Only three statues of women achievers: are you kidding?
When eight-year-old Malia discovered there were as few as three statues in Brisbane of inspiring women, she decided to do something about it. And her quest is about to be heard in Parliament.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When Malia Knox discovered there are as few as three statues in Brisbane of inspiring women, the eight-year-old Auchenflower schoolgirl decided to do something about it.
She penned a letter to state Women’s Minister, Di Farmer, who met with Malia and her Mum, Kelley, and pledged her support.
Ms Farmer has also promised to read Malia’s letter in Parliament next month.
“It all started when we were at Sherwood Arboretum (a park in Brisbane’s inner west) and Malia was reading the names on the plaques at the central promenade,’’ Ms Knox said.
“She said: ‘Mummy, it’s all men’.
“She asked me to tally them up and there were only two trees planted by women, but even they were referred to as someone’s wife.
“I tried to explain to her that the trees were planted in 1925 and things were different then, but when we researched it we could find only two statues of women in Brisbane.’’
Those statues are of suffragette Emma Miller, in King George Square, and Lady Diamantina Bowen, the wife of a colonial-era Governor, outside Old Parliament House.
Apart from queens of England, the only other statue of a leading female in Brisbane is believed to be the life-sized bronze likeness of former Australian Diamonds captain Laura Geitz, unveiled last year at the Queensland State Netball Centre.
Malia’s local state MP, Michael Berkman, has since sponsored a Parliamentary e-petition on the issue.
“It’s a privilege to support astute and passionate kids across my electorate and Malia is a perfect example,’’ Mr Berkman said.
“She has identified a problem, she’s called it out, and she’s doing something about it.
“When young girls can’t see important, accomplished women in public life, it starts to feel like it’s impossible to become one.
“I’ll be doing everything I can as Malia’s MP to legislate for gender equality in public places across Queensland.”
Malia and her Mum have started a campaign to even up the imbalance.
Search for #FemaleFaces4PublicPlaces
MALIA’S LETTER TO DI FARMER*
Dear Minister,
My name is Malia Knox. I am eight years old and I would like to know why in every park I go to I am only seeing plaques, pictures and statues of men.
WHERE ARE ALL THE WOMEN?
It seems that every park I go to here in Queensland, they are full of statues, plaques and pictures of men. I rarely see women.
I felt sad when I went to Lanham Park at Grange (in Brisbane’s inner north) and saw a wall on the playground titled “People to aspire to be” and there were 10 men and only two women.
I felt sad when I visited the (Mt Coot-tha) botanic gardens and there were three male statues and four pictures of men, and not a single woman in the whole of the gardens.
I was then horrified when visiting Roma Street Parklands to see a display of the 100 Queensland Greats Awards, honouring outstanding Queenslanders who have made significant contributions to our state, and only one quarter of the plaques were dedicated to women!
Did you know only three per cent of statues in Australia honour real women and there are more statues of animals than there are of real Australian women?
They say seeing is believing. I don’t want young girls like me, who are constantly seeing important men, to start believing that only men are important.
Girls my age need to be seeing strong female role models.
I am asking you, as the Minister for Women, to create a law that requires 50 per cent of statues, pictures and plaques in public places to depict real women.
Kind regards, Malia
* abridged version
Rarely-seen mystery creature leaves locals stumped
An odd-looking sea creature that washed up on a Queensland beach has been identified as a rarely-seen fish.
Disabled woman wins $13k in council discrimination case over forms
A disabled woman has received more than $13,000 and an official apology from Brisbane City Council after a tribunal found she was indirectly discriminated against.