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News

links to conversation project

links to the The Age of Suff-Rage
Ceramic sculptures by Dutkiewicz 2008 Fern and Ursula are hard at creating The Art of Suff-Rage for the steps of St.Kilda 15 August - 11am-1pm. Artworks on this page are produced by Fern Smith and Ursula Dutkiewicz
10 significant Victorian women distilled by RMIT University Students into 10 online books
Vida Goldstein interpretations by Fern and Ursula
 

For Your Diary

10th August:
Haddon Workshops: Fern Smith - badge making workshops and Ursula Dutkiewicz ceramic workshops within the day of a Hadden festival at Haddon Community Centre. 396 Sago Hill Rd, Haddon. http://home.vicnet.net.au/~haddon/
15th August:
Steps of St Kilda Town Hall Vida Celebration 11am-1pm celebrating the life and achievements of Vida Goldstein who spent worked tirelessly from 1890's to 1940 championing women's rights in Australia and around the world. Free event
Conversation: Hanner get your banner at Gasworks Art Park. Will speak of how women campaigned through the twentieth century to improve the equality of women. An early evening event (exact time of the event will be confirmed closer to the date) Free event Cnr Graham & Pickles Sts, Albert Park http://www.gasworks.org.au/ contact/location.php
14th October:
Conversation: Hanner get your banner at Gasworks Art Park
Will speak of how women campaigned through the twentieth century to improve the equality of women. At Gasworks Arts Park A early evening event (exact time of the event will be confirmed closer to the date) Free event
Cnr Graham & Pickles Sts, Albert Park http://www.gasworks.org.au/ contact/location.php
18th October:
"THE COMPOSING WOMEN'S CONCERT" Organised by Composer Catherine Connor - it is an annual event where women composers show case their new work, Suffragists Fern and Ursula will be attending and supporting women composers of Victoria. Boite - 1 Mark St. North Fitzroy (exact time of the event will be confirmed closer to the date) it is an annual event where women composers show case their new work, Suffragists Fern and Ursula will be attending and supporting women composers of Victoria. Boite - 1 Mark St. North Fitzroy (exact time of the event will be confirmed closer to the date)
26 October:
Walk of Art: Fern and Ursula will be walking their artworks to Parliament house with many other women. Everybody is invited to join in a walk of art and carry their art in a spectacular convoy from Federation Square to the Queen Victoria Women's Centre on Sunday 26 October launched by Judy Madigan. Free event
13 November:
Celebration of the Past and Inspiration for Participation held by Union of Australian, Suffragists Fern and Ursula will be at Incinerator Arts Complex, Puckle St., Moonee Ponds (exact time of the event will be confirmed closer to the date) http://home.vicnet.net.au /~uawvic/whats_on.htm
23 November:
Conversation "Fanfare for the Victorious Woman" held at Parliament House combined with most of the year's projects from all around Victoria, it will be a huge an exciting day for the women of Victoria and all Victorians to bask in the sun of democracy at work, an ever-evolving process. Keep posted for updates.
Catherine Connor will conduct her new work/composition that has taken over a year of research and development, with Melbourne's finest brass musicians.
Fern Smith and Ursula Dutkiewicz will display their years work.
Women's Electoral Lobby and League of Women Voters will speak of how their organisations campaign for equality. RMIT University students will speak of how the of exploring 12 significant Women changed their minds eye.

Vida Golstein interpretations by Ursula Dutkiewicz and Fern Smith.

Threads through time
short sketch of Vida Goldstein by Fern Smith 2008

Vida Goldstein (1869 -1949) actively increased the repertoire of women's issues and forged a state, national and international name. At twenty one she assisted her mother in the monster petition (1890) and came became a protégé of Annette Bear-Crawford; who taught her public speaking and fund raising (e.g. funds for purchasing Queen Victoria Hospital for Women). Gracia Baylor, the first female Liberal Member 1979- 1985 Legislative Council, noticed in the tomb of public land (1982) to be sold was the old Queen Victoria Hospital thus began the seeds for The Queen Victoria Action Campaign" in 1987 women of Victoria gained victory in 1994.

Annette Bear-Crawford, a founder with Henrietta Dugdale of the feminist movement in Victoria, died in suddenly in 1899. Vida Goldstein filled the void and became a leader for the rights of women. Vida Goldstein became the first full time paid employee of the United Council for Woman Suffrage in 1899. Vida had the ability to work co-operatively with other organisations and within a year there were thirty two affiliate associations to Women's Suffrage League (check name). Today this tactic of affiliation is still in use.

Goldstein saw beyond getting the vote, which women had achieved federally, resigned from United Council for Woman Suffrage in 1901 to champion political aspirations for women and publish and edit Australian Women's Sphere journal (1903-1905). Goldstein saw women's equality would remain "as side issues" (Goldstein 1911) unless women stood for parliament. Formed in 1903 Women's Political Association of Victoria, founder Goldstein, aimed to for the political education for women. Vida Goldstein was tireless, standing for parliament five times from 1903 -1917. Her legacy has been slow in 2008 both state of Victoria and the federal governments have just over 30% representation of women.

In 1915 Vida founded the Women's Peace Army (1915-1919) and a new paper emerged "The voter" with a clear message for pacifism. Conscription was a huge debate spanning many decades and in 1972 conscription of any kind was repealed. Australia is still has lively debates on pacifism and disarmament for example the Iraq war and nuclear weapons.

Doris Blackburn (1889-1970) became Vida Goldstein's campaign secretary 1913 and member of Women's Political Association 1911. As Vida's popularity, waned Blackburn carried the mantle encompassing women's equality, civil liberties, peace advocate and extending the repertoire, to include indigenous rights with the formation of Aboriginal Advancement League with Doug Nicholls in 1957. Where Vida failed, Doris succeeded in becoming an independent member in the House of Representatives 1946- 49.

Women have not achieved full equality (Total pay gap 33.8% ABS 2005), we pay tribute to the tireless work of Vida Goldstein who, worked tirelessly for half a century (state, federal and internationally); her voice, the struggle for women's equality and peace still resonate through the threads of time.

Sponsors
click on image to go to WELvic  you will leave site
League of Women Voters Victoria
With many thankyous to friends, family and organizations who make this project possible.
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