Published: March 5, 2010
MELBOURNE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERS ADDED TO HONOUR ROLL
East Melbourne residents Dr Fay Marles and ‘Aunty’ Maria Starcevic and Mary Anne Noone from South Melbourne, were three of 20 women inducted today to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Announcing the inductees, Minister for Women's Affairs Maxine Morand said in the 10th year of the Honour Roll there were some exceptional additions.
“This year we celebrate a remarkable group of women who have used their tenacity, vision, outstanding leadership, commitment and just plain hard work to succeed in their chosen field and have a lasting impact in our community,” Ms Morand said.
“Whether they have worked behind the scenes in support of local communities or on the international stage, each of these women has achieved significant success in their chosen field.
“Their passion, ingenuity and dedication have marked these extraordinary Victorian women for special mention.
“More than 450 women have now been inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women – every one is a role model and their achievements stand as an inspiration to us all.”
Ms Morand said while women made up around half the population they were under represented in senior and leadership positions.
Member for Melbourne Bronwyn Pike said East Melbourne’s Dr Fay Marles was Victoria’s First Equal Opportunity Commissioner and the first woman Chancellor at University of Melbourne
“Dr Marles’s ground-breaking appointment as Equal Opportunity Commissioner in 1978, along with the Equal Opportunity Act 1977, provided a strong platform to grow the rights of women in the workplace,” Ms Pike said.
“Dr Marles also became the eighteenth and first woman Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 2001; until now she’s the only woman to hold this position.”
Member for Albert Park Martin Foley said Maria Starcevic was recognised for her staunch advocacy for Indigenous and local communities over the years.
“As chair of Victoria’s Indigenous Family Violence Committee for four years, Ms Starcevic played a key role in the development of Victoria’s Indigenous Family Violence Strategy and the Indigenous Family Violence Ten Year Plan: Strong Culture, Strong Peoples Strong Families; both outline the government’s plan for tackling Indigenous family violence in Victoria,” Mr Foley said.
Director of Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Mary Anne Noone was also inducted to the 2010 Honour Roll.
“For more than 10 years Mary Anne Noone has contributed significantly to improving both Victoria’s legal aid services and people’s access to justice, as a director of Victoria Legal Aid during a period of modernisation and expansion of the system,” he said.
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NAME
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ACHIEVEMENT
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SUBURB/TOWN
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Doreen Akkerman AM
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Developer of internationally acclaimed service supporting cancer sufferers and their carers
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Northcote
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Dr Anne Astin
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Pioneer for women in biochemistry and advocate for rural women
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Endeavour Hills
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Eleanor Bourke
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Respected elder and warrior for Aboriginal education
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Australia’s first female Nobel Prize Winner
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Visiting from the US
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Dame Marie Breen (deceased - 1902–1993)
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Exemplary services to families and Victoria’s first female Federal Senator
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Eileen Capocchi
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Epitome of community participation and social justice
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Northcote
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Bev Cook OAM
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Mentor, leader and inspiration for women in the Mallee; championing rural health
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Nandaly
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Dr Sally Cockburn MBBS
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Harnessing media to improve health communications
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Hampton
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Sister Ann Halpin PBVM (deceased - 1939–2009)
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Empowering isolated women; founder of Wellspring for Women (worked in the cities of Greater Dandenong and Casey)
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Lesley Hewitt
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Advocate for victims of sexual assault and the socially isolated
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Daylesford;
employed by Monash University
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Keran Howe
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Championing the cause of women with disabilities
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Williamstown
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May Hu
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Broadcaster and ambassador for the Chinese community
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Noble Park
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Dr Fay Marles AM
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Victoria’s First Equal Opportunity Commissioner/first woman Chancellor at University of Melbourne
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East Melbourne
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Colonel Janice Mccarthy
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Decorated veteran and leader in military nursing
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Seymour
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Mary Anne Noone
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Legal and community advocate
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South Melbourne
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Dr Fanny Reading (deceased - 1884–1974)
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A heart for social justice
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Helen Smith
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Triple Olympian, Commonwealth champion and nine times Australian fencing champion; defending gender equality in fencing
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Williamstown
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‘Aunty’ Maria Starcevic
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Advocate for Indigenous and local communities
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Advocate for Indigenous and local communities
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Selina Sutherland (deceased - 1839–1909)
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Lifelong protector of neglected children and campaigner for social justice.
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Sutherland Homes started in Latrobe Street, Melbourne. Later, it had a 'receiving home' in Drummond Street, Carlton and a 'country home' in Diamond Creek.
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Professor Rachel Webster
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Leading astrophysicist and climate change pioneer; role model for women in traditionally male-dominated field; investigating potential for developing geothermal power in Victoria
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Parkville
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Brief profiles of the 2010 Honour Roll inductees are available from www.women.vic.gov.au
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