Redlands Community Breakfast founder Sheena Hewlett, indigenous artist and designer Delvene Cockatoo Collins, Zonta Wynnum Redlands president Angela Hill and Redlands MP Kim Richards all shared their thoughts on the women who have inspired them and the issues that remain close to their hearts.

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Sheena Hewlett

Who has inspired you personally?

First and foremost is my mother. We moved to Australia to from Ireland when I was five and soon after my father died of cancer. My mother raised three young children, she built our house, worked, she gave me huge direction on volunteering, on protesting, on having a voice. She is the most inspirational, courageous woman I know. She worked two jobs, still volunteered at school and every holidays we went on a holiday. We didn’t have a lot but we never missed out. We had a great childhood. Now I think, at her age at just 33, I still don’t know how she did it. She also taught us the importance of giving back.

Who has inspired you professionally?

It is a story not many people have heard of. It is about a woman called Bessie Coleman. She was born in the late 1800s in America and she was a little black girl and all she wanted to do ... she had a dream of being a pilot. In her day the idea of letting girls, let alone a black girl, become a pilot, was unheard of. Yet in 1921 she became the first black female pilot in the world. People said it would never happen. Her parents were cotton pickers and had no money. Bessie’s story is one that I tell my students and now even parents of my students borrow the book from the library. One of my students brought it in for show and tell once. Her aunt was a teacher from the US and I just fell in love with it. I tell my students you can never say never.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

For me it’s a nice time to stop and acknowledge the advances and progress we have made from a time when women had no voice, no say and there was no focus on education for women. We have come so far. Now there are no limits on what any female can do. Thanks to the trailblazers there is no limitation, there is no question about us going to university and we can be surgeons or barristers or mothers or both – those things are automatic now and that wasn’t the case.

What are the issues that women need to focus on at a local, national and international level to ensure progress continues

For a lot of women it still can be quite difficult with work-life balance and child care can be cost prohibitive. I think we have work to do in offering more options for child care for shift workers, for women whose work life doesn’t fit inside the cookie-cutter 9-5 hours ... we need to deliver outcomes that support mothers who want a career … because it’s not just about earning money it’s about advancing your career and giving back. Very generally also, it’s a matter of ensuring we support each other and I think I feel disappointed that women can be judgmental and harsh on one another – we need to take the time to be building women up and not knocking them down. Finally I would say I never accept the word no. I tell my students to be strong and confident in your own actions and be accountable. If someone treats you poorly stop and say I don’t like it. We talk about the word bullying but we don’t focus much on how to say no ... how to say stop it, I don’t like it, and be able to move away. Girls need to have that strength to be outspoken and stand up.

When I have my new cohort each year, I love to see the children that are stubborn and strong willed – I don’t worry about them so much, it is the ones that are quiet and aren’t finding their voice or saying what they need or want – I want them to be confident. We want to hear what they’ve got to say.

Delvene Cockatoo Collins

Who has inspired you personally?

I always say my Mum. It is through her way of being – the peacefulness yet strength within her, that inspires me. She is always available and has always shown love. Her way of maintaining her and her family’s connection to the island and surrounding areas, of educating herself and building and owning a business. There’s so much about her that makes me want to be a better person.

Who has inspired you professionally?

There are many who have inspired me including lawyer and founder of Sisters Inside Debbie Kilroy, Angela Davis, Canadian Senator Kim Pate, artist Maryann Talia Paul, Leanne Enoch and Kim Richards because of their commitment to their work. Judy Watson who asked me to do some work for her years ago for an exhibition that was in the National Museum of Australia, I see this as providing opportunities into new spaces for emerging and early-career artists.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

This day provides an opportunity to stop and reflect on those who have paved the many pathways for us – in whatever form that might be. I reflect on moments that have shaped my pathway and in that I acknowledge my mother, my grandmothers and the Elders here on North Stradbroke Island. There are visible contributions here in Dunwich of the work the Aunties and Elders have done, building the Health Service, the Housing Co-Operative, the Elders Council and contributing to the Dunwich State School among many others.

What are the issues that women need to focus on at a local, national and international level to ensure progress continues

I feel how and where you live, the level of privilege that you are born into and live within and the systems that would impact on the level of access to health, housing, education, safety and financial opportunities are key challenges across the world.

Angela Hill

Who has inspired you personally?

I would say my two pretty special grandmothers and being a nurse also. There have been many very impressive nurses over the years who have mentored and supported me and, like many of the women in my life, including my daughters, women continue to inspire me. Women who have passion and value women, education and a strong belief that women can do anything. It makes a huge difference to hear those words ... you can do anything. A great inspiration also was my father. He had that strong belief that girls could anything, that education was important and to try things ... he believed in me. My Dad is quite an emotional man, quite connected emotionally, and he’s been hugely supportive to me and his three granddaughters.

Who has inspired you professionally?

I became a member of Zonta in 2014 and I have met many amazing women who are trailblazers for women’s rights. I am inspired by my fellow members of Zonta, not just locally but within our districts and internationally. In my work as a mental health nurse I see women who are disempowered and disadvantaged and I know that connections with other women are very, very important. That is why I joined Zonta – Zonta’s whole philosophy is around empowering women and girls ... their campaigns are aligned with the things I believe in.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I think it is for celebrating women and empowering women. I think it is also about bringing the issues to the forefront.

What are the issues that women need to focus on at a local, national and international level to ensure progress continues

Our domestic violence statistics are horrific. One woman killed every week is horrifying. It is a statistic we would like to see vanish. Gender equality is something we need to be working hard at. Some organisations are making commitments, increasing numbers of women based on merit, but there is also pay parity, women often retire with less superannuation, and that is what is increasing the risk of homelessness in women over 50. Internationally I believe we need to see the end of child marriages. I think there are so many difficulties associated with child marriage. Teenage pregnancies, complications of that, girls withdrawn from schools, lack of education and ability to provide – often abuse – they’re often isolated. Here at home I think one of the things I recognise in my work is how disadvantaged indigenous women appear to be. I think we have a long way to go to improving the rights of indigenous women in Australia. I can proudly say I am from New Zealand and there have been some very positive steps taken for Maori women.

Kim Richards

Who has inspired you personally?

My son attended Sheldon College from Prep through to Year 12, and I’ve been blessed for many years to continue to be associated with the college. Dr Lyn Bishop has been a personal inspiration, her leadership, her vision, her drive and her ability to change the lives of our young people is incredible. Education changes lives, and Dr Bishop has been at the forefront of this her entire career – love, laughter and learning balanced with the 4c’s of courtesy, consideration, co-operation and common sense.

Who has inspired you professionally?

Elizabeth Watson Brown has inspired me professionally, I don’t believe I would be the Member for Redlands today without the inspiration and encouragement she has given to me. I have been blessed to be a business partner with her, to travel with her, to spend time watching and admiring her brilliance. She is one of the most incredibly talented women I know and has inspired a whole generation of women in architecture and design.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and honour the achievements of women around the world as well as those closer to home. We have certainly come a long way, although there is still a long way to go. I’m really proud to be part of the Queensland State Government under the leadership of our Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. We have one of the most progressive and gender-balanced Governments ever seen in Australia.

What are the issues that women need to focus on at a local, national and international level to ensure progress continues

Issues we must continue to focus on are prevention of domestic and family violence around the world, in our country, in our neighbourhoods. Other important issues we continue to make slow progress on are gender-dominated industries; pay inequality; work, life and family balance – including men and women achieving balance in parenting. Finally I would add respectful communications in our homes, in our workplaces and in our communities.