ALGWA NSW Newsletter June/July 2015 Edition 52 President’s Report– Vicki Scott As ALGWA NSW President, information and accredita- I am committed to repre- tion to better equip them to successFully stand For senting women in Local ALGWA is a national Government, both elected election. These courses would be available in Key organisation which representatives and em- represents women ployees in the sector. metropolitan and rural areas and would provide who are elected rep- What is the situation with candidates with a certifi- resentatives and stafF women in Local Govern- cate oF accreditation. members within NSW ment NSW at present? Only Watch our Newsletter, Local Government. 27% oF the elected repre- media releases and web- We are tasked to sentatives across the state site For Further informa- increase both the in 2012 were Female. No tion. number oF Female increase in Female repre- sentation since the last I am also committed to councillors and senior elections in 2008. This, representing women em- appointments within despite the worK done by ployed in the Local Gov- stafF, and to ensure ALGWA when we conducted ernment sector, where that women have a Forums in metropolitan and women are still under voice in decision mak- Cr VicKi Scott was elected President rural areas prior to the represented in senior ing. We also looK at oF ALGWA NSW at the ALGWA ConFer- elections and presented management roles, with Family and Female ence in Wollongong . ALGWA’s Getting Women only 5% oF Females Gen- issues such as Fair eral Managers. and 21% She acKnowledged the leadership and Elected in conjunction with parental leave provi- the Electoral Commission senior staFF. achievements oF Cr Colleen Fuller who sions and mentoring Candidate Information ALGWA has a proactive held that oFFice for the past two year and training For coun- sessions. ALGWA is going campaign to urge councils cillors and stafF. term. to do even more prior to to include leave For em- Vicki Scott has been a Councillor on the 2016 LG elections. In ployees sufFering domestic VIcki Scott GosFord City Council since 2004 and a partnership with UTS:CLG violence so that they have LiKe us on Face BooK member oF the ALGWA Executive Com- we are planning the setting job security. www.algwa.org.au mittee For seven years, including the up and Funding oF a pro- www.algwa.org.au last two as City Vice President. gram which will give aspir- ing women candidates ALGWA NSW Conference 2015 in Wollongong- “Leadership Adventure” The ALGWA NSW Conference, hosted by Wollongong City Council April Conference, which included such inspiring women as: Dr 30 to May 2, was our sixty second annual Conference. The sixtieth, Clio Creswell, author and a senior lecturer in mathematics the Diamond Jubilee Conference, was hosted by GosFord City Council at the University oF Sydney; in 2013. Elizabeth Farrelly, columnist, author, philosopher and ar- The Lord Mayor oF Wollongong, Cr Gordon Bradbery wel- chitect, holder oF many international awards; comed delegates who came From all over the State to hear inspiring Wendy Machin, operator oF beeF cattle properties, Deputy speaKers and to networK with councillors and staFF members oF Local President oF the NRMA, has served on many Boards in the Government. Government and private sector and was the First woman The theme Leadership Adventure, was summed up by the First Key- NP MP in the NSW Legislative Assembly; note speaKer, Sam Mostyn, the President For the Australian Council The Conference included panels and a Hot Spots session for International Development. She took a line from The Hobbit, “I am where delegates get to raise and debate matters oF impor- looKing For someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging and tance to them and their communities. it’s very difficult to find anyone.” Support in the context of the Confer- Robust discussion at the AGM arose on matters such as ence explored who and what we should have around us to support bullying within Local Government, the need For ALGWA to us, and through our leadership how we can support others. have a seat at the table of the NSW State Government’s Fit Master oF Ceremonies Amy Duggan , a WIN NetworK Presenter with For the Future Program, and the need For Local Govern- 15 years Industry experience, led proceedings smoothly through the ment employees to have access to Family and Domestic Violence Leave. PAGE 2 ALGWA NSW NEWSLETTER ALGWA NSW Conference was hosted by Wollongong City Council Cr Sharon Cadwallader oF Ballina Shire Council thanked the panel comprising Cr Julie Hegarty Pittwater Coun- The Conference opened with a very special welcome to country, the cil, Dr Ven Jeuwel a Buddhist nun and Cr Michelle Bli- home oF the Dharawal people, by the Illawarra Flame Tree dancers . cavs Wollongong City Council. Discussion centred These talented Aboriginal girls perFormed dances relating