March 16th, 2025Just sayin’…

Congratulations to the five women inducted onto the Heather Mutimer International Women's Day Honour Roll. They are Mary Harvey, Jessie Leggatt (posthumous), Mary-Faeth Chenery, Lynda Poke and moi.

By Donna Kelly

Congratulations to the five women inducted onto the Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day Honour Roll. They are Mary Harvey, Jessie Leggatt (posthumous), Mary-Faeth Chenery, Lynda Poke and moi.

**_{Above: From left, Hayley, Stevie, Zara, Jaimie, Arlo with Catherine King MP}**

It was an absolute honour to be included among these women – and many more who have gone before them – on this prestigious roll.

I hope to follow up with stories about each of the new inductees in later editions. I must admit to having a bit of impostor syndrome but when I heard my citation I thought “wow, she’s done a bit”.

I also listened to a very inspiring speech by guest speaker Shae Graham, a wheelchair rugby Paralympian and world champion.

Apart from making me wonder what the hell I had been doing with my life compared to hers, Shae also said sharing stories was very important. So that was a nice justification.

I reckon if you read this column, even now and again, you have heard enough about me so I will use this as a thank-you opportunity, as I did with my speech last Wednesday night.

First up, thanks to former Hepburn Shire councillor Heather Mutimer. Heather spent many years as the only woman on the council and handled her role with aplomb, strength and kindness. I saw her in action a lot and she was impressive. So thanks for paving the way for many more women councillors and also for starting the honour roll.

Secondly thanks to Hepburn Shire Council for running the annual event, and to the IWD committee for their hard work throughout the year.

Thanks also to Mayor Cr Don Henderson. I did not realise it but when the continuation of the roll was looking a bit dodgy Don stepped in to keep it running.

Fun fact. On the night, Don reminded me of a letter to the editor, anti all the parks etc named after men, I ran in The Advocate – in my former life there. He called to ask if I would run a letter from him and I apparently had a go at him over the phone.

The letter duly arrived, and I ran it, despite Don writing that people could be assured, that if another tip was ever opened it would be named after a woman, the Donna Kelly Tip, for my services to journalism. Very funny really.

Also thanks to Cr Lesley Hewitt for her wonderful MC-ing of the event. Even though I was a little disappointed that when I ended my speech – and I was last up – with “I am sure, like everyone here, you are looking forward to a glass of wine so let’s finish up and enjoy the refreshments” and Lesley leaned over and whispered “I don’t think there’s any wine”.

And thanks to Cr Brian Hood for saying I should end my speech with a Just sayin’… which I did. Oh, also thank you to Aunty Sandra for a great, and her first, Welcome to Country – great job and really interesting speech. Don’t you love wombats.

And thanks to Ballarat MP Catherine King for coming along. Catherine certainly attends events when she can.

Finally thanks to the young people from Daylesford College for their music and speeches on feminism and what it means to them.

Jamie Martin-Lukoszek performed Anything by Adrianne Lenker while Zara Drogriski performed Teenage Dream by Olivia Rodrigo, accompanied by Arlo Schwarz-Deakin.

Hayley Smith and Stevie Rigby talked about this year’s IWD theme which calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. If they are representative of our young people, the future is bright. Just sayin’…

Damn, I just read this to Kyle and he reminded me to thank him, as I did on the night. So thank you Kyle – for sharing the passion of sharing the stories of the community.