WINNING FOR WOMEN: Iola Mathews and Mary Stuart in Conversation with Mary Delahunty.
What was it like to be involved in the heady days of 'second wave' feminism in Australia and why do we still have so far to go?
Iola Mathews and Mary Stuart conversation with Mary Delahunty on the 2nd October 2019, took place at Clarendon Terrace as they discussed Iola's new book, Winning for Women and their important contributions to the working lives of women. Both Iola Mathews and Mary Stuart are passionate advocates for women and instrumental in bringing major reforms in areas such as affirmative action, equal pay, superannuation and childcare. Both have lots to say about the ongoing battles facing working women and the future of the union movement in Australia, as well as its role in improving the lives of women.
As Sally McManus says, "Iola's story shows what can be achieved when passionate people commit to changing the rules and fighting for fairness. Her story shows the best qualities of the union movement – people working to make life better for others and to pursue equality and fairness."
Presenters on the night were:
Iola Mathews is an author, co-founder of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, and a former journalist at The Age. Later she worked at the ACTU as an industrial officer and advocate, specialising in women’s employment, for which she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal. She was the advocate in the parental leave case and equal pay cases for child care workers and clerical workers. More recently, she established writers’ studios in the National Trust property ‘Glenfern’ in East St Kilda..
Mary Stuart is the Chairperson of Her Place Women's Museum Australia and Director and CEO of Luna Park Melbourne, a position she has held for 13 years. Mary is also a Director on a number of companies/bodies. She has worked in traditionally male dominated industries since the mid 1980’s including metalliferous mining, coal mining, building and construction, timber and pulp and paper industries. Mary has been involved in high profile national campaigns to establish superannuation as a right for all workers and matters relating to equal pay and gender equity issues for women in the workforce.
Mary Delahunty is a Gold Walkley Award winning journalist and presenter with ABC TV and commercial networks. She served for 7 years as a Victorian state government minister in senior portfolios and has seen the tensions from both sides. She is currently working as a consultant in government, media and the non-for profit sector where she heads numerous boards.