MARCH 8… A small but mighty group of local inspirational women got together for an impromptu photoshoot last week ahead of International Women’s Day. Pictured from various local businesses and organisations are Madi Gagliardi, Chloe Earle and Natalie Ryan from Gagliardi Scott Real Estate, former GV Health employee for 34 years and ongoing volunteer at the hospital Elaine Danda, Kaylene McCormick from Ultimate Fasteners, AFL Goulburn-Murray head of operations Josephine Spencer, Sophie Dervish from Ultimate Fasteners, Rachael Kubeil clinical nurse specialist at GV Hospice, AFL Goulburn-Murray club development lead Samantha Monaghan, and carer wellbeing coordinator Jess Holmes and administration manager Tracy Kerr from GV Hospice Care. Photo: Emma Harrop
By Deanne Jeffers
SINCE 1910, International Women’s Day has been a time to celebrate women, their strengths and unique experiences and how they enrich our world. You don’t have to look far to find inspiration in the Goulburn Valley. As professionals, as daughters, mothers, sisters, volunteers, there are countless women across our region who enrich the local fabric and contribute tirelessly to their communities.
MARCH 8… A small but mighty group of local inspirational women got together for an impromptu photoshoot last week ahead of International Women’s Day. Pictured from various local businesses and organisations are Madi Gagliardi, Chloe Earle and Natalie Ryan from Gagliardi Scott Real Estate, former GV Health employee for 34 years and ongoing volunteer at the hospital Elaine Danda, Kaylene McCormick from Ultimate Fasteners, AFL Goulburn-Murray head of operations Josephine Spencer, Sophie Dervish from Ultimate Fasteners, Rachael Kubeil clinical nurse specialist at GV Hospice, AFL Goulburn-Murray club development lead Samantha Monaghan, and carer wellbeing coordinator Jess Holmes and administration manager Tracy Kerr from GV Hospice Care. Photo: Emma Harrop
This year’s IWD theme is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’. Over the past century, opportunities for women have transformed remarkably. Not only are more women working in what were considered ‘male-dominated’ roles, but today women make up around half of the paid workforce in Australia, compared to around 30 per cent in 1966.
Female leadership continues to rise, with more managers, CEOs and parliamentarians than ever before. 39 per cent of Federal representatives are female, up from 25.3 per cent two decades ago and half the Victorian Parliament comprises women. Female participation continues to increase across emergency service sectors and in sports, where although gendered disparities persist, female athletes are levelling the playing field and capturing the hearts and imaginations of audiences. This is perhaps best exemplified by Tillies’ fever during last years’ soccer World Cup, and again during the Matilda’s 10-goal win scoring them a place in the Paris Olympics recently.
BUSINESS LEADERS… (front from left) Krystal Butler owner of four Subways locally, Chelsea Harbour from Shepparton Skin and Body clinic, Felicia Dean Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative CEO and Lisa Georgeson owner of Happy Healthy Co. (back from left) Haxhije Cox co-owner of Total Tools Shepparton, Danni Whitaker owner of Fernwood Shepparton and owners of Fresh You Tara Jones and Kate Moroney. Photos: The Shepparton Adviser/Supplied.
Last week, The Adviser published its fifth Inspirational Women in Business feature, celebrating some of the outstanding women in our community. In the years we have been publishing this feature, it’s been an honour hearing different women’s unique journey and tales of self-determination, how they’ve overcome stigmas and expectations whilst juggling motherhood and demands of being a modern woman. A small but mighty percentage of them took part in our feature and an impromptu photo shoot to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
It is said that you can’t be what you can’t see, and it is inspiring that there are so many unique examples of women thriving on a local, national and global scale, paving the way for future generations.
Here is to strong women, may we be them, may we raise them and may we support them throughout every stage of their life.
INSPIRING WOMEN… Back row, pictured from left – Josephine Spencer from AFL Goulburn-Murray, Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell MP, Kaylene McCormick and Sophie Dervish from Ultimate Fasteners, Tracy Kerr from GV Hospice, and Samantha Monaghan AFL Goulburn-Murray. Pictured from left in the front row – Elaine Danda from GV Health, parliamentary adviser Dani Morton, Gagliardi Scott Real Estate staff members Natalie Ryan, Madi Gagliardi and Chloe Earle, and Rachael Kubeil and Jess Holmes from GV Hospice Care. Photo: Emma Harrop.
