NATIONAL COUNCIL of WOMEN WA Inc

PATRON: Hon Kerry Sanderson AO VICE PATRON: Janet Davidson AOM JP PRESIDENT: Marion Ward SECRETARY: Helen McDonagh Act TREASURER: Sally Warner

Rod Evans Community Centre 160 Hay St East WA 6004 GPO Box 6224 East Perth 6892 Phone: 9325 8897 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ncwwa.org.au

President’s Message November 2014

Dear Members The COTA AGM was held at the State Library e and Mr. Fred Chaney gave the most interesting m ur year is drawing to a close and this will a address “Reinventing Aging”. Mr. Chaney felt i be our last newsletter for 2014. During that aging is a time of loss – loss of friends, ability l January you will receive an update on the : O to do all the things we have enjoyed in the past, arrangements for International Women’s Day so sometimes loss of memory. As usual his talk was n that we will have numbers in early for catering c thought provoking but with a great deal of humor. w purposes. You have already received your 2015 Marie Moloney was returned to the Board for a w calendar so you will be able to plan your year. further term of three years. Congratulation Marie! a @ Another of our wonderful women, volunteering i The highlight of this month has been the ANZAC i Commemoration for the departure of the many hours to assist in delivering service to n Expeditionary Forces from Albany one hundred others. e t years ago. Hopefully many of you were able to . While on the subject of “aging” I must comment n view proceedings covered so well by the telecast on the unintended creation of the fast growing e on the ABC. t industry of “Aged Care”. . I attended the Nurses Memorial service held in This comment was made by the Western a the park, which is dedicated to the nurses who fell u GPO Box 6224, East Perth 6892 Australian Economic EditorWebsite: “ www.wa.ncwa.org.au a special forecast by during the wars. NCWA was part of the official IBISWorld where Australians will be working welcome and I placed a wreath at the obelisk for over the next five years reveals the extent to which NCWA. Freeman of the City of Albany Mrs. technology and demography will play a role. Annette Knight AM JP delivered a strong message The single biggest sector for expected jobs is in focused on the status of women and the vital role the provision of accommodation to the aged. of women during times of conflict. Driven by ageing of the society and the expected “ Today I am proud to be a woman” These were increased life expectancy of Australians, the words of Reverend Judy Mc Kechnie before IBISWorld forecasts total employment in this she gave the Benediction at the memorial service. sector to rise more that 32,000 over the next five The public response was rousing and greatly years. It eclipses the 31,000 jobs expected to appreciated by the many current and ex nurses emerge in the computer system design area, where present. ABC has some coverage of the event so more than 202,000 people have a job”. you may wish to go on line

In this Edition: Page 1: President’s Message Page 2 Albany tribute to women in war Page 3 Lyn Beazley WA Australian of the Year Page 4-5: Standing Committee reports Page 6: Resolution response Page 7: Date of next meeting

2. For several weeks a private health company has NCWWA teamed with Older Women’s Network held education classes in the Rod Evans Seniors to have a stall at the Have a Go Day held Centre where many young people have studied the Burswood Park. As usual the grounds were full theory for their Certificate 3, this being the of interesting stalls and people. Congratulations necessary educational standard for employment in to the very energetic OWN members who the Aged Care Industry. circulated with the visitors and “spread the word”. As the only NCWWA representative I must admit National Council of Women is committed to the I was not able to match their energy but our protection of our young people and I thought this banners were on display and information was article in “The Australian” 28 October 2014 to be given to many interested women, regarding both worthy of your attention. organisations. “ In a confronting message to the world’s leading ministers and central bankers, Rupert Murdoch Our donation to Ruah of goods, specific to the has warned their policies have caused a “massive comfort of women, will be made at our November shift” in societies to benefit the super-rich with a general meeting. My thanks to those members, legacy of social polarization. who, through their generous donations have made Speaking at the dinner in the Library of congress this possible. building in Washington, Mr. Murdoch said “ the ladder of generational progress was now at risk in In closing, I wish you all during this special the developed world and that a moment of great Season of Christmas, a wonderful time with your global reckoning had arrived. He said that, since families, a blessed time for those who keep Faith the 2008 global financial crisis, leaders had made and may you all have the best of health. the mistake of responding to the domestic political outcry instead of devising long term structural I look forward to meeting with you again in 2015. reforms to restore economic confidence investment and innovation. The upshot was the Marion Ward sacrifice of a generation of young people” This is a nine page speech but well worth reading

Tribute to World War one Nurses

The Australian and New Zealand nurses who served during World War I were commemorated in Albany recently with a public memorial service.

