VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST 2008-09 FRONT COVER: VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST 01 Footscray Community Legal Centre’s Financial Counselling Service: Energy, Environment and Education in African and other Migrant Women’s Sewing Groups our vision We aim to make a difference in everything we do. We want to see a socially just world where women achieve their potential, live safely and enjoy full participation as citizens. Create a better world for women – and everyone benefits. The Victorian Women’s Trust started in 1985, an independent body with a mandate to improve conditions for women in practical and lasting ways. • We have a funding program that invests in women and girls to effect social change • We advocate for women on key issues that affect their lives • We initiate special projects that deliver real outcomes for women • We showcase women’s talents and foster networks for the exchange of skills, ideas and information. We aim to make a difference in everything we do. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Youth Junction and Headspace: Drink–Think Project 02 VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST directors Dur-e Dara Mary Crooks Leanne Miller Teresa Tjia Alana Johnson OAM Dhulanyagen Ulupna BSc, MSc BA. BSW. AASW. Dur-e is a restaurateur, BA (Hons), MA Mary is the Executive Clan, Yorta Yorta Teresa is the General VAFT(Clinical). MAICD businesswoman and Nation musician. Director of the Victorian Manager of the Faculty Alana Johnson is a Women’s Trust. Leanne is Executive of Land and Food fifth generation farmer She has an extensive Director of Koorie Resources at the engaged in cattle background in public Women Mean Business. University of Melbourne. breeding and agroforestry policy and a passionate Leanne also serves as She has been involved in as well as landscape commitment to social a board member on community activism in restoration in NE Victoria. justice. Women’s Legal Services Perth and Melbourne for Alana is also a Social Victoria, Inc., Family over twenty years. Worker and clinical Law Legal Service Teresa is involved with Family Therapist who Incorporated and was a the Trust’s granting specializes in working founding member of the program and Watermark with farm families and National Network of Project. Her community has presented her work Indigenous Women’s and professional in Ireland, the USA and Legal Services Inc. involvements include across Australia. Leanne is co-chair of the school committees, Alana has spent 25 Indigenous Women’s Moving Galleries a years championing Ministerial Advisory public art and poetry on the issues of rural Committee. She has public transport project women nationally and an extensive background and the Committee for internationally. She is working in the indigenous Melbourne’s Future past national president and women’s sectors. Focus Group alumni. of the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women and in 2004 was the recipient of a national Rural Women’s award. Alana is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program. She was a delegate to the 2020 Summit and the 2008 National Rural staff Women’s Summit. Mary Crooks Sarah Capper Lieu Le Liz McAloon Janya Clemens Executive Director Policy, Advocacy and Reception, Database, Special Initiatives, Executive Support, (full-time) Communications Desktop Publishing and Membership Administration Officer (full-time) Administrative Support Development and Events Co-ordinator (part-time) (part-time) (part-time) VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST 03 Melba Marginson Diana Batzias Nicky Friedman Debra Knight Marilyn Lake Melba is the Executive Diana has worked for Nicky is the Head of Pro BA (Hons), MBA, APC FAHA FASSA Officer of the Victorian many years in both Bono and Community Debra Knight is a Marilyn Lake is Professor Immigrant and Refugee government and the Programs at Allens chronically overworked in History at La Trobe Women’s Coalition. non-government social Arthur Robinson. and exhausted University. She has She is of Filipino welfare sector in policy Before joining Allens, financially trained CEO. written extensively on background and has and service delivery Nicky worked in various She has 2 monstrous the history of feminism worked extensively in roles. social policy and legal children that she loves, in Australia and the area of multicultural policy roles, including at a house that sorely international campaigns affairs. She has a the Victorian Law needs some TLC, a long for racial equality. Master’s degree in Social Reform Commission, suffering husband and a Her books include Science and has sat on where she worked as a Russian blue cat called Getting Equal: The many government legal policy officer on the Pat who makes her feel History of Australian advisory bodies, was review of Victoria’s special by drinking the Feminism, FAITH: Faith listed on the State sexual assault laws. water beside her bed. Bandler Gentle Activist Honour Roll for women Nicky has a long Debra has