EVENTS & PROGRAMS
An Australian First – FINDING HER – puts Women on the map
Australia’s first interactive state-wide digital map spotlighting women’s commemoration, Finding Her at HerPlace Museum has recently been launched at Her Place Women’s Museum.
A ground-breaking project, Finding Her is a virtual and physical tour using QR codes and an interactive map directing you to names and places of outstanding women.
You’ll discover the stories behind the names, including videos and photographs of women activists, pioneers of industry and significant contributors to Victorian public life.
Finding Her is just one part of Put Her Name On It, a project aimed at making women’s stories, lives and achievements visible.
A collaboration between HerPlace Women’s Museum, Gender Equity Victoria, Just Gold and the Victorian Government’s Geographic Names Victoria, Finding Her enables people living in and visiting
Victoria to follow the Finding Her Trail of statues, significant places and public art installations that celebrate the achievements of Victorian women.
“Women and gender diverse people have made a significant contribution to Victoria, in politics, science, community, the arts, business and sport.
But it’s not always been easy to find a street name or a statue that records the achievements of women. Now, with the launch of Finding Her, we’re changing all of that,” said the Honourable Mary Delahunty, Chair of HerPlace Women’s Museum.
Finding Her includes directions to the new Stella Young Remembered Statue, a seat for suffragist Vida Goldstein in Portland, a statue for philanthropist Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at Frankston Art Centre and a statue for Kurnai matriarch of Gippsland, Kitty Johnson (also known as Youwali or Kitty of Cunningham).
These are just a few of the stories of the 60 plus women identified across 35 sites.
“Increasing gender equal representation and recognition is an important part of our work to create safe and respectful spaces for all. Finding Her is about making visible the full diversity of our society
in our public spaces. It’s a project for gender equity and reminds everyone that our community is shaped by people of all genders.,” said Julie Kun, Chair of GENVIC.
Finding Her has been supported with dedicated funding and commitment to gender equity and commemorative justice by Geographic Names Victoria and the Victorian Government.
“We are lucky to have a Gender Equality Act in Victoria, making projects like this possible,” said Ms Delahunty, “We can get out and visit sites in our hometowns and tourists can be drawn to another innovative trail of significant historic, cultural and public art sites.
We also invite schools to use this map in history classes.”
This is just the beginning. The digital map is designed to be updated as new sites of significance are created. Community groups, local councils, historical societies and anyone with an interesting story
to share of women’s achievements in Victoria can apply for inclusion on the Finding Her Map through the website.
THE LOST PETITION EXHIBITION – EXTENDED DATES – DEC 2 to DEC 11 2022
Content Warning: This project mentions violence against women and children.
This project also contains the names of some Indigenous women and children lost to male violence.
The Lost Petition is a powerful and profoundly moving multi-media exhibition, focused on the vital need to end violence against women and children.
Created by artist and activist Dans Bain, in collaboration with award winning researcher and journalist Sherele Moody of the The RED HEART Campaign, at the centre of this arresting exhibition is The Lost Petition Artwork – a
30-metre list of names lost to gendered violence since 2008, written on bedsheets.
The exhibition also features a peaceful reflective installation called The Living Room; photos and stories of women and children lost to violence and the voices of their families; a special red heart tribute to the 75 lives lost this
year; and interactive elements for visitors to engage with.
In displaying the Lost Petition at Her Place, we hope to strengthen the work of activists, families and survivors and stop more names from being added to this list.
Exhibition visiting hours are:
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
11am – 3pm
Nov 4 – Dec 11, 2022
On Dec 11 – We warmly invite you to a free public forum
UNITE AT HER PLACE
to end violence against women and children
Find Out More here : https://herplacemuseum.com/events/
The Lost Petition, 2022
Parliament House, Canberra
Photo credit: Ian Cutmore
Artist Statement – Dans Bain :
In Australia on average one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.
We need to see all levels of government improve policies, education and introduce initiatives in an effort to prevent violence against women and children.
The Lost Petition commences in the year 2008, the same year that the ‘Great Petition’ by Susan Hewitt and Penelope Lee was created and pays homage to the ‘Women’s Suffrage Petition’ from 1891.