President Marion Ward attended this service representing NCWA members. Marion presented a magnificent wreath ( pictured right) on our behalf

City of Albany Freeman Annette Knight conducted the service, telling the story of the women who went to war. "These magnificent women were the pioneers in advancement – not just of the nursing profession, but of a woman's place in society," http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-03/anzac-nurses-honoured-at-centenary-commemorations/5863100

For more information on the event and the history of those brave women please follow the link above

3. Neuroscientist Lyn Beazley named WA's Australian of the Year

Professor Beazley has spent more than 30 years in the field of neuroscience, researching brain damage recovery and changing clinical practice in the treatment of infants at risk from pre-term delivery.

She was also WA's chief scientist from 2006 to 2013, advising the State Government on science, innovation and technology.

She helped set up a nationwide hotline for laboratory technicians in schools, worked for healthier waterways across the state by establishing Dolphin Watch, and was involved in the negotiations for the Square Kilometre Array, a radio telescope project.

Professor Beazley said it was a surprise and a great honour to receive the award.

"It was absolutely out of the blue. I could hardly believe it when I read the email. I had to read it twice and I had to get my husband to check it in case I'd misread it," she said.

"I have had really great opportunities. When I was Chief Scientist of it took me across the state and I could see even more how science and technology, engineering, maths are all parts of our society.

"Now that I'm a bit more freelance I can do that in my own time. I'm trying to make a difference and I think I am."

NCWWA congratulates Prof Lyn Beazley on this award. Lyn was the one who suggested NCWWA introduce a Science and Technology Bursary for women students, and is known to many NCWWA members.

Relevant community Dates for NCWWA members

30 November 2014: National Council of Jewish Women Achievers Awards 61 Woodrow Ave, Yokine @ 7.00pm

25 November 2014: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

10 December 2014: Human Rights Day This date commemorates the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948.

Standing Committee Report 4. 15 November 2014

Nutrition. Joan Shenton  Making the most of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) COTA WA Joan reported on use by the body of different  Maureen’s a champion for Senior’s. substances found in our food. WA’s highest achieving senior Maureen . Angus a tireless advocate for the  Gluten is the name of a group of Proteins Ardyaloon Seniors. and 1 in 70 people of the Australian population suffer with Celiac Disease. Disability. Janni Goss  Iodine when ingested in liquid form in the

average dose of 12 to 18 milligrams is  Women with Disabilities and Human Rights. Kerrie Duff, who is a member of used for heart conditions. Necessary as a Women with Disabilities WA Inc, is an food additive when using cordless phones advocate for human rights for women with smart meters or cell phones, which used disabilities. Kerrie’s website is pulsed 900mz radiation to work. This www.kerrieduffconsulting.com destroys iodine and induces hypothyroidism. Iodine also makes us  Disability Health Network provides the smarter. structure for people to come together to connect, share knowledge and improve on  Research is proceeding into managing the access and inclusion of people with chemical migration from packing into disability to quality health services. food.

Education. Daphne Thacker. Child and Family. Deirdre Lyra

 Surrogacy  Funding cuts in WA Education will hurt students. A recent report states that next  The Safe Schools Program. year more than 255,000 students will be Gillian presented a paper for discussion worse off compared with the previous and we decided that more information was year. needed on this subject.  Significant Change for public schools as  Reform of Adoption Laws called for by the 2015 will see years 6 and 7 students attend nation’s family law judges and backed by secondary school. This means student in Barnardos requesting it be made easier to year 6 & 7 in 2014 will move together to give the many thousands of children in secondary school at the start of 2015. state care a permanent home through

