International Women's Day - a week of celebrating women.
Updated: Mar 17, 2022
International Women's day was International Women's Week for me. My week featured heavily around women and their work in the community and further afield. I spoke with Orana on Monday, on Tuesday, I attended a Legacy International Women's Day lunch, Project Youth on Friday and finished Sunday with an international Women's day lunch at South Cronulla Surf Lifesaving club with independent councillors from Sutherland Shire and Georges River Councils.
I also shouted coffee for people at Cafe Y in Menai, Chill and Phoenix cafes in Engadine to celebrate all women.
I later met with the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber, where it turned out the president, Jeanne Zweck, and I share many work colleagues through our work on major infrastructure projects.
Photos: Top left Orana, making a difference every day. Top Right - International Women's Day Lunch with at CSLSC with Georges River independent Councillor Elise Borg, Olympic Gold Medalist, Michelle Ford, Leanne Farmer Independent Councilor for Sutherland Shire Council ( A ward - which includes Bundeena) Georges River independent Councillor Natalie Mort, Linda Seymour and Pip Rae former policewoman who now advocates for victims of violence by helping share their stories. Middle - the brilliant staff at Cafe Y, with another gold medalist - Casey Stevens. The Sutherland Shire Business Chamber
Read more about the event I attended at Cronulla surf life saving club in The leader article below
https://www.theleader.com.au/story/7658762/show-of-strength-by-independent-women/
Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Retd)
The event Legacy facilitated was outstanding.
Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Retd) gave a speech free of glass ceilings instead there was muddy boots and grit. It was fantastic.
Coming from a non-traditional female work background, I love hearing of great success in worlds where our unconscious bias pictures men.
My first "proper" job was via a 'technical jobs for women' initiative at Sutherland Council in the Planning department. Whilst I was a top student, I did not meet the full job description 'draftsMAN'.
Merit could not turn me into a man.
That is the break that led me to a successful, award-winning international career.
I spent time speaking with a young electrical engineer/programmer. Her achievements are impressive. I'm so glad that she did not require the same barrier-breaking initiative that I had for her to be able to work in her chosen field.
Notwithstanding the entrenched "boys own" club that is rife in the current Government (more on that later!), there is reason to celebrate women's achievements in a world where bias, unconscious or conscious, is shifting to a world where women see opportunities not roadblocks.
There is still work to be done, but today we say thank you to the many women who have pushed against the barriers to clear the path of obstacles for future generations of women.
I am very proud to be a woman who is part of the change historically and moving forward.