It currently lists 1023* women and children who have lost their lives to male violence from 2008 until present day, however the list is growing as this project is ongoing. The Lost Petition also recognises women and children lost to violence by an unknown perpetrator.
These women and children can no longer vote, they have unjustly lost their right for representation and to have their voices heard by our Government.
Their right to suffrage, that was fought for and won by brave women, did not protect them from male violence.
In recent news we have heard the announcement of a National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022 to 2032, on behalf of these stolen
lives I request a call for immediate action from the Federal Parliament of Australia and State governments to address the issue of violence against women and children.
I call on the Australian people to not be bystanders in this crisis, learn the red flags, speak up.
*the total on the list is current as of 31/10/22
Parliament House
Canberra, 2022
Photo credit: Ian Cutmore
If you need support, please call:
● 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
● Women’s Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
● Wire: 1300 134 130
● Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
● Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
● Mensline: 1300 789 978
● Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 13 11 14
If you wish to assist this project and other Her Place projects that give visibility and voice to those who most need it, every small contribution is appreciated:
YOUR INVITE TO THE LOST PETITION
PAST EVENTS & PROGRAMS
June 22, 2022
This forum brought together an expert panel to learn about the journey to establish affirmative action, why it’s critical to achieving gender equality, and the difference between targets, quotas, and merit.
Moderated by ELA CEO, Pamela Anderson with Tanja Kovac, CEO Gender Equity Victoria and former Executive Officer and National Convenor of EMILY’s List Australia, Candy Broad, Former Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, and Jenny Beacham, a former Labor state secretary and pioneer of ELA.
June 18, 2022
This forum explored what makes a good leader and the importance of women's voices at all decision-making tables. Moderated by ELA CEO, Pamela Anderson with ELA Founder Leonie Morgan AM, Hutch Hussein, a former ELA National Co-Convenor, and Claire Moore, a former Senator Australian for the Australian Labor Party.
Her Place Women's Museum Australia's is hosting the Women's Homelessness Solutions Forum this March.
This event will bring together a round table discussion with key figures who are working to address the issue of homelessness across many fields in Australia. The aim is to pinpoint practical strategies and alliances that will move forward to solutions grounded in lived experience.
Overview
Older women have been recognised by researchers as the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia in recent years. Yet until now we have not known exactly how many older women are at risk of homelessness. University of South Australia research finds about 240,000 women aged 55 or older and another 165,000 women aged 45-54 are at risk of homelessness.
The startling data from this research, published in The Conversation give us a much better picture of the scale of the problem. We also begin to quantify the impacts. It is however now clear, that disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on women has only worsened the situation.
According to a Grattan Institute report released this May on women's work and the pandemic, women lost twice as many jobs as a result of coronavirus — nearly eight per cent at the height of the pandemic, compared to four per cent for men.
And while there are many factors contributing to these worrying statistics, it is clear that gender pay inequity, lack of superannuation for maternity leave, insecure and broken work patterns result in women retiring with 40% less superannuation than men, are at the top of the list, as is reliable affordable housing.
Speakers
- Antoinette Braybrook - Djirra - Indigenous women at increased risk
- Emma Dawson - Per Capita - the need for gendered data
- Erin Sales - HESTA
- Fiona York - Housing for the Aged Action Group Inc.
- Joceyln Bignold OAM - Women's Housing Alliance
- Mary Crooks AO - CEO Vic.Women's Trust - The Rachel Project
- Rob Pradolin - Housing All Australians - a successful corporate/private sector solution
- Samantha Sowerwine - Justice Connect
OPEN HOUSE Digital Program
23 July - 27 July
Focusing on the central theme, Reconnect, this year Open House Melbourne asked us to reconsider the way we will occupy our city and to envisage new ways of designing and adapting our buildings and infrastructure as we continue be grapple with the impact of COVID-19.
