Honouring Women in Moreland Awards
Council’s Honouring Women in Moreland Awards recognise the important contributions of women in Moreland to social justice and the wellbeing of our community. The awards are open to women who live or work in Moreland.
Council started the Honouring Women in Moreland Awards on 6 March 2003 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The awards acknowledge the leadership demonstrated by a person or group in the areas of political, business, advocacy, organisational or community. This year we have also introduced an additional award category to reflect the various Council priorities.
Honouring Women in Moreland Awards 2011
Winners Category One
This award recognises the contribution made to promoting and demonstrating leadership around gender equity, diversity and active citizenship.
Individual: Jennifer Mok
Group: Helena Kilminster, Mary Lamb, June Woodall – PepperTree Community Nursery
Special Commendation: Dot Bamblett
Winners Category Two
This award recognises the positive impact made on the participation of women and girls in physical activity or sport especially in: coaching, officiating, increasing female participation and acting as role models
Individual: Kathryn Jones
Group: Brunswick Zebras Open Age
Special Commendation: Fiona Murphy
Nominees 2011
Kaaren Freeman, Nicki Johnston and Davia McMillan - Brunswick North West Primary School
These committed volunteers have ensured the viability of a school canteen and out of school hours childcare programs. In the process they have also created a place for social support, skill development, employment, and cultural harmony. Their work has provided avenues for a range of women to be involved in the decision making at the school and to assume positions of leadership.
Helena Kilminster, Mary Lamb and June Woodall - PepperTree Community Nursery
For over three years Helen, Mary and June have mentored and supported female volunteers in the Nursery and built social connections with people who are more isolated and/or who live with illness and disability. Helen, Mary and June plan and lead active gardening activities for families and inspire other women with the confidence to contribute broadly to their community.
Dot Bamblett
Dot is a role model for young Koori women to seek their full potential. She balances being the carer of seven children as well as mother to her three children while serving as President of the Ballert Mooroop School Council and Secretary of the Broadmeadows Local Aboriginal Educational consultative Group. Dot also offers young people coaching and practical support to participate in netball and football teams as well as being a member of a basketball team.
Brunswick Zebras Open Age (Metropolitan North West)
First senior women’s team for the Brunswick Zebras, starting in 2003, sparking the formation of girl’s only teams in the club. Before there were only mixed teams and it was difficult for girls to progress through the club. Now there are eight girls/women’s teams at the club, and around 150 female players ranging from age 5-57.
Maria Garzo
Maria was a co-founder of Moreland Seniors Action Group (now Australian Pensioners Voice), volunteers with Doutta Galla Community Health as a consumer representative and at Council on the Ageing (COTA) heavily involved in the formation of Beyond Maturity Blues. Over many years she has strongly advocated for women’s health, self education and greater community involvement, leading by example and inspiring many older female pensioners, within and beyond the Italian community.
Cate Hall
Cate has been nominated for her leadership and activism in the Coburg community and for providing opportunities for other women to become active. She has done this through the High School for Coburg campaign, as co-founder of Friends of Coburg Olympic Pool and is a founding member of Newlands Community Alliance. Cate is also Vice President of the Newlands School Council.
Wendy Jamieson
Wendy actively demonstrates commitment and passion through her work at St Linus’ Kindergarten. She has been a kindergarten assistant for nearly 35 years and has worked tirelessly, generously and with great care.
Patricia Johnson
Pat is not only volunteer receptionist at Hidden Creek Community House informally playing a major community engagement role through welcoming and linking up locals who use pre school and maternal health services, she is also Group Leader of the Craft Group. Her peers praise her strengths as ‘a real community contributor’, a firm friend of many young children and parents who use the centre.
Kathryn Jones
Kate has made a major contribution to the sport of netball in Moreland, especially through the foundation of the Brunswick Netball Club (BNC). On a voluntary basis she organises all 28 teams (expanded from one team in 2000), plays in women’s and mixed teams, secures training venues and is currently lobbying for a home for BNC. She is also well regarded for her encouragement and mentoring of younger players and coaches.
Marie Kennedy
Marie volunteers as Nursery Co-ordinator at PepperTree Place, Kildonan Uniting Care putting many hours into supporting the garden through managing nursery sales, teaching and support for work experience participants, school children and their families and creatively sourcing plant materials. ‘She helps keep this place growing’.
