By CASEY NEILL
WOMEN who make it happen received recognition from Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) last Friday.
WHISE CEO Susan Glasgow said at a ceremony in Dandenong that this year’s International Women’s Day on 8 March was themed Make it Happen.
She presented awards to 29 women who are doing just that, including Luz Restrepo, who felt frightened and isolated when she arrived in Australia from Colombia in 2010.
Luz started to make and sell crafts with other women in similar circumstances and support group SisterWorks was born.
She received the Service to the Community award.
Nigerian-born Abiola Ajetomobi was awarded the Future Leader title for juggling studies, work and family life while raising funds and collecting goods to support other Nigerian migrants.
Tiffany Hughes, 16, won the Youth Achievement award for her school involvement and leadership.
Family violence survivor Carla Gagliardi received the Inspirational Woman title for her work to change laws around naming and shaming those who breach intervention orders (IVOs).
“When I began this journey it wasn’t to be inspiring or achieve recognition,” she said.
“I simply felt the justice system had let me down.
“I felt I had to be the voice of other applicants for IVOs.”
Another 25 women received recognition awards. Guest speaker Nida Iqbal urged them all to hold their heads high.
“I am very proud of being a female. I am very proud of being who I am,” she said.
Tears welled up in Nida’s eyes from the moment started speaking.
She explained that her mother was born into the Pashtun majority in Afhganistan but found love with a man in the persecuted Hazara minority.
Her family disowned her and Nida’s father was captured and hanged for supporting equal rights shortly after they married.
The family fled to Pakistan where they received death threats for speaking out against the Taliban.
They arrived in Australia in 1998 with no English skills.
Nida has since completed a raft of studies and is now studying law. Any suggestions she should hold back because of her gender make her more determined.
“I never look at it as something negative,” she said.
Keynote speaker Clementine Ford, a writer, speaker and feminist thinker, said there were few days on the calendar about celebrating women.
She urged the women in the room to stop worrying about “massaging men’s egos” when speaking about feminism and striving for equality.
“Men take up far too much space in the feminist discourse,” she said.
“Equality does involve loss. It does involve sacrifice.
“This isn’t about your (men’s) feelings, it’s about saving women’s lives.”