Dispatches from the Frontline: Geraldine Cook-Dafner
Her Place Women’s Museum Australia
Thursday 18 March 2021, 6pm
Dispatches from the Frontline is a performed reading by Geraldine Cook-Dafner of excerpts from the diary of Australian Sister Nan Reay, a Victorian World War 1 nurse who served on the “frontline”. These “dispatches” celebrate this nurse’s personal resilience, courage and persistence and are used to reference contemporary issues of care, duty, resilience and courage embodied daily by “front line workers” during the COVID pandemic
To watch the performance, view here
Curator’s Talk: Madonna Grehan
Her Place Women’s Museum Australia
Saturday 13 March and May 8 2021
Through the Looking Glass is a lecture about using material culture to illustrate a realistic, nuanced, and diverse history while avoiding the nostalgia usually applied to nursing and midwifery’s past.
Dr Madonna Grehan is an independent historian. She worked as a general nurse and midwife before moving into women’s health research. She completed a PhD in nursing and midwifery history at the University of Melbourne.
Madonna is an interviewer for the National Library of Australia’s Oral History and Folklore Collection and immediate Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine.
To watch the lecture, view here
International Women’s Day #ChooseToChallenge: Women’s history beyond stereotypes
Public Records of Victoria
Friday 5 March 2021, 2pm
The video is now live on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/lk8LBuPumzk
This year, the focus is on nursing and midwifery, an acknowledgement of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in 2020, delayed by COVID-19. Penelope Lee, Her Place Board Director and co-curator of Unmasked will be joined by curator Dr Madonna Grehan from The University of Melbourne, a nurse, midwife, and historian, and contributor Professor Odette Best from the University of Southern Queensland, a nurse and historian. They will discuss the surprising breadth and depth of this complex field of women’s history and work, reflected in the exhibition Unmasked: Celebrating nursing and midwifery in Victoria and beyond, and how new interpretations can challenge stereotypical narratives of history.
Associate Professor Odette Best BHlthSc Sydney, MPhil Griffith, PhD USQ, FAAN
Odette Best is a woman of the Wakun clan of the Gorreng Gorreng, Boonthamurra, and Yugameh Nation. She is Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Southern QLD. After training as a general nurse at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Odette undertook clinical practice, then policy work and later moved into academia. One of Odette’s main research areas is Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who completed recognised training in nursing and/or midwifery before 1950.
Dr Madonna Grehan is an independent historian. She worked as a general nurse and midwife before moving into women’s health research. She completed a PhD in nursing and midwifery history at the University of Melbourne.
Madonna is an interviewer for the National Library of Australia’s Oral History and Folklore Collection and immediate Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine.
Penelope Lee (facilitator)
March 2020: International Women’s Day
Celebrating the Life of Mary De Garis
Her Place partnered with Barwon Health to present a talk by historian, Dr Ruth Lee at St Mary’s Library and Research Centre, Geelong on the life and legacy of Geelong WW1 doctor, Dr Mary De Garis.
Mary’s story has been largely unknown until recently. As women were unable to enlist in the Australian armed forces as doctors when World War I broke out, Mary’s war service was not officially recognised. What Courage Such a Thing Takes: The Life of Mary De Garis was created in the hope that it would help to make her extraordinary life better known. Attended by over 70 people, the talk was met with great enthusiasm by Mary’s local community.
What Courage Such a Thing Takes: The Life of Mary De Garis talk was supported by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council.
Re-imagining the Women's Mural – a virtual tour
Another popular event celebrating IWD, 2020 was a panel discussion at the Public Record Office. Stronger Together: Museums, Archives and The Women's Mural featured Danielle Hakim and Sally Northfield from The Women's Mural Documentation Project (WMDP), Penelope Lee, Her Place, and Dr Nikki Henningham from the Australian Women's Archives Project, and discussed how organisations can work together to ensure women's voices are remembered and celebrated. It focused on the recent Local History Grant project undertaken by the WMDP and Her Place, Re-imagining the Women's Mural – a virtual tour.
The project was supported by the Victorian Government and the Public Records Office, Victoria
Re-imagining the Women's Mural – a virtual tour
On Thursday 5 December 2019 Her Place Women’s Museum Australia and The Women’s Mural Documentation Project celebrated the launch of Re-imagining the Women’s Mural - a virtual tour. and artists, Megan Evans and Eve Glenn announced a virtual tour of The Women’s Mural: From Bomboniere to Barbed Wire. Re-imagining the Women's Mural – a virtual tour is an interactive way to re-discover the development, history and significance of the much-loved Melbourne icon since its creation in 1986. A unique example of Melbourne’s famous street art, the defacement of this feminist mural in February 2016 caused an outpouring of community support for this significant artwork.
