VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2O17 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE VICTORIAN HONOUR PUBLISHED BY AUTHORISED BY ROLL OF WOMEN Office of Prevention & Women’s Equality The Victorian Government, Level 44, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne 2017 Melbourne Victoria 3000 ISBN 978-0-7311-6655-8 (online) Telephone: 03 9097 7097 978-0-7311-6656-5 (print) — March 2017. ©Copyright State of Victoria ACCESSIBILITY 2015. This publication is copyright. If you would like to receive this No part may be reproduced by any publication in another format, process except in accordance with please phone 03 9097 7097 using provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email [email protected]. THE CONTENTS VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 08 —32 Inductee Profiles Ms Brenda Appleton ⁄ 08 Ms Hana Assafiri ⁄ 09 Dr Lou Bennett ⁄ 10 Ms Carrie Bickmore ⁄ 11 Mrs Patricia Bigham ⁄ 12 Mrs Sheila Byard OAM ⁄ 13 Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea ⁄ 14 Mrs Karen Hayes ⁄ 15 Ms Mel Jones ⁄ 16 Mrs Rae Kingsbury ⁄ 17 Ms Kim Koop ⁄ 18 Ms Celeste Liddle ⁄ 19 Ms Rafaela Lopez ⁄ 20 Ms Jessica Macpherson ⁄ 21 Ms Helen Marcou ⁄ 22 Ms Kristy McKellar ⁄ 23 Dr Ruth McNair ⁄ 24 Ms Natalie Miller OAM, AO ⁄ 25 33 Ms Anna Moo ⁄ 26 05 Ms Susan Provan ⁄ 27 Minister’s Foreword Ms Peta Searle ⁄ 28 Fiona Richardson MP Ms Wendy Steendam ⁄ 29 —38 Minister for Women Dr Christine Tippett AM ⁄ 30 2001–2017 Minister for the Prevention Mrs Jan Wilson OAM ⁄ 31 Victorian Honour Roll of Women of Family Violence Ms Stella Young ⁄ 32 Inductees 03 THE MINISTER’S FOREWORD VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 MINISTER’S FOREWORD It is the hard work of women in our There is much to celebrate about community that has helped shape these women. Among the inductees Victoria into the great state that it are a range of dedicated champions is today. As Minister for Women, I am of gender equality, human rights privileged to meet so many inspiring activists, outstanding community women who continue to challenge volunteers and advocates, and gender norms in order to build a better, inspiring leaders and innovators. All fairer and more inclusive society that have shaped the diversity and strength will benefit generations to come. of our community. The achievements When Victoria’s first gender equality of all have made a profound and strategy, Safe and Strong, was lasting impact on the lives of others launched late last year, the Victorian and our society and are equally Government made a commitment deserving of this recognition. to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of more women across I have no doubt that their perseverance, all settings. courage and determination will inspire and empower future generations to That is why I am pleased to induct advocate for a society where every 25 remarkable women to the 2017 individual, from every section of our Victorian Honour Roll of Women society, is encouraged to succeed. (the Honour Roll). The Honour Roll was introduced in 2001 to formally By honouring the contributions acknowledge the extraordinary of women, and by celebrating their women of Victoria and the lasting legacy through the Honour Roll, we contributions they have made to encourage others in our community our community. to embrace the values of gender equality, and to advocate for a Victoria where every woman and girl is given the opportunity to live a safe and meaningful life. Congratulations to the 25 outstanding women recognised here. I encourage you to read the individual stories of this remarkable group. I hope you find their accomplishments both inspiring and motivating. Fiona Richardson MP Minister for Women Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence 05 2O17 VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN INDUCTEES VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 MS BRENDA APPLETON Brenda has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the trans and gender diverse communities in Victoria, unifying 10 different organisations and supporting them to speak with a coordinated voice, whereby increasing the power of their advocacy. As spokesperson for Transgender Brenda is the driving force behind Victoria, Brenda has conducted equal opportunities for trans and leadership, advocacy and training gender diverse communities and in trans and gender diverse issues. has played a vital role in establishing Her effective leadership within the peer-based mental health support community was recognised when she for individuals. was appointed Chair of the whole-of- Victorian Government LGBTI Taskforce, Not only is Brenda actively involved making her the first trans person in in the community and dedicated Australia to be named chair of to creating equal opportunities for a ministerial advisory committee. trans and gender diverse people, she is also the Founding Director Brenda has also chaired the trans and Secretary of Open Food Network. and gender diverse subcommittee This organisation is working to improve of the former government’s Health local farm viability by providing and Wellbeing Ministerial Advisory consumers with an electronic shop Committee. With this role she window (and alternative food supply formulated the health and wellbeing channel) to encourage the buying of background paper that was local, fresh produce through food hubs. instrumental to the development of the health policy for trans and gender diverse Victorians. 