Katrina Langford
Katrina has been an active member of the Free East Timor Campaign, Timorlink and the Friends of Aileu Community Committee. Her many initiatives include a website to facilitate cultural exchange between Timorese and non-Timorese, organisation of emergency medical relief in response to the 2006 earthquake and teaching of the Tetum language to Australians in Brunswick.
Cathy Luzza
Cathy is praised as an invaluable member of the Donna Calabrese Nel Mondo Inc Committee, greatly respected for her personal support of many elderly and frail Italians in Moreland for many years.
Lyn McFarland
Lyn played a major role in the establishment and expansion of Mulberry Gardens, Glenroy. She took on diverse complex tasks including fundraising, risk management and incorporation processes, donating many hours of volunteer time to promote food security.
Merri Corner Community Garden
The group is nominated for their success in establishing Merri Corner Community Garden. As well as negotiating garden design, permits, processes and resources for their own ‘patch’ over five years, the group has linked up with a similar organisation in East Brunswick, New Jersey USA and explores ways to connect with ‘food insecure’ community groups. Besides regular working bees the group maintains a newsletter and website.
Jennifer Mok
Jennifer played a key role in the expansion of the Multicultural Women’s Sewing Group. Emerging from a small Somali Women’s Sewing Group Jennifer and volunteers have created a place of welcome, of learning and sharing sewing and handcrafts for newly arrived people from a range of non-English speaking backgrounds. On a very small budget Jennifer has quietly fostered this group from a concept to a creative organisation which benefits the wider community.
Kylie Moreland
Inspiring involvement in Brunswick South-West Primary School’s kitchen garden. Despite drought and rain, the garden is now a picture of abundance, with a strong core group of volunteers dedicated to its future.
Moreland District Girl Guides
There are 14 dedicated leaders who form the backbone of Moreland District Girl Guides. As volunteers they currently organise seven units across Moreland, enabling local girls 5-18 to participate in a wide range of local, state and national activities. The units contribute to community events such as the Anzac Day Parade, Clean Up Australia day and Carols in the Park. They exemplify Girl Guide’s Victoria’s mission ‘To enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community members’.
Fiona Murphy
Participant, coach and influential support of many sports clubs across Moreland. Positions include Glenroy Football Club Team Manager under 18s, reserves and senior sides and Secretary; President Merlynston Tennis Club, Secretary Socials Cricket Club. Nominated as a respected and effective role model for female involvement in all aspects of club sport.
Catherine Reidy
Catherine has contributed extensively as a role model and mentor for other young people. A sexuality educator, she has also been a volunteer and taken a key leadership role to support equality, inclusivity and human rights. Catherine led the creation of the Queer/Straight Alliance at Princes Hill Secondary College which spearheaded a shift in school cultures to address homophobic bullying. She had a key role in shaping Pridentity, a successful program on inclusive sexuality education for secondary schools.
Bruna Rubin
Bruna is a local champion of walking, an exceptionally enthusiastic and dedicated Walk Group Leader since 2008. Bruna’s walking group has had the most consistent membership over the years and she has made an enormous contribution to people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Through her participation in many community events Bruna is recognised as an exceptional role model for women of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
Maureen Vitetta
Maureen is a highly respected member of the Hadfield community, nominated for her outstanding and dedicated contributions as Vice President and President of H.E Kane Memorial Kindergarten Committee. Her peers nominated her for her empowering management style and dedicated work which resulted in a capital grant for more accommodation on the site in 2011.
Nazia Wasif
Nazia has contributed to the rich profile of cultural events in the municipality through advisory and board membership of mental health, arts and neighbourhood house management committees. For example she has undertaken community dance projects, arts and crafts and food markets at CERES, henna hand painting and Bollywood events as both paid and volunteer work, in many cases creating opportunities newly arrived women.
Margaret Woodford
Margaret has been nominated for her long term involvement with the CWA and Dorothy Impey homes. She is highly regarded for her home baking and preserves skills, always ready to pass on her skills and support fund raising and functions. She has also contributed in many roles at Dorothy Impey Homes – including board member, convenor of Friends of Dorothy Impey Home Auxiliary, podiatrist, and volunteer.
Files
2011 Honouring Women in Moreland Awards Booklet (PDF 239Kb)
Moreland City Council's Statement of Commitment to Women (PDF 76Kb)
