March 2021 – All About Women!

March 2021 – All About Women!

International Women’s Day 8th March

Next Monday, 8th March, is International Women’s Day and the Older Women’s Network Qld is celebrating at the Gardens Cafe, Roma Street Parklands.  See further information about this event here.

 

Queensland Women’s Week 3-14th March

Coordinated by the Queensland Government’s Office for Women, Queensland Women’s Week recognises and celebrates the achievements of Queensland’s women and girls.  Everyone has a role to play in creating a Queensland community that respects women, embraces gender equality, and promotes and protects the rights, interests and wellbeing of women and girls.

The theme for the week is Celebrating our present. Own our futureFind out more about our theme.    During the week, individuals and organisations across the state host events and activities, offering something for everyone.

You can also:

Women’s History Month

March is also Women’s History Month and the Australian National University (ANU) Archives are celebrating by highlighting some of the records in their collection relating to remarkable women.

The photo in this article comes from the Australian Women’s Conference for Victory in War and Victory in Peace which was held in November 1943.  The conference was organised around the theme ‘A War to Win, a World to Gain’. At the time, it was the largest women’s conference ever held in Australia.

The conference brought together 91 women’s organisations from across Australia, including representatives of trade unions, religious groups, political parties and a variety of special interest groups. Their aim was to discuss post-war reconstruction, and specifically the issues that faced women and children in this era.

The President of the United Associations of Women, Jessie Street, organised the conference. Street was a prominent feminist and was strongly involved with a number of organisations, campaigning for equality for women, including equal pay and an end to wider discrimination against women in the workplace.

An important outcome of the conference was the development of a charter of rights for women in the post-war world, known as The Australian Women’s Charter.

The Charter was a program of reforms put forward by women relating to planning of post-war reconstruction. It covered a wide range of issues and objectives including women’s right to paid work, the need for adequate child care and the needs of rural and Aboriginal women.

After the conference, The Australian Women’s Charter Movement was established to action the resolutions outlined in the Charter. This included holding subsequent conferences and lobbying members of the federal parliament to enact positive changes for women and children.

Image: Australian Woman’s Charter Committee members presenting deputation to Prime Minister John Curtin, 1943. Pictured from L to R – Eileen Furley, Della Nicholas (later Elliott), Mrs Green, Mrs Quinane, Mrs Carter, Hattie Cameron, Jessie Street, Mona Ravenscroft, Eve Higson, Mabel Warhurst, Anne Outlaw, Ruby Rich and Margaret Jennings.

Thanks to the ANU Archives for the article about Women’s History Month and the photo.