WOMEN hold the community together and, in this way, build the nation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The second opening weekend of Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, today and tomorrow, celebrates the ways that women build their communities – and underpin healthy democracies.
M.A.D.E head of programs Leslie Falkiner-Rose said by staging a women’s weekend, the museum aimed to reframe democracy into something that was much broader than the political stage.
She said people often didn’t make the link between what they did every day and democracy.
“A lot of people only think of democracy as turning out to vote every three years,” Ms Falkiner-Rose said.
“Helping your neighbours, helping your community, that in turn builds the nation.”
The M.A.D.E by Women weekend brings together 20 female speakers, a live performance by the Victorian Women’s Trust and a screening of the ABC documentary, Utopia Girls, about how women secured the right to vote.
Ms Falkiner-Rose said many of the speakers were “not the usual suspects”.
Along with indigenous leader Tanya Hosch and Walkley award-winning journalist and former Victorian government minister Mary Delahunty, the program features a talk by Grace McQuilten, who uses fashion as a means of social change.
Ms Falkiner-Rose said when it came to the Eureka story, the role of women was often forgotten, but they were there.
Coinciding with the Mother’s Day weekend, there is also a range of family activities and a photographic display that brings to life activities of Ballarat community and business groups.
All speaker sessions and the film screening are free but people are encouraged to book via the M.A.D.E website at made.org
rachel.afflick@fairfaxmedia.com.au