Invisible Farmer

The Invisible Farmer Project  is the largest study of Australian women on the land.  Initiated by Museums Victoria this three year project (2017-2020) aims to create new histories of rural Australia, reveal the hidden histories of women on the land, learn more about the diverse, innovative and vital role of women in agriculture, stimulate public discussions about contemporary issues facing rural Australia and its future and develop significant public collections that will enable far reaching outcomes in research, industry and practice.

Be inspired with stories from Yarra Plenty Regional Library's collection:  Invisible Farmer

History of Women in Local Government

The next talk of the Heidelberg Historical Society will be presented by Helen D. Harris. The Right to Vote; the right to stand: The involvement of women in local government in Victoria will focus on the history of local government women voters and pioneer Councillors including Nellie Ibbott who was the first woman in Victoria to become mayor of a local government municipality – the City of Heidelberg.
Helen D. Harris OAM, is a professional genealogist, historian and author. Helen is the Executive Officer and Archivist of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and has recently published a book to celebrate the centenary of women being allowed to run for municipal office.

The meeting will be held Tuesday 8 August 2017 at 8pm at the Uniting Church Community Centre, Seddon Street, Ivanhoe. All welcome

LaTrobe University Celebrating Women’s Contributions

LaTrobe University is celebrating it's 50th anniversary in 2017.  It was inaugurated  on International Women’s Day March 8, 1967, when the Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe, installed the first Chancellor, Sir Archibald Glenn, and the Premier, Sir Henry Bolte, declared the university open.  As part of its celebrations and looking back at its successes and accomplishments, the University launched it's "Square the Ledger" Project last week.  This is a project to find and recognise women associated with the University who has made a contribution to the community, social, cultural, political or economically.  Please consider nominating via the online form by June 8

Source: The Heidelberger, March 8, 1967 page 8

YPRL CEO Farewelled

Staff and local, state and international colleagues farewelled Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s Chief Executive Officer last week.
Christine Mackenzie has retired after a 41 year career culminating with 12 years in “the best job in Australia”. Prior to joining YPRL, Christine worked at the State Library of Victoria, Mordiallic Chelsea Library, Mornington Peninsula Library and Brisbane Libraries.
Christine followed Craig Anderson as CEO in 2004 at a time when technology was about to impact people’s lives as never before. YPRL staff were only the second library in the world to undertake online Web 2.0 training. A new Strategic Plan was soon adopted by the Library Board and the wireless wide area network was initiated. A supplier aided shelf ready collection was also initiated with savings from this directed into the establishment of a Community Engagement team based at Library Support Services.
In 2006 a new mobile library fleet was launched. In 2007 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was initiated enabling customers to borrow their own items, thus freeing staff for customer service and programming. Wikinorthia, a website designed to document life in Melbourne’s north was launched, in partnership with Darebin and Moreland libraries.
In 2008, Yarra Plenty Regional Library was the first library to procure and start loaning ebooks in a consortium with Brisbane Libraries. In 2009 following Black Saturday, YPRL was a major partner with the ALIA Disaster Recovery Project. In 2011 a staff branch restructure took place. In 2012 the National Broadband Network Project was implemented.
In 2013 Whittlesea Library, the newest branch opened and our first makerspace at Mill Park Library were opened. The Reading Rover was launched.
A number of major refurbishments have taken place across all eight branches of the Region.
Christine has always been a strong advocate of staff development supporting a number of staff in attending the State Library of Victoria Shared Leadership program, encouraging attendance and often making presentations at both local and overseas conferences. She introduced a program which made YPRL unique - the international Staff Exchange program. Several exchanges were conducted between sister library services in Europe and the USA.
Christine has been a supporter of the Global Libraries’ initiative INELI (International Network of Library Innovators) with a representative of YPRL taking part in the second program. This is a regional leadership program for emerging library leaders. Christine’s involvement resulted in YPRL hosting the INELI – Oceania in 2015.
She has been an active member of the Public Libraries Victoria Network and the Public Lending Right Committee. She remains a governing member of the International Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
The organisation has developed a strong vision and direction under Christine’s guidance and the latest Strategic Plan 2013-2017 will see her work continued.
Yarra Plenty Regional Library welcomes new CEO Di Shaw on 15 February 2016

New to the Local history collection

Sutherland Home School 3660 June 3, 1910-1975
February Reunion 2000

For more information about Sutherland Homes visit Wikinorthia at Sutherland Homes for Children and Selina Sutherland

New to the Local history collection

Sutherland Home School 3660 June 3, 1910-1975
February Reunion 2000

For more information about Sutherland Homes visit Wikinorthia at Sutherland Homes for Children and Selina Sutherland

2010 Honour Roll for Women

Plenty Historical Society together with the support pf MP Danielle Green recently nominated Selina Sutherland - Founder of the Sutherland Homes for Children and lifelong campaigner for social justice for the Victorian Honour roll for women. The nomination out of 128 nominations were successful and she was recently inducted at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Selina operated a country home for the children at Diamond Creek / Plenty.
To read more about this great woman visit Wikinorthia

Call to celebrate Nillumbik Women

The Nillumbik Women's Network are calling for nominations for its third and final editon of the "Celebrating Nillumbik women" publication. Nominations close on February 12. Further details and nomination forms are on the Nillumbik Shire Council website

Joy Jobbins: the rural bohemia of Eltham

Joy Jobbins’s memoir “Shoestring” (named for the family property in Eltham) is a candid portrait of marriage and women’s working life in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. An ordinary woman whose remarkable life intersected with many well known figures including Peter Carey, Chips Rafferty, Rupert Murdoch and Helmut Newton, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Tabberer and many others.

Vist Joy Jobbins website

Access this title via the local history collection in Eltham Library.

Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008

Women Matter: a celebration of 100 years of women's suffrage

In celebration of the centenary of 100 years of women's suffrage the City of Whittlesea is inviting women in the community to discuss issues such as why women matter? why does the vote count? How does the political process affect women in their day to day lives? and more.

This discussion will be facilitated by women leaders in the community who will draw on thier own personal experiences in the discussion.

Saturday 9 August 2008
2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Free. All welcome. Bookings essential
Fountain View room
Whittlesea Council Offices
Civic Centre
25 Ferres Blvd
South Morang
Melway Map 183 A12

RSVP Events@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Celebrating Nillumbik Women

The Nillumbik Women's Network and Nillumbik Shire Council have recently launched their book "Celebrating Nillumbik Women". It was conceived "as a way of writing women in to our local history" according to the Foreward.

We have copies for loan and also available in our local history collections at Eltham and Diamond Valley libraries.

It would be terrific to see this project develop further and see more women in Nillumbik's local history being recognised.