enjoyed every and most recently, the in 2001 and has served relationship with minute of the (I think it’s prize winning Drawing on the Victorian the Trust both as a about 7 but I’m too tired the Global Colour Line: Multicultural Commission researcher on the Purple to remember) years she White Men’s Countries for five years. Her Sage Project and as a has spent on the Trust and the Question of non-government member of the Grants and admires them for Racial Equality. involvement extends Committee. Nicky has their patience in putting She also has a keen nationally, as a member three school age up with her. She feels interest in promoting the of the Network of children. lucky to be on the board importance of women’s Immigrant and Refugee and helping such an history and heritage in Women of Australia and important and special the public domain. Federation of Ethnic organisation. To this end she has Communities Council of Because Debra doesn’t served on the Victorian Australia’s Women’s know when to get a life, Women’s Honour Roll Committee. she has a BA (Hons) in Selection Committee. Medieval Literature, an MBA in international business and finance and Advanced Professional Certificate in Business Law and Tax and has just completed a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning. Anne Paul Karima Shirzad Wilfredo Zelada Rhonda Fitch Grants Program and Reception and Financial Management Project Consultant Fundraising Support Administrative Support and Reporting, Service – Be The Hero! (part-time) (part-time) Contracts & Technology (part-time) Infrastructure Manage- ment (full-time) Charlotte Fisher Special Initiatives – Precious Music, Precious Water (part-time) Allyson Perham Archival of Trust Documentation, Special Initiatives Assistance (part-time) 04 VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST volunteers&students We always enjoy and appreciate the work and benefits that students and volunteers contribute to the Women’s Trust. Volunteers Students: This year there are many volunteers to thank as we In March 2008 four second year Monash medical were in need of lots of helpers for our final Suffrage students joined the Women’s Trust for a six month Forum in November 2008 – Keeping The Faith, which Community Based Placement. Michelle Yeoh, Adrian featured the inaugural performance of the Women’s Swaine, Myat Aung and Tom Walsh’s contribution to Anthem. Four hundred plus women needed a good the work of the Trust has been invaluable. They deal of organizing and managing throughout undertook to help evaluate the information from the rehearsals and especially on the day – all co-ordinated Be The Hero! project school trials. Their work was wonderfully smoothly by Stage Manager for the event detailed and thorough and enabled some excellent Nic Ridge, ably assisted by Kim Taylor on the actual day. additions and alterations to the final Be The Hero! website. They also spent some time visiting some of For their help on this day we also thank Becky Neep, the organisations funded by the Women’s Trust. Paul Buckle, Erik Zager, Zoe Lang, Grace Mountford, Caitlin Mountford, Rosie Hilder, Kathryn Meredith, The Trust also undertook a mentorship with the Centre Brigid Meredith, Kathryn Buzza, Georgia Fraser, for Sustainability Leadership. Jen Rae approached the Sunny Bhatt, Francesca Wiseman and Celia Milton. Trust requesting us to act as mentors, as her project involves research and action on riparian vegetation, Our regular volunteers have continued to contribute an issue that the Watermark Team have previously throughout the year, always happy to join staff in written submissions to government on, and referred whatever tasks need doing as well as their usual field to in The Trust’s 2007 publication Our Water Mark: of endeavor. Thank you to Hilary Irwin, Crystal Bruton Australians making a difference in water reform. and Fiona Mckean who have been with us for a number of years now. This year much of Crystal’s work involved further research for Be The Hero! and her input helped enormously in achieving a quality website by launch date. This year we were also joined by Karthi Rajendran who undertook work experience for six weeks with Women’s Trust Finance Manager Wilfredo Zelada, (FROM RIGHT) Judy Reeves, research and administrative support for Michelle Yeoh, Adrian Swaine, Myat Aung and Tom Walsh, approximately two months, Leanne Small, research for medical students the Watermark team for seven months, and Charlotte Fisher who began as a volunteer on the Tarka project early in 2008. Steph Moncur completed her final year of the Duke of Edinburgh Award with the Women’s Trust. The Awards are an international leadership program for young people requiring them to join a community organisation part-time and undertake a project. Steph worked on water conservation and leadership research. PHOTO:VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST VICTORIAN WOMEN’S TRUST 05 convenor’s report The year 2008 bore immense significance for women’s history, heralding 100 years of women’s suffrage in Victoria.