Thursday, 6 March 2025

International Women’s Day

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (10:00): Yesterday I joined the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Victorian branch to celebrate International Women’s Day, the union’s 50th such celebration, designed to recognise the contribution of women in the workplace, in the community and in the family. The UN declared 1975 International Women’s Year. Then secretary of the SDA Jim Maher appointed the first female officials of the SDA. Anne Black was appointed an organiser and Christine Campbell, a former member in the other place, was appointed the union’s first ever women’s officer. Their desk was the lunch table, but the SDA was ahead of its time, leading the way in women’s role in unionism. The SDA was the first union in Australia to have a women’s officer and to celebrate IWD.

In a letter to the current state secretary Michael Donovan, Anne recounted how the SDA was the first to formally recognise, promote and celebrate the work of women both in the union and in the broader sector it represents. Anne recounted how in 1975 the union was visited by Helga Camel, the women’s officer from the international union equivalent. Helga repeated a message that is still valid today: the union movement is like a bird with two wings, one female wing and one male. When the wings work in unison, the bird will soar.

In recognition of the women who constitute the union and who support the union to soar, the IWD event continues to recognise outstanding contributions. This year the award was received by the past four female presidents: Mary Lambert, Elizabeth Shaw, Ada Scibilia and Julie Davis on behalf of all past and present female delegates. I congratulate all female delegates, who have worked tirelessly across generations to ensure that there are fair and reasonable wages and conditions both in the workplace and beyond. Can I say that I am very proud that the example was set 50 years ago in the UN’s International Women’s Year by my mum Anne-Michelle Black and my godmother Christine Campbell.