Council celebrates local women

Published on 08 March 2022

Council marked International Women’s Day 2022 with a fitting tribute to local women unveiling a unique public art initiative. Sydney-based artist Suzanne Dias has been commissioned to create portraits of 6 dynamic women to tell stories of their achievements through the ages.

Current Citizen of the Year Dr Faryal Zehra, Burwood’s first-ever female Mayor and recently retired Councillor Lesley Furneaux-Cook, volunteer extraordinaire and Lay Minister of St Paul’s Anglican Parish Rosemary King, and Bundjalung and Biripai local artist Noni Cragg will all have their portraits sit proudly in the Library and Community Hub for the next two months.

With the aim of the project to celebrate local women across time also included in the exhibition are pictures of Sarah Nelson – the first European Woman to have land in the area and Maria Sanders who had a distinguished career in healthcare including establishing and running her own hospital in the LGA in the early part of the 20th century.

In addition to the unveiling of the portraits a panel discussion is planned for the evening of 8 March at the Burwood Library and Community Hub. Some of the topics on the agenda include the gender pay gap and the representation of women in politics and in business.

Mayor John Faker said the public art tribute was an important way to educate the community about the contributions of women. “Throughout our history women have made key contributions in a diverse range of fields such as culture, politics, sport, volunteering and business,” Cr Faker said.

“By including members of the current generation as well as past figures it is hoped to inspire young women to continue to dream and make contributions to our community in whatever way they choose.

“I hope the community gets behind this and makes the effort to learn these stories of these inspiring women,” he concluded.