adoption. Health. Marion Ward.  The Attorney General is still drafting  The drug Kalydeco used in the treatment foetal homicide legislation with some of Cystic Fibrosis is now available on the inclusions on domestic violence. PBS after an allocation of $175,000,000  Nordic Model should be considered for from the Federal Government. prostitution legislation. Currently being  Prozac, the anti depressive drug, is now considered in both Canada and France. being trialed in the treatment of stroke Northern Island recently passed a bill that patients. Success will aid in recovery and would outlaw the purchase of sex in that rehabilitation so a great outcome for the country. patient and cost saving. Ageing. Janni Goss  Waiting times at our hospitals are not improving nor is the incidence of violence  The Guide to Aged Care Law in our emergency wards. Both patients and  Palliative Care Victoria Conference staff need more protection.  Advanced Care Planning Information  Ebola needs to be contained within the Session areas of infection in West Africa. Global  Older Adults Need more Protein (except response should continue for many where renal disease is present) months.

5. Standing Committee Report 5. 15 November 2014 (Contd)

Economics. Bridget Faye Arts and Letters Pam Ryder

 Help one woman out of poverty and she’ll  The proposed plan by a British company to bring 4 others with her. Women and girls build Perth's first major film studio on the can create lasting change if they have the site has been opportunity to gain and education, access withdrawn. There are other interested health services, generate and income and parties and it is hoped the project will go take a lead in their community. Educating ahead. women and girls provides the single highest return on investment in the developing world  Latest technology being used to avoid  NATSIWA - the National Aboriginal and injury in dancers. Numerous small markers Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance are placed on the dancers body and their was established in 2009 to empower the movements will be mapped to 3D ready members with a strong and effective voice for analysis by their teacher. in the domestic and international policy  Those of you who loved the movie Red advocacy process. Our Vision “To protect Dog will be pleased to know that a sequel the health, human rights and fundamental – Blue Dog – is under consideration. freedoms that are significant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women through Media Gwen Roderick cultural preservation, health education and coalition building.” TV rivals are agitating for an overhaul over media ownership laws but Channel 7 is preaching caution. It is prohibited for a Women in Employment Jan Rose. broadcaster to reach more than 75% of the population and one company cannot own Jan gave an update on her report and is waiting for a TV station and newspaper in the same the reports from the G20 SUMMIT now in market. progress in Brisbane . When she has studied these she will conclude her report. When was questioned about her private life by a woman columnist Music Pam Ryder Julie said she was in favour of women mentoring other women and quoted  WA Opera is facing major changes with Madeline Albright who said “There’s a the departure of two of its key figures – special place in hell for women who do Joseph Colaneri (conductor for the last not support other women”. eight years including two and a half years as artistic director), and associate Criticism of the ABC regarding the use of conductor and choir master Joseph Nolan. funds for luxury overseas trips.  WA Opera is combining with NZ Opera and Victorian Opera to commission Star Gail Phillips in a recent lecture pointed out Navigator, a new opera by NZ singer- that most TV interviews are not done by songwriter Tim Finn. ethnic or aboriginal journalists.  Soprano Elena Peroni, from Sorrento WA is the first Australian to be accepted into the opera programme at the Curtis Institute Full reports are available in the office. of Music in Philadelphia USA. Elena was one of 800 applicants which was cut to Summary Complied by Marion Ward four in the classical voice course.

6. Response from the Federal Government

The following resolution was forwarded to the Federal Government as agreed at the Mid Term Conference in Alice Springs in May

FORCED MARRIAGE NCWA, noting the 2013 criminalization of forced marriage, calls on the Federal Attorney-General to take further action to: A) Better document the incidence of forced marriage in Australia and monitor the effect of the legislation. B) Encourage increased community awareness of the law through educational, faith-based and civil society organizations C) Facilitate culturally sensitive training to state and territory departments of justice, existing service providers and support agencies

A response has been received from Catherine Smith, Assistant Secretary to Crime Prevention and Federal Offenders Branch on behalf of the Federal Minister for Justice, the Honourable George Brandis. The response acknowledged receipt of our resolution and gave a comprehensive explanation of the Government’s progress so far, in regard to this issue. Extracts of the response are as follows:

“The is committed to preventing and addressing forced marriage. Since forced marriage was criminalised in March 2013, the Australian Federal Police has received 26 referrals, 20 of which have been accepted for investigation. To date, two suspected victims of forced marriage have received assistance from the Australian Government’s Support for Trafficked People Program.

