Women's History Month 2004 - Program

On this Website: Discussions / Leaders

Around Australia

ACT Events

Display in the Foyer of National Library

Throughout March

'This Bright Progressive Band': Women's Suffrage in Australia Australia was the first nation in the world to grant its female citizens (except for Indigenous women in some states) both the right to vote in federal elections and the right to be a candidate for a seat in Parliament. This display of material from the Library's special collections, celebrates the centenary of the first federal election at which women could vote.

A Question of Identity: The Ordination of Women as Priests in the Anglican Church of Australia

Wednesday 3 March, 12.30pm

Dr Sarah Macneil, Diocesan Archdeacon of Canberra and Goulburn

Ferguson Room

Free

Enquiries: 02 6262 111

National Library of Australia: www.nla.gov.au

Lunchtime talk on collection including Canberra Women's Archives

Thursday 4 March 12:30m - 2:00pm

Beverley Sodbinow, archivist of Jessie Street National Women's Library

Cost: $10 members of the Library, $15 non members, $5 concession

Canberra Museum and Gallery

Enquiries: 02 6249 8782

Hosted by Jessie Street National Women's Library

A Breakfast in Celebration of International Women's Day

Friday 5 March 2004. 7.30am - 9.00am

Each year a series of lectures are held entitled 'Women of Influence' and this breakfast is included in the Series for 2004. Guest speaker is Professor Judith A. Whitworth, AC who is the Director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU.

Cost: $20. Tickets must be purchased in advance by phoning 02 6125 3595.

Information on the lecture can be obtained at: www.anu.edu.au/equity/woi_18.html

The Women of Influence lecture series began in 1999 and is a joint initiative of the equity practitioners at Australian National University, the University of Canberra, the University of New South Wales at ADFA and the Australian Catholic University (Signadou). Speakers to talk about decisions they have made that have influenced their career or other influences on their lives that have shaped them and/or their careers. The purpose of the lecture series is to profile successful women irrespective of career path. Information on previous speakers is available at : www.anu.edu.au/equity/women.html

'Bullocks, Bread and Babies'

Saturdays 6, 20, 27 March 2pm

Join the Blundells' Cottage guides and Flora Blundell's great-great grandson, Andrew Blundell, for a special topical tour of the cottage followed by afternoon tea. The tours will explore the extraordinary lives and trades of the women who resided in the cottage over its 100 year history.

Participants will receive a copy of Susan Blundell's famous recipe for porridge.

Cost: Normal entry fees apply. $4 adult, $2 concession

Bookings essential: 02 6257 1068

Blundell's Cottage Website: www.nationalcapital.gov.au

'Writing our women into history'

Saturdays 6, 13, 20 March 1.30 - 4.30pm

Course by Dr Gillian Polack

Bookings essential: 02 6125 2892

Cost: $137

Centre for Continuing Education ANU: www.anu.edu.au/cce

Speakers Corner 'Women at Eureka'

Sunday 7 March,1.00pm and 3.00pm

Dr Clare Wright

Free

Enquiries: 02 6212 3600

National Archives of Australia: www.naa.gov.au

'The Women's Way Tour'

Sundays 7, 14, 21, 28 March 10.00am -11.00am

Old Parliament House

Bookings essential: 02 6270 8282

Cost: $3 adult, $2 concession, $7 family

Old Parliament House: www.oph.gov.au

'Beyond beauty and utility, women also found their voice through quiltmaking'

Sunday 7 March, 2.00pm - 3.30pm

A discussion facilitated by Margaret Rolfe, prominent quilt maker and historian

Theatrette, Canberra Museum and Gallery, Cnr Civic Square London Circuit

Free

Enquiries: 02 6207 3969

Canberra Museum and Gallery: www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au

Women in the Making of Canberra - an Exhibition

Monday 8 March to 25 March 10am-5pm

Enjoy a pictorial history of women in Canberra in the ACT.