08 VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 MS HANA ASSAFIRI Whether it is fostering social cohesion through community events or creating a safe, diverse space for Muslim women to share their stories, Hana Assafiri is a compassionate and unspoken hero within the Victorian community, celebrated for both her generosity and success as a businesswoman. Hana has dedicated her professional Hana is passionate about the need and private life to removing barriers for greater intercultural understanding that prevent women from living by creating opportunities through prosperous lives. By opening her respectful cross-cultural relations. first restaurant in 1998, the popular Hana holds monthly events Moroccan Soup Bar in North Fitzroy— coined ‘Speed Date a Muslim’ and an institution for many Victorians— ‘Conversation Salons’ to bring together Hana has provided employment academics, journalists and community opportunities for marginalised organisations to debate and discuss members of the community. contemporary society, with a focus on women’s issues and racism. Hana Hana’s approach to business is has been a mentor for many young both unconventional and effective, women, particularly from marginalised passionately grounded in an backgrounds. understanding of community and generosity. Hana introduced the Hana has made long-term and notable concept of a verbal menu and contributions to greater intercultural communal eating to dining in understanding between diverse Melbourne, contributing to a unique community groups. She has played an culinary culture which has been extraordinary role in promoting the embraced by Melbournians from rights of Muslim women, and indeed of all backgrounds. all women. Her vision is advantageous to the Victorian community and has Her successful career was forged inspired many others. by her drive and passion to dispel misinformation and negative cultural stereotypes, and to create a more supportive Victorian community. In 2015, Hana was awarded TimeOut’s Legend Award for her flair for innovation and entrepreneurship. 09 VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 DR LOU BENNETT Lou Bennett is a performer, songwriter, musical and artistic director, composer, actor, soundscape and music designer and educator from the Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung people in Echuca, Victoria. A former member of the internationally Lou completed her PhD by project acclaimed trio Tiddas, and a at RMIT in Melbourne in October consummate performer who has 2015. Lou’s dissertation discusses played to audiences worldwide, Lou’s the importance and relevance career spans 29 years in the arts of Aboriginal language retrieval, industry. reclamation and regeneration through the medium of art to In 2006, Lou was one of the co- community health and wellbeing. founders of the Black Arm Band, one The paper also explores the of Australia’s leading performing arts importance of Indigenous companies. As artistic director and epistemology, methodology co-CEO, Lou was instrumental in the and pedagogy in artistic and company’s transformative journey academic contexts. from a one-off project to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governed, As the McKenzie Postdoctoral not-for-profit major performing arts Research Fellow at the University of company. Melbourne, Lou continues to research the obstacles and ethical issues Throughout Lou’s time at the related to retrieving and transmitting company (2006–2014), she was Aboriginal languages cross-culturally involved in the touring of five major and across different generations. productions on a national and international stage. Lou was also a major contributor to the establishment of the company’s community engagement workshop program. 10 VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN 2017 MS CARRIE BICKMORE Carrie has been co-hosting Network Ten’s The Project since 2009. During this time, she has travelled the world reporting on stories including the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in New York, and interviewed celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell and Sarah Jessica Parker. Before her work on The Project, Carrie Carrie believes in giving back to the was on Australian television variety community and donates her time to show Rove Live for four years and a many charity events and causes. She is member of the top rating breakfast the Australian ambassador for UNICEF radio team with Nova FM. Carrie (neo-natal tetanus program), and has received a TV Week Logie Award for also set up her own charity, Carrie’s Best New Talent in May 2010 and in Beanies 4 Brain Cancer which to date 2015 received the Silver Logie for Best has raised over 1 million dollars through Presenter and the Gold Logie for Best community fundraising events, the sale Personality on Australian TV.