International Women's Day

Council has marked International Women’s Day 2022 with a fitting tribute to local women by unveiling a unique public art initiative. Sydney-based artist Suzanne Dias was commissioned to create portraits of six dynamic women to tell stories of their achievements through the ages. Their portraits sit proudly in the Library and Community Hub in the Youth Zone for the next two months.

Rosemary King
Volunteering with St Paul’s Anglican Church in Burwood for over 9 years as a Lay Minister, Rosemary King is passionate about giving back to her community. In her role Rosemary helps coordinate the Parish Pantry service which provides food, hygiene products and other perishable and non-perishable goods to anyone who needs assistance. This service provides much needed goods and supplies to hundreds of Burwood residents each week. Rosemary is also a strong advocate for affordable housing and in 2021 was awarded a Community Service Award by the NSW State Government. 

Sarah Nelson
Coming to Australia in 1791, Sarah Nelson was a wife, mother and farmer. As the earliest known European to live in Burwood, Sarah came to Australia after her husband was sentenced to seven years’ servitude at Botany Bay. Sarah was only one of six convict wives who arrived in Australia. Receiving a land grant in 1794, Sarah established a farm located in present day Croydon, which she lived and work on until her passing.  

Dr Faryal Zehra MBBS, MRCS, FCPS (I), PhD (Surgery)
Burwood’s Citizen of the Year 2022, Dr Faryal Zehra is a clinician and researcher by profession. Dr Zehra is also CEO and founder of the not for profit organisation Little Helpers on the Run. Through her work she noticed that there was a distinct intergenerational gap and issues with mental wellbeing in the community. Her vision for the organisation was one where children from all cultural backgrounds work together to bring positivity to their local communities. Little Helpers on the Run has delivered over 5000 kindness projects, including supporting residents at over 120 nursing homes, 19 schools and providing cards from children to community service providers such as Police, health care workers, teachers and fire and rescue workers. 

Noni Cragg
Living in Burwood as a child, Noni Cragg is an artist, activist, writer and model based in Sydney’s Inner West. A proud Bundjalung and Biripai Woman with Irish and Scottish ancestry, her practice is inspired by culture, colour and people. Noni has completed numerous large scale public art projects, including the much loved Storylines mural that was completed in 2020 in Unity Place as a collaboration with David Cragg and Karla Hayes. In 2015, Noni also co-founded a not for profit charity called The Rough Period which aims to provide equal access to menstrual products for girls and women sleeping rough, at risk or experiencing poverty. 

Lesley Furneaux-Cook
Lesley Furneaux-Cook was the first female Mayor of Burwood over the course of its 148 year history. Lesley is also the longest serving female Councillor with 17 years’ commitment to the local area and its residents. Appointed as Mayor in 2008, while being a sole parent, Lesley’s drive to better the Burwood Local Government Area is a testament to her sense of community service. As well as her years on Council, in 2016 Lesley was appointed by the NSW Governor to the Local Government Boundaries Commission and has sat on a number of State wide boards including Local Government NSW, the NSW Public Libraries Consultative Committee and the NSW Geographical Names Board.

While opportunities to become involved in politics have improved for women since Lesley started as a Councillor, it is her belief that there are still many barriers to full participation and despite willingness and ability, women often don’t have the social infrastructure to thrive.

Maria Sanders
Born in 1856, Maria Sanders was the Deputy Matron at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown. In 1902, Maria established and operated her own hospital in Burwood. Daughter and sister to two different Burwood Mayors, in 1911 Maria made a generous land donation to Burwood Council for a children’s playground at the corner of Oxford and Norwood Streets, Burwood. Thanks to Maria’s donation the park is still in use today by the Burwood community and now known as Sanders Reserve.