ACT Heritage Library, Level 1, Woden Library, Crnr Furzer & Corinna Streets, Phillip

The library also has created a web resource for WHM which will include a list of resources held by ACT Heritage Library on women's history and how to find pictures of women in our images database. It is available at www.library.act.gov.au/acthl/actheritagelibrary.html

Liberal Reformists or Hairy-legged Stalinists? Writing the History of Women's Electoral Lobby

Wednesday 10 March, 12.30pm

Professor Marian Sawer, Political Science Program, Australian National University

Ferguson Room

Free

Enquiries: 02 6262 1111

National Library of Australia: www.nla.gov.au

The History of Breast Cancer - Dr Noel Tait

11 March 11.30am to 12.30pm

The Auditorium, Pilgrim House

Northbourne Avenue Canberra City

Free For more information 6205 1614 (Deborah Schaler)

40 Years of Housework

Saturday 13th March 2pm

It is 40 years since Minister for the Interior, Doug Anthony, officially opened Blundells' Cottage as a 'folk museum', one of the first in the ACT. Hear about the trials, tribulations and successes that have occurred and celebrate the contribution of Canberra women to this piece of local history. Join current and previous staff, volunteers and descendants to reminisce and wish the Cottage a happy anniversary.

Cost: Entry by gold coin donation. Bookings essential 02 6257 1068

Blundells' Cottage, Wendouree Drive, off Constitution Avenue

Nostalgia, Women in Vaudeville at Screensound Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton

Sunday 14 March

2.00pm Gems from the Archive: a 75 minute compilation of short pieces (feature film trailers, ads and other amusing and edifying material), See the ScreenSound website (screensound.gov.au) for additional detail or pick up a "Whats On" brochure at ScreenSound front desk.

3.30 Women on the Stage and Screen: Dr Jeff Brownrigg will reveal the active and busy lives of of Australian women and women who visited Australia to work, particularly those in the fields of opera and vaudeville. An engaging journey around late colonial times and the early 20th century, demonstrating the contribution that women such as Florrie Forde, Marie Lloyd, Ada Reeve and many others have made to Australian cultural heritage.

Cost: Free. Bookings essential 02 620 4822

Bring your own picnic and enjoy it by the Lake with some of the Committee from 5.00 (weather permitting).

The History of WEL in the ACT

Tuesday 16 March 12.30 pm

Gail Radford (ANU)

CDHS Rooms, Canberra Museum and Gallery

Cost: Free, Enquiries 02 6286 1891

ACT Regional Studies Network

'How Black Women jumped the education system'

Saturday 20 March 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Seminar with Jilpia Nappaljari Jones, Larissa Behrendt and Auriel Bloomfield

Manning Clark House

Bookings: 02 6295 9433

Cost: $25

Website: www.manningclark.org

'All our strength, all our kindness and all our love'

Sunday 21 March 1.00pm

Lecture by Michael Richards on Bertha McNamara, bookseller, activist and feminist

An insight into the views of this veteran socialist which links guild socialism to Australian radicalism of the early twentieth century

Old Parliament House

Bookings essential: 02 6270 8282

Cost: $2 adult, $1 conc, $5 family

Website: www.oph.gov.au

Seminar on preservation of records for ACT women's organisations

Wednesday 24 March, 10.00am - 12 noon

The ACT Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher MLA will launch a 'virtual exhibition' on www.womenaustralia.info titled 'Women in the Making of Canberra'. After the launch, representatives of the National Library, ACT Heritage Library and Territory Records Office will discuss preservation of records with ACT women's organisations.

Canberra Museum and Gallery

Enquiries: 02 6231 3383

Free

National Foundation of Australian Women, Australian Women's Archives Project: www.nfaw.org

Lecture by Michael Richards on Bertha McNamara, bookseller, socialist and feminist

Wednesday 24 March 12.30pm

Old Parliament House

Bookings essential: 02 6270 8282

Cost: $2 adult, $1 conc, $5 family

Website: www.oph.gov.au

'Phoolan Devi, Bandit Queen'

Thursday 25 March, 6.00pm - 7.30pm

Talk by Dr Stephen Foster, who dined with Phoolan Devi the night before she was murdered. Find out about this remarkable woman and her path from outlaw and bandit to Indian parliamentarian.