The Women's Mural: Bomboniere to Barbed Wire, originally located at the Gas and Fuel site in Smith Street, Fitzroy, was created and painted by Megan Evans and Eve Glenn in 1986. In September 2019, the wall that housed the mural was demolished and the mural not longer exists, but Re-imagining the Women’s Mural - a virtual tour, now allows viewers to digitally experience and discover the history of one of Australia's most significant feminist murals via mobile and electronic devices.
We elebrated this much-loved Melbourne icon, a unique example of Melbourne’s famous street art created by and about women.
Gold coin donation
Her Place Women’s Museum Australia and The Women’s Mural Documentation Project gratefully acknowledged the support of the Victorian Government and Public Record Office Victoria for making this project possible.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which this project was created. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
On Wednesday 2nd October Iola Mathews and Mary Stuart conversation with Mary Delahunty 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.
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.
On Sunday 28 July, 2019 Her Place Women's Museum Australia threw open the doors of historic Clarendon Terrace to participate in Open House Melbourne. Visitors were invited to participate in a self-guided tour of the building and viewed an exhibition telling the stories of women from across Victoria who have made significant contributions to Australian society. We also had on display a small selection of Australian women’s pottery, as well as a display of interesting market research data about Australian women from the archives of Roy Morgan.
We had over 420 visitors through the building and we couldn't be happier with the money raised and the engagement of a very interested and enthusiastic public. We'd also like to thank our outstanding volunteers who helped create such a joyful and happy event.
On Thursday 9 May, 2019, Dr Liz Rushen, Chair, History Council Victoria, an SLV Creative Fellow 2019 and former RHSV Director, gave a talk at Her Place about the pioneer women who comprised early Melbourne society.
When the heritage-listed architectural gem Clarendon Terrace was built in 1857, there were only nine other houses in Clarendon Street, 21,000 adult males in all of Melbourne, and 16,000 women.
This event was part of the 2019 National Heritage Festival.
On Thursday 21 March 2019 Her Place Women’s Museum Australia opened the doors at our new home at Clarendon Terrace in East Melbourne for a special donor and partnerships evening. This was an opportunity for us to share our vision and aspirations for what Her Place Women’s Museum Australia can become.
We were delighted that both the Victorian Minister of Creative Industries, Martin Foley and the Victorian Minister for Women, Gabrielle Williams, attended, supporting the event, and thrilled that Minister Williams spoke so enthusiastically about Her Place and what it will mean to have a national museum for women located in Victoria.
We were also honoured that Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs, former President of the Human Rights Commission, in a passionate and inspiring address, spoke of the importance of a place to record the accomplishments of women. She reminded us that we stand on the shoulders of others who have challenged the role assigned to women and drew our attention to the fact that Australian women were slipping in all international indicators for gender parity. She spoke of the need for a federal legislated Charter of Rights and the importance of women standing up against inappropriate behaviour and challenging conventional ideas in order to achieve a fairer and more just society. You can read Professor Trigg’s speech in its entirety here: Gillian Triggs speech at CT 21 March 2019
Finally, we were thrilled that Chloe Shorten and Senator Hanson Young could attend and show their support as well.
If you would like to support Her Place and help it grow to become one of Australia’s pre-eminent cultural institution, please become a Friend of Her Place.
LINK: https://herplacemuseum.com/education/united-nations/
WHEN: Thursday 11 October, 2018, 2-4pm
WHERE: Melbourne Immigration Museum
Her Place hosted nearly 100 year 9 and 10 students from disadvantaged schools across Melbourne as they had a chance to represent 24 Countries at a UN Model General Assembly on International Day of the Girl. The UN Association ran an inspiring day and the Immigration Museum was a fabulous venue and home for the UN.
Girls worked in teams of four to research their country's stance on gender equity. A leader from each team then presented these views to the Model UN Assembly of Nations. Two presenters from Her Place Women's Museum Australia addressed the Assembly and outlined the United Nations binding conventions that guarantee human rights and prevent discrimination against women. Delegates were then challenged to decide how these rights sat alongside religion, tradition and customs.
