Links

Friday March 07 2008, Media Release

NSWALC CHAIR CONGRATULATES NSW WOMAN OF THE YEAR AND WELCOMES 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council Chairperson, Bev Manton, today (Friday) congratulated the winner of the NSW Woman of the Year, Dianne Madden.

Ms Manton said Ms Madden was a “very well deserved winner” of the annual state award to help mark International Women’s Day on March 8 (Saturday).

Ms Madden is the founder and president of Camp Kookaburra in the Sutherland Shire. The Camp supports children aged eight to 12 living with a parent, brother or sister affected by mental illness.

“The Camp gives the children a bit of a break and the kids are coming back as leaders,” Ms Manton said.

Ms Madden and Ms Manton were both finalists in the Awards ceremony at a gala dinner at NSW Parliament House last night (Thursday). All 100 women nominated for this year’s award were in attendance at the event.

Ms Manton said the award dinner had been “a great experience and I was quite humbled and very proud to be there”.

She was also particularly proud because 25 per cent of the 12 finalists were Aboriginal women.

“Pam Boney a Murrqwari woman from Orange, was a finalist for the “Bush Babies Program” and other initiatives and Janny Ely of the Wiradjuri people was also a finalist for her work with Aboriginal women in South Western Sydney,” Ms Manton said.

She also praised the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, who demonstrated during his speech that “he holds a special place for women in his heart”.

“This is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day after 15,000 women marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights,” she said.

“I urge all Australian women and men to take time out tomorrow to consider the vital role played by women throughout the world in all aspects of human endeavour.”

The 100th anniversary global theme is ‘Shaping Progress’.

There are currently nearly 600 IWD 2008 events listed from 52 different countries listed on the official website http://www.internationalwomensday.com.

Further information: Paul Molloy (02) 6124 3562 / 0419 690 926

15,000 women marched through New York City in 1908 demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. 100 years on, the pertinence of this event is honored through IWD's 2008 global theme 'Shaping Progress'.

Around the world, websites link to this site. Add your own IWD events and news.
There are currently 589 IWD 2008 events listed from 52 different countries !!