Gender equality push for more female statues

Queensland mayors have been asked to erect more statues of famous women to improve gender representation and the campaign is being led by a nine-year-old.

The state’s mayors have been asked to erect more statues of famous Queensland women to improve gender representation after a campaign by a nine-year-old girl.

Year 4 student Malia Knox’s #femalefacesforpublicplaces project has already seen Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk change the selection criteria for the state’s public monuments and she now has the Attorney-General and Women’s Minister Shannon Fentiman pressuring mayors to look at their parks and playgrounds.

It came about after Malia Knox noticed 72 of 74 plaques at the Sherwood Arboretum were in recognition of men and that this was common across public places.

She began a letter-writing campaign, petitioned parliament and already has a list of nine women she wants recognised, which includes the nation’s first Indigenous female train driver, Aunty Recheal Daley.

Malia Knox and Aunty Recheal Daley

“She was very inspiring and she was really funny,” Malia said after meeting her.

“She had to advocate for female uniforms, she had to wear male uniform and she said to her boss would you want to wear women’s clothes for train driving?”

Ms Fentiman said Malia’s concerns made a lot of sense.

“I think Malia’s petition and the campaign really has highlighted the lack of women that we have in our parks and in our monuments and in our public places,” Ms Fentiman said.

“And I always say that you can’t be what you can’t see.

“I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I could help Malia do something about it so we’ve been working on it ever since.”

Ms Fentiman said a lot of the monuments weren’t expensive to change or add to.

Nine-year-old Malia Knox with Attorney-General and Women's Minister Shannon Fentiman at Grange. Picture: Tara Croser.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey and Moreton Bay Regional Mayor Peter Flannery have already said the idea has merit.

“We are excited about this opportunity to work with the State Government on the issues raised by Malia Knox and we are keen to hear more about the state’s plans to ensure some of the fantastic women who’ve done great things for our city are permanently honoured,” Mr Schrinner said.

Malia’s mother Kelley Knox said she was proud of her daughter.

“It’s beautiful how it’s evolved so naturally – Malia was just walking in the park one day and noticed something and wanted to make a difference,” she said.

She said reading the best-selling children’s book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – which details the lives of 100 extraordinary women – had “really empowered Malia and empowered me too”.

“It’s not easy trying to make change, we’ve realised, so reading those stories of those women kept us going,” she said.