International Women’s Day 2021: Celebrating the diverse women of Yarra
Friday 05 March 2021
Monday 8 March is International Women’s Day.
To celebrate the diverse women of Yarra, we’ll be sharing stories from exceptional women who live, work or volunteer in the City of Yarra.
This project is about everyday legends who contribute to life in Yarra in big and small ways: our friends, neighbours, family, and colleagues.
A theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.
Many of the women we’ll be introducing you to stepped forward during the COVID-19 pandemic, in roles not necessarily traditionally recognised for their leadership.
They are contributing countless hours of labour – often this is invisible work – particularly during COVID-19, and they show us there is not just one narrow definition of “leadership”.
#choosetochallenge
Another theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge.
Choosing to challenge means calling out discrimination and bias where we can.
It means opening up conversations, and challenging outdated ideas about gender.
It means choosing to challenge the unequal treatment women and girls continue to experience.
Above all, “choose to challenge” means valuing and treating everyone equally, and encouraging others to do the same.
Read the stories of women who choose to challenge
- Sue-Anne Hunter: Proud Wurundjeri woman, mum, and community advocate, helping facilitate cultural healing.
- Ellie McKenzie: Australian Rules Footballer for Richmond Football Club
- Sandhya Jadu: Social worker and justice advocate, helping people experiencing homelessness find safe and secure housing.
- Cecelia Ward and Kate Morton: Volunteers for Richmond Skippers netball club, helping primary school girls to get involved in netball.
- Rachel Powning: Neighbourhood Justice Centre General Manager; advocate for people in public housing.
- Sue Kent: Passionately delivering local community programs for the Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House.