Friends Lounge NMA

Bookings essential: 02 6208 5048

Cost: $10 Friends, $15 Guests

Friends of the National Museum of Australia

Email: friends@nma.gov.au

Website: www.nma.gov.au

'Women and War: Stories from the Collection' drawn from personal papers of women involved in war

Thursday 25 March, 6.30pm

Focusing on First and Second World Wars, drawn from the personal papers of women from that period

Research Centre Australian War Memorial

Enquiries: 02 6243 4211

Free

Website: www.awm.gov.au

Marion Mahony Griffin and the Democratising Instinct - Lecture by Dr David Headon Cultural Adviser, National Capital Authority

Friday 26 March, 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Depending on who you read, Marion Mahony Griffin is generally characterised as either an acolyte of Walter's, or the dominant influence on his output. The truth lies somewhere between. This talk will provide an overview of the rapidly expanding MMG scholarship, paying attention to Marion's writings on Australia, especially as they relate to democracy, Nature, local politics and the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner.

Free- bring your sandwiches, tea and coffee provided

Bookings essential - phone 6257 1068

National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point

Website: www.nationalcapital.gov.au

'Women of Influence'

Saturday 27 March, 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Seminar led by the Hon Susan Ryan

Manning Clark House

Bookings: 02 6295 9433 $25

Website: www.manningclark.org

Medieval and Renaissance Jewish Women and Their Lives

Canberra, ACT. Sunday 28 March, 4.00 pm

National Council of Jewish Women - Canberra

Dr Gillian Polack

By invitation only. Cost $5. Wine and cheese will be provided.

Sheilas on the Shelf - Women's Archives in the ACT Heritage Library - a talk

Tuesday 30 March 2004 12.30pm -1.30pm

Join our Project Manager, Janette Condon, for a discussion of the issues surrounding the collection of the archives of women's groups and the personal papers of Canberra women.

Cost: Free. Bookings essential: 6207 5163 (bh)

ACT Heritage Library, Upstairs Woden Library

'A Pretty Militant Lot: Women and Resident Action Fighting Development, a North Sydney Story'

Wednesday 31 March, 12.30 pm

Dr Margaret Park

Ferguson Room

Free

National Library of Australia: www.nla.gov.au

NSW Events

'Asylum Women: Aged, Infirm, Destitute'

Monday 1 March to Wednesday 31 March 9.30am to 5.00pm

Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Enquiries: 02 9223 8922

Cost: $7 adult, $3 conc, $17 family

Website: www.hht.net.au

Launch of new edition of Jessie Street's autobiography

Tuesday 9 March

Revised by Dr Lenore Coltheart

Sydney NB by invitation only

'Editing Women out of Australian History'

Tuesday 9 March 5.30pm for 6 p.m.

Are publishers, editors and journalists more influential than historians in creating national myths?

Caroline Veira Jones believes that they are especially in stories about women's lives in wartime or drought

State Library of NSW

Bookings essential: 02 9273 1770

Free for Friends of the Library, $16.50 for non members.

Website: www.sl.nsw.gov.au

Asylum Women: aged, infirm, destitute

Wednesday 24 March 2004: 11 am-12 noon

Curator led tour of Asylum Women: aged, infirm, destitute Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

Isolated behind the high Barracks walls away from Sydney's burgeoning society, the Hyde Park Asylum for aged, infirm and destitute women (1862-1886) that occupied the upper floors of Hyde Park Barracks was home to over 200 of Sydney's infirm, pauper women at any one time. Join the curator of Asylum Women for a tour of the display. Asylum Women gives new insights into the welfare of Sydney's outcast women and investigates the asylum women's experience of colonial life through revealing artefacts, both hidden and lost by inmates beneath the floorboards. Tour led by Asylum Women curator, Bridget Berry.