The economic success of Rwanda was also presented to the delegates. Rwanda is a nation with a difficult past but its redevelopment has been based on the central tenet of gender equality and is one of the success stories of Africa, with growing prosperity and the highest number of female members of parliament in the world. Delegates were also shown that war and conflict disproportionately affect women and girls and were reminded of the importance of involving women in any peace process. If women are involved in the peace process, the likelihood of its success increases by 35% and can last 15 years longer if women are part of decisions about the future.
In the afternoon, countries caucused to move and amend Gender Equity Resolutions. Students were able to experience negotiation, lobbying and the use of power as they tried to prevail. Discussions were animated and strong - the energy in the room was inspirational. The Model United Nations Conference finished with countries voting on amended resolutions.
Her Place received sponsorship for the attendees from Ethical Investment Services, Victorian Women's Trust, the Women's Electoral Lobby, Sheila Byard OAM and Women in Super.
LINK: https://herplacemuseum.com/youth-space-for-her-place/
WHEN: Saturday 21 July, 2018, 2-4pm
WHERE: Melbourne Immigration Museum
Youth Space for Her Place was a forum about how the voices of young people can be part of Her Place Women’s Museum Australia.
Speakers
Aretha Stewart-Brown is an Indigenous Australian youth activist and the first female Prime Minister of the National Indigenous Youth Parliament. In 2014 Brown was selected to attend the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in Turkey, in 2017 addressed an estimated 50,000 protesters in Melbourne on Australia Day at an Invasion Day rally and in 2018 spoke at the 2018 Invasion Day march.
Stella Bridie is a former Fitzroy High School student and passionate activist who co-founded the FHS Feminist Collective. She has written articles for Rosie Respect, Young Vagabond, and Sheilas.
Amelia Peterson is a young cis woman from Naarm. She is passionate about raising the intersectional issues facing women, people of colour, neuro-diverse people, LGBTQIA folks and dif-abled people to forefront through her passion for Social Work and Activism. Coming from a family situation of inter-generational trauma, she lives with anxiety disorder and experiences physical chronic illnesses which cause her to identify as 'dif-abled'. Working for Museums Victoria in Communications and Partnerships, Amelia has a special interest in cultural institutions and how they can become more adaptable and socially aware. She currently runs a self-care blog and Instagram, where she chronicles her experiences and observations as a body positive modern woman in a sometimes slow moving world.
Mehak Sheikh is a third generation Kenyan with Pakistani Punjabi ethnic heritage and an Islamic upbringing. She has also spent 6 years in the UAE before migrating to Australia in 2012. Mehak is a psychology honours graduate with a research interest in the role of education in acculturation and intercultural engagement. She currently runs her own facilitation business, U-Learn and works as a project/leadership officer, YLab Consultant and a customer service officer at libraries. When not working, Mehak is a volunteer with Healthwest Partnership, headspace, the Centre for Multicultural Youth, the Welcome Dinner Project, Divercities network, Red Cross, Plan International and various local councils, among other organisations. Her passions include intercultural engagement, education, entrepreneurship and health/wellbeing.
Professional Development Workshop
Monday 9 July 2018 @ La Trobe University, Shepparton Campus
This workshop was delivered by Briony O’Keeffe, Her Place Education Committee member, founder of the Fitzroy High School Feminist Collective and an international expert on curriculum designed to build gender equality in the classroom. It focussed on:
- Building a Feminist Collective at your school
- Respectful Relationships Education
- Integration of Gender Equity strategies into your classroom and curriculum
Night That Changed the World @ Immigration Museum / Thursday 7 June, 2018
How can a women’s museum change the world?
On the Night that Changed the World, Her Place celebrated the power of personal transformation with a panel of women involved in bringing Her Place Women’s Museum to life.
The panel discussion included four diverse women who have all contributed to Her Place Women's Museum Australia. They asked, how can we make sure that women's stories and achievements are part of the national narrative? How can we honour women, inspire girls and educate all?
