an integral part of the life of Australia. We see its influence in food, arts and festivals, and throughout the whole fabric of our society. The Greek community have lived in the South Australian community for many years. I think the first Greek family arrived to settle here in South Australia almost 150 years ago, so they certainly have had a long standing in this community.

As I said, the Greek cultural influence in particular has woven itself through the very fabric of our society, and we are all much richer for it. In South Australia the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene Cypriot Women recently presented a major exhibition in the Migration Museum telling the stories of Greek migration into this state. The sharing of stories such as these is quite incredible. It is a very important and rewarding experience for all, and I congratulate the organisation for that initiative.

I cannot imagine what it would be like. Of my four grandparents, three were immigrants to Australia, or closely related, from Yugoslav, Italian and Irish backgrounds. It is indeed an eclectic combination, and I am richer for it, as are many of us here. Even being second generation, I cannot imagine what it would be like to sell what possessions you have, to hold a fistful of cash in your hand, board a boat with a toddler on your hip and one in a pram, and arrive in Australia not speaking the language and often not having any family or other contacts here. I cannot imagine the bravery and courage that that took and, of course, some of those photographs in that exhibition represent much of that courage and bravery.

The women of the Greek community are very outward looking in supporting each other and also making vital contributions to the wider community. For example, I am aware that just last year the New South Wales Organisation of Hellene and Hellene Cypriot Women raised just over $30,000 for child cancer research. Greek women are professors, business women, mothers, senior government officials, politicians, nurses and community workers, all working hard for better lives for themselves, their families and the community.

I have been told that the national conference was a great success, and I am pleased to advise members that the Director of the Office for Women met with the organisation to discuss and share information about the up and coming and continuing challenges for women in the 21st century. As I have mentioned in this chamber before, domestic violence in particular was one of the issues that I know were raised at that meeting and on which the women were very interested to hear about our agenda.

The Office for Women has informed me that a number of key issues were raised: women's safety, increased representation for women in politics and the broader government structure, work/life balance and parental leave were amongst them. These are all issues the Rann government is taking very seriously, and I look forward to continuing a relationship between the Office for Women and this organisation.

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