Cost: Free with entry General $7, Child/Concession $3, Family $17, Historic Houses Trust members free. Limit 20 people

Bookings essential : Bridget Berry 9223 8922 (Wed-Fri) or bridgetb@hpb.hht.nsw.gov.au

NB: As display is on level two of the museum, there is no disabled access and stairs are involved.

Display of aprons and their stories at Nimmitabel Market Day

Saturday 13 March 9.00am - 2.00pm

Nimmitabel Pioneers Memorial Hall NSW

Country Energy are donating vouchers for power as prizes.

Enquiries: 02 6454 6332

'Womanhood - a journey of transformation'

Sunday 14 March from 11.00am

Celebration of women, including speakers on women's history

Meroogal Historic Home Nowra NSW

Enquiries: 02 4421 8150

Between Celebration and Amnesia: Women In Australian History

Thursday 18 March 5.30pm-7pm

Conversation. Eva Cox, will act as the participating chair for this conversation. Kate Deverall will speak about Kate Dwyer and Annie Golding,two sisters who were active in the Labor movement on the goldfields1900-1930 and Rebe Taylor will focus on Betty, one the many Aboriginal Tasmanian women taken by sealers to Kangaroo Island in the early 19th century. Each speaker will speak for 10 minutes to ground further discussion which Eva will stimulate and which later will include audience participation.

$16.50, $11 for ISAA members and Friends of Library.

Dixon Room, State Library of NSW.

Hosted by the NSW Chapter, Independent Scholars Association of Australia.

Launch of Port Macquarie Historical Society publication, 'Annabella of Lake Innes Port Macquarie'

Wednesday 31 March 5.00pm

Edited by Gwen Griffin, this new book includes original unabridged snippets transcribed from Annabella’s personal journals. Written when she was Annabella Innes whilst residing with her uncle Major Archibald Clunes Innes at Lake Innes House, the book provides a detailed and formative description of the lifestyle, people and events of Port Macquarie during the 1830’s and 1840’s.

Port Macquarie Historical Museum, 22 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie

Tickets available from Museum front desk.

$5 admission includes refreshments, finger foods and a $2 discount off the regular book price.

The book will be available from 1 April 2004 at the Port Macquarie Historical Museum at a cost of $12 over the counter, or $15 posted anywhere in Australia.

Contact Debbie Sommers, Promotions Officer, on 6583 1108 (Museum) or 6584 0909 (Home)

WA Events

Sumptuous Reflections on Women and Food

Friday 19 March, 6 pm - 7.30pm

John Curtin Gallery, Access Gallery, Building 200, Curtin University, Kent Street Bentley

The Centre for Research for Women invites you to the opening of the CRW's Women's History Month Celebration featuring: Tough Pleasures, a sensual photographic exhibition by Toni Wilkinson, accompanied by From Sensuality to Science a lively oral, visual and historical account by food scientist, Vicky Solah, on the role of women scientists in the food science industry.

Come treat the eye, the mind, the body and the soul to wonderful images, history, delicious food as well as Margaret river wine from Willespie winery in the prestigious Willyabrup region. Sumptuous Reflections on Women and Food is the opening event, of the CRW's first ever contribution to Women's History Month. Tough Pleasures was the CRW's successful application to the Women's History Month program. It depicts relationships between women and food over ages and cultures and will be shown at the John Curtin Access Gallery from Thursday March 18 - Sunday March 28, 2004.

Tickets $20 available until 5pm Tuesday March 16.

Pay by credit card. Phone: 08 9266 4954 http://www.vc.curtin.edu.au/crw/

Inquiries to Lucy Eyre, Centre for Research for Women, 08 9266 4954 or crw@curtin,edu.au

(University researchers may pay by cost centre number.)

