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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-13 Daily Xml
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WOMEN'S HONOUR ROLL

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:06): I direct my question to the Minister for the Status of Women. Will the minister provide an update on the South Australian Women's Honour Roll?

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) (15:06): I am very pleased to inform members that South Australia's inspirational women were especially honoured and recognised at a reception at Government House last Tuesday. I had the pleasure of joining His Excellency Kevin Scarce and his wife, who kindly hosted a very special reception to acknowledge 100 of our leading South Australian women and congratulate them on their tireless efforts and achievements. The Hon. Michelle Lensink was also present at the event, as were the Hon. John Dawkins and his mother—and I will come back to that in a moment.

The women honoured provide a glimpse into the energy, passion and commitment of many women in our community, who often do not see their outstanding efforts as anything out of the ordinary. In the second year of this initiative 100 names were added to the honour roll, and 10 outstanding women from within that 100 were highlighted for their extraordinary contribution in both paid and volunteer roles. Many of the nominees have provided years, often a lifetime, of service in their specific area of expertise or interest, providing a safer, more inclusive, and culturally rich community. They certainly make this a much better place for us to live.

The top 10 women awarded special acknowledgement included Aunty Josie Agius. Many of us know her. She has imparted her words of wisdom at opening ceremonies for a wide range of functions, forums and events, and has an endless supply of personal insight and advice to give on those various occasions. I have never seen her at a loss for a word of advice. She is an outstanding Kaurna elder and role model in the Aboriginal community, and through her work has assisted many young Aboriginal people develop their self-esteem and cultural pride.

There was also the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, a senior Aboriginal women's council. These seven women established a campaign that successfully stopped the dumping of radioactive nuclear waste in the South Australian Outback. There was Carol Sutherland for her outstanding leadership in tertiary education, support to homeless women at Catherine House, and services to UNIFEM; Diana Sautelle for her proactive work with Aboriginal communities and organisations and as a founder of the Adnyamathanha Women's Choir; and Khadija Gbla for her contribution to the community in lifting the awareness of issues of multiculturalism, mental health and support for young women.

Also acknowledged were Dr Lesley Shorne, for her outstanding long-term commitment to the provision of high quality services and teaching in women's health; Marjorie Bateson, for her outstanding service to the union movement for 18 years in her time working at Holden's at Elizabeth and in the community services sector; Eleanor Scholz, for her active role in the Wudinna community, through her work in establishing a TAFE SA campus and in her taking a leadership role in providing support and advocacy for a large number of projects in the area; Jan Stirling, for her contribution to women's basketball as a coach, player and mentor and for her contribution to professional development in the sports sector in the community; and Nora Phippen, for her outstanding contribution in raising a group of profoundly disabled children to adulthood.

Betty Fisher also received an honorary acknowledgement and was uniquely recognised as a member of the South Australian Women's Honour Role. In many ways, Betty initiated the concept of honouring South Australian women in her 2001 book, The Women's Role of Honour for the 20th Century in South Australia. The book, compiled with her characteristic determination and thoroughness, was, I was advised, written on her kitchen table.

Of course, one of the recipients of the honours award is Mrs Constance Dawkins, the Hon. John Dawkins' mother, who attended the reception. Mrs Dawkins was acknowledged for her very active participation in the Gawler community since 1943. It was delightful to be able to chat with her personally. When I tried to engage her in talking about her contribution and the sorts of things she had been involved in, she was very uncomfortable talking about herself and was much more comfortable talking about her husband's former work, which is so typical of many women. They find it very hard to bang their own drum, so to speak, and to put themselves forward and talk about themselves and acknowledge their achievements. That is, of course, one of the reasons we have this honour role and why it is so important that we honour, in a very public way, these quiet achievers.

The honour role is an ongoing initiative. Each year 100 women are added to the role and, from these 100 women, 10 are highlighted for their extraordinary contribution. The South Australian Women's Honour Role provides an ideal opportunity for women to be acknowledged by their local community and to profile the truly wonderful work that women do. All of the women being acknowledged can be found on the South Australian Women's Honour Roll website, and there is also a publication in which they are honoured.

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