Women’s past efforts live on
At the beginning of last century thousands of women marched through New York City to demand shorter hours, better pay and voting rights for women.
Gympie
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gympie. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AT THE beginning of last century thousands of women marched through New York City to demand shorter hours, better pay and voting rights for women.
On Tuesday, more than 100 years later and in a regional town on the other side of the world, 75 people sat down to breakfast to acknowledge the day that came about from that movement.
The breakfast, organised by the Gympie Quota Club, was one of many International Women's Day events taking place around the world.
Held at Gunabul Homestead, the meeting was a reminder of how much women have achieved socially, economically, culturally and politically.
"A woman is a symbol of courage, strong will power and determination," Quota president Judy Dwyer told the audience.
Guest speaker Dr Madonna Grehan spoke about her work on the history of Queensland's Centaur Memorial Fund for Nurses.
Dr Grehan demonstrated the way society at the time showed their appreciation of nurses - a predominantly female profession.
The Centaur, a hospital ship that was bombed off Moreton Island during the Second World War, had taken with it 160 years of nursing experience when nursing staff went down with the ship.
A massive fundraising effort to create a tangible memorial followed.
A winner of the John Oxley Fellowship Queensland Memory Awards, Dr Grehan said it was important on International Women's Day to reflect on women's past achievements.
"It's about ensuring we remember past efforts for the development of women's professions, and in this case nursing," she said.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and member for Wide Bay Warren Truss attended. Organiser Joy Sullivan said the event was a success.
Keith Pitt made Ambassador to the Holy See in shock announcement
Outgoing Federal MP for Hinkler Keith Pitt announced he would exit politics late last year citing “frustration” and policy disagreements, and hinted at the time that an undisclosed new job opportunity was among the reasons for his decision. Now we know what that was.
‘Heard gunshots, then sirens’: Mystery deepens after property lockdown
Neighbours have described what they heard before police swarmed a rural Qld property and eerie recent history has emerged despite limited information coming from authorities. LATEST.