Celebrating women in the Macedon Ranges

Last updated on 22 February 2024

IWD-24

Council will celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 with an event at Kyneton Town Hall on Friday 8 March, featuring inspirational guest speakers and the launch of a new exhibition.

International Women’s Day is held globally each year to celebrate women's achievements and raise awareness for women's equality.

This year’s theme, Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress, focuses on the need to invest more in women to achieve gender equality and greater economic inclusion.

During the event, a panel of guest speakers will explore the achievements, challenges and strengths of women’s economic empowerment through their unique experiences, with the panel to feature:

  • Taungurung elder Aunty Joanne Honeysett
  • Shamila Gopalan ─ Chief Commercial Officer of Sisterworks 
  • Miranda Johnson-Jones and Laura Crozier ─ hosts of the Growing Up Clueless Podcast
  • Mary Attard ─ Deputy Director of Her Place Women’s Heritage & Museum Australia

Council’s Director Community, Maria Weiss, said International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of women in our local community and reinforces Council's commitment to gender equality and challenging bias.

“We are thrilled to have this group of amazing women join us to share their lived experiences and thoughts on gender equality and discuss what else can be done to reduce the gap and empower women,” said Ms Weiss.

Mary Attard will also officially open the UNMASKED exhibition, celebrating more than 200 years of nursing and midwifery in Victoria through videos of contemporary nurses, historical biographies and other special items.

The exhibition, which also features theme boards and AV presentations on loan from the Her Place Women’s Heritage & Museum, will be on display at the town hall until the end of May 2024 (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays).

“This exciting exhibition highlights the multiple and diverse roles of nurses and midwives over the years, and we’re thrilled to be able to host it in our shire – I encourage everyone to visit and learn more about this aspect of our history," Ms Weiss said.

A range of pop-up stalls featuring ethically made products created by women from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds will also be on display throughout the evening.

The free event will commence at 6pm, with doors opening and light refreshments from 5:30pm.

All genders are welcome, with bookings essential. Register here or call 5422 0333.

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