PANELLISTS
Barbara Jennings (Moderator) – Barb has been a long-term activist for women.She has previously been a Director of the Queen Victoria Women's Centre and Women's Officer at the Australian Education Union. She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2007.
Jessica Duncan – Jessica is a young primary school teacher in Melbourne’s west, where she has been very active in practical strategies to build gender equality in the school environment.She is a member of the Her Place Education Committee.
Halima Mohamed – Halima has been a community activist for nearly 30 years.Born in Somalia, she worked in parliament there for more than 10 years. Since arriving in Australia, Halima’s passion has been in building and nurturing communities. She has led initiatives such as the African Women’s Social Enterprise. She was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2008.
Briony O’Keeffe – Briony is the founder of the Fitzroy High School Feminist Collective and an international expert on curriculum designed to build gender equality in the classroom. Briony is a member of the Her Place Education Committee.
Once Women Won the Vote / Warrnambool Art Gallery (WAG) / Saturday, 5 May 2018 to Sunday, 30 September 2018
Teachers' Professional Development
A program delivered by an experienced teacher from Her Place Women’s Museum Australia. Delivered via interactive presentations and whole group discussion. The emphasis was on practical ideas that teachers can transfer and apply to their own schools. The aim was to provide local teachers with the skills to promote and implement gender equality initiatives within a whole school framework. Topics included:
Building a Feminist Collective at your school: Based on the internationally recognised Fitzroy High SchoolFeminist Collective model;
Getting a Gender Equality Policy in your Primary School: Why its important and how to do it;
Respectful Relationships Education: Whole School Approach. What DET is doing;
Integration of Gender Equality strategies into your classroom and curriculum.
Her Place: Student Education Tour
Friday 25 May, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Age Group: Grades 5-10
90 Minute session
A guided tour delivered by an experienced teacher from Her Place, designed to provide students and teachers with an overview of Her Place Women’s Museum Australia and its contribution to the Once Women Won the Vote exhibition.
During the session, students had access to the curriculum-linked education resources, learned about the profiled women and heard about the importance of gender equality for all.
The Women’s Mural – Free Onsite Talk
(Sunday 22 April 2018, 11am at the Women’s Mural, Fitzroy)
In 2016 one of Australia's most significant feminist murals was defaced. The Women's Mural: Bomboniere to Barbed Wire, in Smith Street, Fitzroy, was painted in 1986 by Megan Evans and Eve Glenn. Measuring 50m x 12m, it celebrates the diversity of women living and working in the communities of Northcote and Preston. Its 'capping' (covering over) by notorious graffiti tagger Nost in February 2016 roused community action, emphasising the need to preserve the history of women's voices and stories in the public realm.
In this free onsite talk, co-artist Eve Glenn with Sally Northfield and the Women’s Mural Documentation Project team discussed the origins, ideas and impact of the Women’s Mural and stories of some of the women depicted.
This talk was presented as a collaboration between the Women’s Mural Documentation Project and Her Place Women’s Museum Australia as part of the Australian Heritage Festival.
Find out more about:
-
Free Public Discussion – The Round Table: Do we need a Women’s Museum?
(4 March 2018, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art)
During the ACCA's major exhibition on feminist art practice, Unfinished Business: Perspectives on art and feminism, various artists, educators and groups were invited to host events at a specially constructed ‘Round Table’ positioned at the heart of the exhibition. The table played on the idea of the kitchen table as ‘a place around which women, artists and activists gather to discuss, debate, create, form allegiances and plan for a more equal future’.
In the lead-up to International Women’s Day 2018, Her Place hosted a Round Table discussion asking: Do we need a Women’s Museum?
The conversation was convened by Her Place manager Penelope Lee and curator Clare Williamson, and the speakers included Stella Bridie, Dr Natalie Kon-yu and Kate MacNeill.
-
Free Public Event – Everyday Documents and Australian Women’s History: a discussion about the challenges of collecting and why archives matter
(9 November 2017, Melbourne Museum)
Members of the team working on the Invisible Farmer Project, the biggest national study of Australian women on the land, alongside other research and archive experts discussing how and why collecting, documenting, digitising, cataloguing, curating and exhibiting women's archives and stories are important. Audience members were invited to bring along their own stories, documents, images and objects that pay tribute to the extraordinary women of the land in their lives.
