Cairns International Women’s Day 2022 awards nominations

Breaking down inequality that exists between men and women is the key theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. LEARN HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE HERE

NOMINATIONS are open to submit a remarkable local woman for the Cairns Regional Council International Women’s Day Awards.

Cairns Councillor Kristy Vallely, who was the 2016 Cairns International Woman of the Year, award said the day recognises local women making a difference in their community and works towards gender equality.

“(The #BreakTheBias hashtag) is about celebrating the uniqueness of all of us, men and women, and breaking down the inequality that unfortunately still exists today,” Cr Vallely said.

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The council is looking for nominees from all walks of life who are contributing to the community by volunteering or working in a role that makes a difference.

The categories open are:

– Cairns Regional Council’s Woman of the Year award

– Young Woman of the Year award (under 25)

– Council’s $2000 Scholarship (to provide the winner with access to further her career, goals and endeavours)

Nominees and winners will be announced at Cairns International Women’s Day awards ceremony on Tuesday March 8 from 7.30am at the Hilton Hotel.

Nominations close Tuesday March 1 and must be submitted through a form found at all council libraries or online at the Cairns Regional Council website.

“Wherever you know of a really amazing woman, make sure you nominate them,” Cr Vallely said.

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Cr Vallely said the ceremony will have a hot breakfast. Tickets for the event are $42 and available on Ticketlink from February 14.

“The theme is Pink and purple, there’s also a best dressed award so make sure you get the pink or purple hair on and the outfit,” Cr Vallely said.

The 2021 Cairns Woman of the Year Mary McGuinness is excited to meet the nominees this year. She was awarded for her work with Meals on Wheels and her charity cycle in the Cardiac Challenge, taking her from Cairns to Cooktown.

“The elation of doing something you didn’t think you could do is beyond description and I’m drunk on it every year,” she said.

Last year's Cairns Woman of the Year Mary McGuinness was recognised for her charity work with the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation's Cardiac Challenge bike ride, and her Meals on Wheels work. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms McGuinness said she never expected to win the accolade.

“You sit in this group of amazing women and any one of them is worthy of the award, so for me being nominated was the most special bit of it,” she said.

A midwife at Cairns Hospital since 1994, Ms McGuinness recalls members of the community reaching out after her award.

“Women that I looked after up to 17 years ago send me pictures and said ‘oh, I saw you won, I remember you as my midwife’,” she said.

Ms McGuinness said there isn’t much someone has to do to be nominated, they just have to be a decent person.

“Don’t try to do something unbelievable, be one of the million doing something quite believable, it makes our community much better,” she said.

Originally published as Cairns International Women’s Day 2022 awards nominations