to the Illa- around accepting challenges, maKing changes, thinking warra region, the people and the animals. outside the square. The Lord Mayor oF Wollongong, Cr Gordon Bradbery, presented the girls with certificates oF appreciation. Cr Jenny Dowell, Mayor oF Lismore, was a panel member Shari Hussein speaKing in the in Hot Spots session where delegates with ProFessor Lesley Cooper oF Wollongong University, have the opportunity to raise and debate matters oF importance. Ashley Jarquin, Media Manager For Transport NSW and Anita Mulrooney, Peoplecare. ALGWA NSW President Cr Colleen Fuller presented Alex Stengle Cr Karen McKeown of Penrith City Council thanked Dr Clio From Wollondilly Shire Council with a certificate oF acKnowledge- Creswell For her hilarious, informative and inspiring presenta- ment oF her successFul application For a Marjorie Propsting Award, tion, including the relationship between sex and mathemat- pictured with mentors Cr Judith Hannan and Robyn Cooper ics. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 Alex Stengl, Wollondilly Shire Council was a joint winner of the Marjorie Propsting Award 2015. Alex spoKe about the course she undertooK, addressing the ALGWA NSW Conference in Wollongong. “Thank you to ALGWA for giving me the opportunity to undertake Organising and Managing in Local Government through UTS Centre of Local Government (CLG). I have been fortunate that I have ex- perienced support from my current general Manager Luke Johnson. Luke has always been an advo- cate for gender equality in the work place and has been supportive with accommodating this through initiatives such as flexible working arrangements to support woman in team leader roles in our organisation. I would also like to express that Ally Dench, who is a director at my council has played an important part in mentoring me and she has been an inspiration to women in our organi- sation through her success in her different roles at Wollondilly Shire Council. We have two current women in our elected body Cr Judy Hannan and Cr Kate Terry. Both of these woman are an inspira- tion to me and it is encouraging to see the contributions and success that they have made to our community whilst still raising families and working – not an easy thing to do. So to Luke Ally, Judy and Kate I would like to acknowledge and thank them for their ongoing support, not just for myself but for other women in the organisation. The course has been really worthwhile and I would recommend that anyone pursuing a career in Local Government would benefit from undertaking some of the short courses at the UTS CLG. The ALGWA woman’s Conference has been excellent and has touched on the issues facing Local Government, these issues tied in nicely with the course I have just completed. The course focussed on capacity in Local Government, leadership and service delivery models, all of which have a direct impact on service delivery and meeting the expectations oF our communities in our respective Local Government areas. I really enjoyed studying this course and Found it very worthwhile. Once again I would like to acKnowledge ALGWA For their gener- ous support and I would encourage people to apply for the scholarship program.” The ALGWA NSW Marjorie Propsting Scholarship provides one oFF Funding up to $3000 For staFF or councillors to undertaKe learning and development activities towards: *Completion oF a tertiary/TAFE course: * Study to Further your career *Attendance at relevant course/conference. The Scholarship is an annual scholarship allocated each calendar year by the ALGWA NSW Executive to support women in Local Government. Recipient must be a Financial member oF ALGWA and have completed at least 12 months service with council. Application details: www.algwa.org.au Photo courtesy Lane Cove Council Thank You Sharon Cadwallader Cr Sharon Cadwallader has Sharon put her energy into stepped down From the an ALGWA membership ALGWA had his support. ALGWA NSW Executive aFter drive. Prior to the last Local Sharon received the Local a decade oF service on the Government elections, she Government Minister’s Executive Committee. travelled to a number oF Award For a Rural elected Sharon was elected to LGAs in her region to deliver representative in 2013 For Ballina Council in 2004 and ALGWA’s presentation Get- her outstanding achieve- quicKly became an ALGWA ting Women Elected. She ments in her electorate and member. She was elected established a strong liaison her dedication to the ad- to the Executive Committee with the then Minister For vancement oF women in the and served a two year term Local Government, Hon Don Local Government sector. as Country Vice President. Page and ensured that Colleen Fuller is the Immedi- NSW Branch and the Na- of the annual Ministers’ Thank You Colleen Fuller ate Past President oF ALGWA tional body. Awards For Women in Local NSW.