Gympie council needs women - as does politics in general

As we celebrate International Women's Day today, violence against women is on the rise and the number of women in politics is in decline

Gympie region's all-male council. If you count the proportion of women in political life in Australia and compare it across 192 countries, Australia came in at number 20 in 2001, 40 in 2014, and 50 last year. We are going backwards. Picture: Renee Albrecht

CONGRATULATIONS to Jellina White on her milestone celebration yesterday - 10 years as owner manager of the local Bank of Queensland branch.

Jellina White celebrates 10 years at the top of Gympie's Bank of Queensland this week. Picture: Scott Kovacevic

Jellina is the perfect example of a modern, successful, hard working woman, wife and mother, devoted to family, generous to the community.

She is not alone. The Gympie region is blessed with thousands of strong, compassionate, successful, outstanding women, quietly going about their jobs and often getting paid less than their male counterparts for the privilege, doing the lion's share of housework, volunteering and holding the fabric of society together.

Happy International Women's Day to you all.

Gympie Times editor Shelley Strachan. Picture: Renee Albrecht

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in her address to the Brisbane IWD Breakfast this week noted that though women have come a long way in the past century, there is still a long way to go. One of the challenges facing Australia - and the Gympie region - is getting more women into politics.

If you count the proportion of women in political life and compare it across 192 countries, Australia came in at number 20 in 2001, 40 in 2014, and 50 last year. We are going backwards.

Violence against women in Australia is out of control.

Male violence against women in the Lucky Country is out of control and getting worse.

Violence against women in this country is out of control. Picture: Pexels

Throwing more money at these issues is a start, but education and shifting attitudes is paramount.