Women celebrated across the coast

Lorne Sculpture Biennale artist and Deakin University lecturer Merinda Kelly and Award-winning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musician Jessie Lloyd will headline Surf Coast Shire Council’s 2018 International Women’s Day (IWD) event.

The free community event at Lorne Country Club on Thursday March 8 will shine a spotlight on women in the arts in the lead-up to the Lorne Sculpture Biennale – held from March 17 to April 2.

Shire mayor David Bell is encouraging people to attend Council’s event, to help celebrate the global IWD theme of #PressForProgress.

“This year’s theme is a strong call for people to press forward and progress gender parity,” he said.

“We’re proud that our event is going to recognise how female artists are pressing for progress.

“International Women’s Day in previous years has been a standout on our events calendar, so I encourage people to get in quickly to secure their place at the 2018 event.”

Cr Bell highlighted Lorne Sculpture Biennale’s leadership to work towards gender parity, with the launch of its Women Sculptors Initiative in September last year.

“The initiative aims to help level the playing field for female sculptors, by celebrating their achievements and raising funds so that they can create and exhibit in the Biennale – Victoria’s largest free public outdoor sculpture event,” he said.

Merinda Kelly is a major artist of the 2018 Biennale who will exhibit on the sculpture trail, which spreads from the swing bridge to the Lorne pier. She has featured in various exciting Geelong projects, including the Iconic Industry Exhibition at the National Wool Museum, Mountain to Mouth and #Vacant.

Merinda strives to use recycled products in her work, often using her art as a public dialogue for current issues in society.

Passionate about the younger generation and their artistic endeavours, Merinda is sure to be an interesting local educator to listen to.

Jessie Lloyd curated the Mission Songs Project – a personal initiative to research and present a collection of contemporary Indigenous songs performed from 1900 to 1999. It focused on songs from the Christian missions, Aboriginal reserves and the fringes of township where Indigenous people were relocated.

The Surf Coast International Women’s Day event will be held Thursday March 8 from 6.30pm to 9pm at Lorne Country Club.

To book, visit iwdscs.eventbrite.com.au.

The Committee for Geelong in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong, GMHBA and WiCLAC is hosting their own International Women’s Day event at GMHBA stadium with guest speaker Susan Halliday.

Susan’s distinguished career spans public and private sector roles, and several prominent board memberships, including nine years on the board of the State Library of Victoria.

Having established two successful companies, one in the area of discrimination and employment law, the other a springboard for child literacy projects, Susan pursues gender and human rights issues through every facet of her work.

There will also be the presentation of the Women in Community Life Awards, recognising and celebrating the contribution and achievement of women living and working in the Greater Geelong region.

For 2018 categories include:

Women in Community Life Award – proudly supported by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West.

First Nations Women in Community Life – proudly supported by Christine Couzens MP, Member for Geelong.

Women in Community Life Living with a Disability – proudly supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Women in Community Life For Human Rights and Gender Equality – proudly supported by The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre.

The event will run from 6pm-8.30pm. To book, visit eventbrite.com.au and search ‘An International Women’s Day Event 2018’.