Helen Morgan, Her Place Deputy Chair, Archivist and Research Fellow at the eScholarship Research Centre, University of Melbourne, lead a discussion with Museums Victoria’s Invisible Farmer Curator, Catherine Forge; University of Melbourne Researcher and Executive Officer of the Australian Women's Archives Project, Dr Nikki Henningham; Ashley Robertson, Manager, Victorian Collections, Museums Australia (Victoria) and Ellie Wallace, postgraduate student who has conducted research into the distributed archival collection of Australian Women in Agriculture.
- Women's Histories and Archives: Why They Matter
A discussion on current initiatives around collecting, preserving and sharing of women's contributions and records, and the value of doing this for the wider community. Heather Mutimer and Cr Kate Redwood AM told the story behind the Heather Mutimer Women's Honour Roll and its importance to women and the local Hepburn Shire community. Helen Morgan, of the Australian Women's Archives Project and the Australian Women's Register, articulated the case for keeping women's records and why she became involved with Her Place Women's Museum Australia initiative.
- Local Stories, Remarkable Women
Anne E. Stewart shared stories that celebrate the strength, courage and contribution of women from the region, tales of our extraordinary women and their deeds. Anne is a Daylesford-based, intentionally renowned storyteller with the passion, energy and voice to engage any audience. For forty years she has been telling stories and developing a repertoire that celebrates women through story as well as the shared narratives of Australia that honour Indigenous, Celtic, Asian and world stories.
- New Histories of Australian Rural and Regional Women: The Australian Women’s Register and the Invisible Farmer Project Workshop
The Invisible Farmer Project is the largest ever study of Australian women on the land. Funded for three years (2017-2019), the project involves a nation-wide partnership between rural communities, academics, government and cultural organisations. Feedback about the amazing women, past and present, who have made a difference to their communities is vital to the success of the project. You can find out more about the project here: www.invisiblefarmer.net.au.
This workshop aimed to reveal the ‘hidden histories’ and write tributes to women who should be recognised. Participants shared stories and gave public recognition to the extraordinary, creative and vital roles that women have played in agriculture and farm communities across Australia. Participants also gave the project team the opportunity to potentially profile women’s stories via future research and in-depth studies.
- Women’s Network and Victorian Honour Roll of Women Event
The Victorian Honour Roll of Women aligns closely with the vision of Her Place Women’s Museum. Established in 2001, the Honour Roll pays tribute to women who have been pioneers in their fields and who have improved the lives of women and the broader Victorian community.
This event aimed to link in and engage with local women’s organisations and individual women in order to discuss the plans for a vibrant physical space and online resource that will educate audiences and celebrate women’s valuable and distinctive contributions, past, present and future.
- Everyday Documents and Australian Women’s History: Why Archives Matter
A panel discussion about the role of serendipity, family stories and fragments of paper in the writing of history, including so-called ‘big picture’ academic history. Panellists included Dr Rosemary Francis and Helen Morgan, and was convened by Dr Nikki Henningham, Research Fellow – Australian Women’s Archives Project.
- In-conversation with Women in the West
An informal lunchtime conversation with the women featured in the exhibition including Halima Mohamed, Paola Balla and Ruth Crow researcher Claire Collie.
- Loving Feminist Literature: Decolonising Feminism, Building Solidarity
A night of live readings of bold and irresistible feminist texts by a selection of diverse feminist educators, students and practitioners, including Clare Land, who read from her book ‘Decolonizing Solidarity’.
- Her Place: Women in the West – Walking Tour
A guided walk through Footscray focusing on the lives of women who have made a difference and contributed to the West. Through spoken word and recounted experiences, walkers heard stories about women of tenacity – leaders, advocates, storytellers and speakers of injustices. Produced by Chantal Wynter.
- Building Feminist Communities
This event brought together academics, activist groups and philanthropic organisations to showcase their work and share their aspirations for 2017. Feminists across all sectors had the opportunity to get together, meet others and build partnerships. Hosted by the Victoria University Feminist Research Network, a community of feminist scholars from Victoria University in conjunction with Her Place.