'Travels in Terra Marvellous' The 1900 adventures of opera singer, May Vivienne in WA's Eastern Goldfields

Wednesday 24 March Drinks and nibbles 7.30 pm for 8 pm

Dramatised by Monica Main

Fremantle Arts Centre

Bookings and enquiries: 08 9244 3015 or www.wipwa.com

Hosted by Women in Publishing WA

'Women in History' Afternoon Tea

Thursday 25 March 1.00pm

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Janet Hayden and Bernadette Waring sharing stories of their lives and achievements as women living in WA

Starick House

Bookings and enquiries: 08 9398 3582

Starick Services Inc.

QLD Events

Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility

Cairns Libraries will be celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month during March with a series of displays and forums in the libraries. All the libraries from Smithfield to Babinda will be presenting displays featuring successful and inspirational women in all fields of endeavour.

Interactive forums, to be held at the City, Smithfield and Earlville Libraries will focus on the many endeavours in which women in our community have excelled. Participants will speak about their careers, the never ending juggling of family, career and self, that many women engage in and the many rewards of pursuing their goals.

Prominent women in fields including Education; Health; Architecture; Law; the Media; Visual & Performing Arts; Music; Politics; eBusiness and Business will be participating.

Bookings are essential. For bookings and more information ring: City Library 40443720; Smithfield Library 40577755; Earlville Library 40545976

Open Day at Nambour Museum

Saturday March 6 from 10am to 4pm then throughout March opening Wednesday and Saturdays afternoons from 1 pm - 4 pm.

A display of embroideries and needlecrafts by the families of pioneers of Nambour. These embroideries were worked from late 1890s to the 1940s and include doilies, aprons, table linen and household items such as teacosies and milk/sugar covers. In some cases they also relate the history of Queensland as in the case of a duchesse set detailing the opening of the Grey Street Bridge in Brisbane in 1932. These women satisfied their creativity and brought beauty to the hardships of pioneer life through decorating everyday objects.

Official opening of a cabinet housing antique clothing including wedding dresses financed through the Gaming Community Benefit Fund. The textile collection has been assisted by the Sunshine Coast Embroiderers Guild who, in conjunction with the display, are hosting a Clinic.

“How to Care for your Historic Textiles”

Wednesday March 10th at 12.30 pm to 3.30pm

Immanuel Gardens Community Hall at Buderim

Conducted by the Brisbane Embroiderers Guild conservation specialist Joan Selnes.

The Nambour Museum at 18 Mitchell St, Nambour

Talk by Mary Smith about the social reformer, Jessie Vasey

Saturday 13 March 2.00pm

Jessie Vasey founded the War Widow's Guild of Australia. Widowed herself toward the end of World War 2 when her husband Major General Vasey was killed in a plane crash near Cairns, she devoted her life to ensuring that war widows would not become the "forgotten victims" of war.

Cost: Free, afternoon tea provided.

Noosa Shire Museum. Factory Street, Qld.

Phone 07 4585 1080

Women's Stories: Histories of Women in Livingstone

Wednesday 24th March 10-11.30 am.

A morning tea to celebrate the lives of two prominent local women - Mary Rattenbury who was a poet early 1900's, and Gus Moore (Augustine) a significant nursing figure in the area. There will also be informal talks on many not so well known women ...enjoy the smaller more intimate stories and collective histories.

Yeppoon Library, John Street, Yeppoon

Ph 07 49393433

'The Women's War'

Maritime Museum Townsville

Wednesday 31 March 5.00pm to 8.00pm

Opening of a permanent display complimenting the naval battles with the battles that were being waged at home by women who had to live through these times

Cost: $5 adult, $4 conc, $2 children, $12 family

Enquiries: 07 4721 5251, 07 4721 0601

Website: www.townsvillemaritimemuseum.org.au

VIC Events

FROM THE TEA CUP - an installation by Julie Tipene-O'Toole

Exhibition runs until 28 March 2004. 11-4pm Wednesday to Sunday

From the tea cup pays homage to the age old ritual of sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences over a cup of tea. The art work features numerous teacups with messages, anecdotes and recollections written on paper tags and left inside the cups to be shared by others. It includes recollections about special moments with family sitting around the kitchen table drinking tea from the best china. Visitors are welcome to add their own stories.

