Current Events and Programs

Byron Shire International Women’s Day 2009

We produced a poster some 3 weeks in advance of the event and these posters were put up in public places across the shire in the townships of Bangalow, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores and South Golden Beach.
 
In the week leading up to the event, BayFM announced the event 3 times a day in their Community service Announcements segments.
 
The event was held in the Stan Robinson Park in Mullumbimby. A number of community organizations attended and set up stalls with pamphlets, resources and activities for women and children on the day. These organizations included Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Scheme, Ballina Byron Family Centre, Byron Community College, Byron Women’s Weaving Circle, and Byron Amnesty International.
 
Large fruit platters, trays of savouries and bottled water were provided, while women and children listened to speakers and performers. A member of Spaghetti Circus wandered the park performing ‘tricks’ to the delight of the crowd. Some 50+ women and children attended on the day.
 
We felt honoured to have with us Aunty Bertha Kapeen, Chairperson of Bundjalung Elders Council Aboriginal Corporation, who welcomed us to Country. As the theme for 2009 focused on “Women and Education”, Aunty Bertha also spoke about the history and importance of education for Aboriginal people, and shared with us stories of her own life when education was barred to Aboriginal people. Some of Aunty Bertha’s words are documented in the attached article written by Lou Beaumont.
 
Kassa Bird, coordinator of the Women’s Resource Service, then introduced four more speakers, who all spoke on the theme of education for women and girls. Valmai Saunders, Byron Aboriginal Liaison Project worker, spoke of her work with Aboriginal women in the shire: she facilitates a women’s group, Women’s Weaving Circle, which provides opportunities for women to yarn, weave, share stories and informally educate and assist each other with life matters.
 
Annie Barrett shared a story about growing up with her mother who was privileged to have had a university education in the 1930’s, and the positive impact that had on Annie’s own expectations. Rose Hogan read prose “Because we’re women…”, authored by the Women’s Liberation movement.
She reminded us that we had achieved a lot, and still had far to go!
 
Roni Barr from Byron Community College spoke of her challenges with education growing up, and how as an adult through a variety of positive learning experiences, had become passionate about providing and attending adult learning opportunities.

We were treated to a beautiful set of songs by Maea and Carol, Maori women, who also gave us a traditional Maori greeting and welcome. Carol also spoke about her work with autistic people in the Ballina Byron shires.
 
We finished the event listening to the Peace Choir, a group of about 8 women and a fella, who chose songs focusing on ‘mother earth’ and peace’, and sang in several languages.
 
Many women commented that it has been an enjoyable and informative afternoon, and that they had appreciated the personal stories women told of their own education (and lack thereof) as well their mothers’ stories and attitudes to education. Women also enjoyed the art activities provided on the day,
and the Women’s Resource Service has added these artworks to its folios of ‘women’s work’.