The incidence of forced marriage and impact of criminalisation will continue to be reported on through biannual performance management reporting under the Australian Government’s strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery, and the annual reporting of the Interdepartmental for Committee on Human Trafficking and Slavery. These documents are available from the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) website at: www.ag.gov.au/humantrafficking. AGD is also currently finalising the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery, which will include benchmarks and indicators to measure progress and impact on forced marriage issues through a monitoring process. The Action Plan is expected to be launched by the Minister for Justice in December 2014.

Forced marriage awareness-raising is a key focus of the Australian Government’s ongoing efforts to combat forced marriage. This awareness-raising includes the preparation of resources for the general community, organisations and service providers, and people in or at risk of forced marriage. AGD is currently finalising a forced marriage community pack, which is suite of age, gender and culturally appropriate materials on forced marriage for frontline officers, teachers and vulnerable groups. These materials include: information and frequently asked question sheets on forced marriage; a small fold-away booklet for people at risk of forced marriage; a how to guide (including a template) on preparing a forced marriage safety plan; media fact sheet; and a forced marriage information booklet for agencies, community organizations and service providers.

The materials have been prepared by a working group established under the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, with membership from a number of non government organizations (NGOs). AGD is undertaking a targeted community consultation on the materials including with State and Territory Government agencies; community legal centres; organistions specializing in service provision to women; children and people from a culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; civil society organizations and people with personal experience of forced marriage. The forced marriage community pack is expected to be launched by the Minister for Justice in December 2014.

The Government is also providing practical support for NGOs working to raise awareness and provide services to people in or at risk of forced marriage. On 14 July 2014, the Minister for Justice awarded $485,925 over four years to the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans, Anti Slavery Australia and the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights. These organisations have been funded, respectively, for targeted awareness- raising for teachers and students on forced marriage and referral pathways; to create a website to assist people in or at risk of forced marriage, with information, links to service and free online indivualised advice; and to develop a multilayered community education program designed to increase the capacity of community welfare organsations to work with young women and families on forced marriage.

Since the crimilisation for forced marriage, AGD has also implemented a number of key of measures designed to support the legislation. With the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), AGD has updated the Consular Operations Handbook to include guidance for consular officers on the management of forced marriage cases, including specific advice regarding the complexities and sensitivities of forced marriage cases involving minors. As part of ongoing consular efforts to adapt to the evolving nature of communications, an “SMS facility” has been introduced to enable Australians seeking consular assistance to communicate with DFAT by way of SMS text”.

COMING EVENTS 7.

.

. DATE OF NEXT GENERAL MEETING BOOK CLUB

Monday 23 February 2015

1.00 pm

Rod Evans Community Centre

160 Hay St East Perth The next book club will be held at

Rod Evans Community Centre Guest Speaker Wednesday 18 February 2015

Linda Bettany Summer season reading is a selection of books by WA author of

Secrets Mothers Keep ELIZABETH JOLLEY

Kindly donated to the book club By Janni Goss

Monica Elizabeth Jolley AO was an English-born Writer who settled in Western Australia in the late 1950s. She was 53 when her first book was published, and she went on to publish fifteen novels (including an autobiography and a trilogy), four short story collections and three non-fiction books, publishing well into her 70s and achieving significant critical acclaim. Murder, mystery, deceptions, a World She was also a pioneer of creative writing, teaching War I romance – all based on actual in Australia, counting many well-known writers such events in WA in the 1920’s as Tim Winton among her students at Curtin University.

Lunch available on order

For further information Phone Joan Shenton 9364 6830

International Women’s Day

Luncheon on Monday 9 March 2015

Rod Evans Community Centre www

a Guest Speaker will be present If double clicking does not work for you to open face book and National President NCWA, Julie Morris, the website right click the icon and choose ” open hyperlink” will attend. Friends are Welcome

$25 per person To register please: Email [email protected] Phone: 9325 8897