Museum of Lillydale, 33 Castella Street, Lilydale.

Ph: 9294 6313 or email: museumoflillydale@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

LISTING OF OTHER PARTICIPANTS

WHM events will be celebrated Australia wide - and include the following locations:

Auburn Library Auburn NSW 2144

Australian Tax Office Northbridge WA 6003

Caboolture Historical Village, Caboolture Qld 4510

Caloundra City Libraries, Caloundra Qld 4115

Cambridge Library 99 The Boulevard ,Floreat WA 6014

Claremont Museum, 66 Victoria Ave, Claremont WA 6010 ph: 9285 4347

Colac Adult and Community Education 03 5231 9500

Community Radio 2XX Canberra ACT 2600

Coober Pedy Health Services Coober Pedy SA 5723 ph: 0147 813 593

Coolgardie Police Station Coolgardie WA 6249

Darwin High School Bullocky Point Darwin NT 0820

Dept of Women NSW Government ,Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Disability Services Commission, Western Australia

Douglas Mawson Institute of TAFE Port Adelaide Campus SA

East Gippsland Shire Libraries, Bairnsdale Victoria 3875

Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus Joondalup WA 6027

Elanora Library, The Pines Shopping Centre, KP McGrath Drive, Elanora, Qld 4221 ph: 07 5598 2688

Felicity Lord Norwood South SA 5067

Galston Library 337 Galston Road Galston NSW 2159 ph: 02 9653 1338

Goldfields Family Violence Centre Kalgoorlie WA 6480

Granya Pioneer Museum. Granya VIC 3701

Greenmount Public Library 4 Scott Street Mundaring WA 6123 ph: 08 9294 1412

Hawkesbury City Library Windsor NSW 2756

Hawkesbury Council, NSW 02 45604434

Hobart Women's Health Centre, North Hobart Tasmania 7002

Indooroopilly Library 322 Moggill Road Indooroopilly Qld 4068 ph: 07 3407 0010

Irvin Howard Library Port Augusta SA 5700 ph: 08 8641 2180

Joondalup and Districts Domestic Violence Group Joondalup WA 6027

Kunnunarra Crisis Centre, Kunnunarra WA 6743

Kuringai Libraries, St Ives NSW 2075

Lane Cove Library 139A Longueville Rd Lane Cove NSW 2066. ph: 02 9911 3632 or 02 9911 3637

La Trobe University Albury Wodonga Campus vic 3689 02 6058 3802

Leichardt Library, Leichardt NSW 2040

Moonta National Trust and Tourist Office, Moonta SA 5558

Mount Barker Community Local Library 5 Dumas Street, Mt Barker SA 5251 ph: 08 8391 7314

Mt Surprise State School, Mt Surprise Qld

Museum of Lilydale 33 Castella Street, Lilydale Victoria 3140 ph: 03 9294 6313

Nambour Museum, Nambour Qld 4560

Naranga Library Narangba Qld 4510

Narrung Primary School, Narrung SA 5259

Noosa Shire Museum PO Box 269 Pomona Qld 4568

Onkaparinga TAFE Mt Barker SA 5252

Ryde Libraries, North Ryde NSW 1670

Shoalhaven Council, Shoalhaven City Centre NSW 2529 02 42563772

Stowport, Tasmania 7321

South Fleurieu Health Service Harbourview Terrace Victor Harbour SA 5211 ph: 08 8552 0600

Upper Mountains Youth Centre, Katoomba NSW 2780

WA Museum Albany Residency Road Albany WA 6330 ph: 08 9841 4844

Werrimull P12 School King Street Werrimul Vic 3495 ph: 5028 1251

Women's Refuge Group, Perth WA 6849

Woolowin,Qld 4030

Yankalilla Library Main Road Yankalilla SA 5203

Yeppoon Library Livingstone Street Yeppoon Qld 4703