Last Friday, Dhelkaya Health hosted a 16 Days of Activism event featuring Victoria’s first Public Sector Equality Commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent.
“Gender inequality underpins violence against women,” Dr Vincent said.
“A recent report from the world economic forum found that we are still 131 years away from reaching gender equality globally and the UN reported that nine in 10 people world-wide, both men and women, still hold bias against women.
The Gender Equality Act came into effect in March 2021 and is the first legislation of it’s kind to make changes in public sector organisation from local councils and universities to health services and water catchment organisations. The gender equality act means these organisations have to conduct an audit every two years and provide the results to the Public Sector Equality Commissioner.
Each organisation must use a ‘gender lens’ over every program service and have a Gender Equality Action Plan which is made available to the public.
Dr Vincent said the organisations also need to look at how the ‘gender lens’ is compounded by intersectional factors such as disability, sexuality, cultural discrimination etc.
“These action plans are designed to sustain change, not just be made and popped on a shelf. There are consequences under the legislation, public scrutiny and people becoming aware and outraged by the inequality who then advocate for change,” Dr Vincent said.
“Unless we explicitly think about gender it is overlooked and there is the potential for it to be defined by the default male perceptive.
“We still have a huge amount of work to do. We grew up in a patriarchal society with implicit stereotypes and unconscious bias, even strong feminists, and we should not be ashamed, but aware.”
The event also commemorated the signing of the Collective Action for Respect and Equality (CARE) Partnership Commitment between Sue Race CEO of Dhelkaya Health and Women’s Health Loddon Mallee CEO Tricia Currie.
Ms Currie said we need to amplify women’s voices and make sure those voices are heard.
“Nothings will change on a global level if nothing changes at a local level and we don’t do the work alone, we do it together and we need to make sure we leave no one behind,” Ms Currie said.
The commitment states that the prevention of violence against women is everyone’s business and that everyone has a role to play to help promote gender equality and prevent violence against women.
Through signing the statement Dhelkaya is committing to create a workplace that promotes social justice, gender equality and respect for all women and to complete a CARE Partner Organisation survey each year.
To celebrate the collaboration a local dance group the Super Queeros performed a joyful dance and were joined by members of the audience.
To find out more about 16-days of Activism visit whlm.org.au/16-days-of-activism/.
The Harcourt Ladies Triples Tournament was held last Thursday November 23 with 14 teams from across the state competing.
This annual tournament has been sponsored by Di Selwood from Property Plus for a number of years and is always well received. Teams played three games of eight ends followed by the usual delicious afternoon tea. Winners of the Ditch to Ditch were: Leads Mavis Lea Golden Square; Seconds Cath Birmingham Kyneton; Skips Judy Brown Golden Square.
Overall winners of the day were the Harcourt team of Carrol Frost (skip), Fran Corstorphan (second), Kay Francis (lead). Runners-up were the Eaglehawk team with Kaye Rowe (skip), Pam Hughes (second), Jan Robertson (lead). Third place getters were Aileen Fiedler’s White Hills 2 team with Mary Sawyer and Roz Sheen.
Ladies’ Vice President Heather Braid thanked all for attending and Kaylene Disher from Property Plus for presenting the prizes. Thanks also to the organising committee Judi, Mary-Anne and to all who contributed to the raffles and the afternoon tea.
Pennant
Despite many changes to the teams Harcourt Weekend Pennant teams adjusted well this week. Division 2
had a win at home against Marong, Division 4 was a close second at Marong, and a good win at Bridgewater for Division 7 Blue. Division 7 Gold had to forfeit to Campbells Creek due to illness.
Results for Round 6 were:
Division 2 Harcourt 85/18 defeated Marong 57. Brian Smith (s) 20/19, Seth Bird, Ian McMillan, Chris McAuliffe.
Rod Harris (s) 24/10, Brett Jenkinson, Phil Clarke, Mark Swain. Gary Maddern (s) 22/18, Steven Douglas, Darren Cunningham, Kaye Grant. Brian Leech (s) 19/10, Heather Braid, Tim Carr, Daryl Gale.
Division 4 Harcourt 66/4 lost to Marong 70/14. Les Harding (s) 17/18, Grahame Hill, Judy Ewing, Rod Watson.
Wendy Chaplin (s) 16/14, Diane Marsh, Ron Douglas, Libby Harris. John Grant (s) 22/14, David Jeffries, Joe Candy, Col Foster. Barry Marsh (s) 11/24, Brian Nunn, Vinka Maltby, Sheila Oxley.
Division 7 Harcourt Blue 47/14 defeated Bridgewater 27. Brian Ede (s) 26/8, Alf Manallack, Geoff Ace, Max Scholes. Kay Francis (s) 21/19, Rick Williams, Brian Buchanan, Cheryl Maddern.
Harcourt Gold – forfeited to Campbells Creek.
Tomorrow Division 2 will travel to Kangaroo Flat, Division 4 will host Calivil, Division 7 Blue will travel to Campbells Creek, and Division 7 Gold will host Kangaroo Flat.
Midweek Pennant Round 7:
On Sunday the Harcourt Bowling Club Board made the decision to forfeit all Round 7 Midweek Pennant games and suspend activity at the club until Friday December 1 at 4pm. This decision was not taken lightly and was made in the interest of all players and visitors to the club.
Division 2 – Harcourt forfeited to Bendigo East.
Division 4 – Harcourt forfeited to Golden Square.
Division 5 – Harcourt forfeited to Bendigo East.
Next Monday Division 2 will host White Hills, Division 4 will travel to North Bendigo, and Division 5 will travel to White Hills.
The Castlemaine Mail is throwing our support behind our friends at the Castlemaine Community House (CCH) by holding a Christmas Food Drive to ensure their ‘Food Pantry’ is fully stocked to support community members doing it tough this festive season.
We invite community members to donate good quality and in-date non-perishable food items and toiletries by placing them under the CCH Food Pantry Christmas Tree at our office at 13 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine between now and Christmas.
The CCH Food Pantry located at the CCH Headquarters at 30 Templeton Street is open for anyone and everyone!
This initiative aims to complement the existing services provided by The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul in Mount Alexander Shire, addressing the increasing demand for food relief in our community.
No appointments are necessary, simply drop into Community House, see their friendly reception staff for directions to the pantry, and then help yourself.
The pantry can be accessed Monday to Friday between 9am – 3pm.
The CCH Food Pantry is fortunate to receive a fortnightly delivery from the team at Bendigo Foodshare which bolsters their fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, eggs and other staples but this is quickly snapped up.
CCH Customer Service Officer Kelsey Docherty said they would really welcome the donation of more non-perishable items to ensure nobody goes without.
Some of the items community members may like to donate to our Food Drive Appeal which have been mentioned or requested in the CCH Food Pantry feedback forms include: baked beans and tinned spaghetti; tuna; chunky soup; two-minute noodles/noodle cups; lentils and chickpeas; instant side dishes (rice and pasta); tinned veg and fruit; herbs and spices; long life milk; spreads; tea, coffee and sugar.
“We also welcome the donation of toiletry items such as shampoo, tooth paste and sanity products and dog or cat food,” Kelsey said.
Alternatively community members can make a cash donation to support the Food Pantry via the PayPal link on the CCH website at https://cch.org.au/food-pantry/
