Tuesday, 8 March 2022

International Women’s Day

Ms WARD (Eltham) (13:00): I rise to wish everyone a happy International Women’s Day, but in particular congratulate Shahla Paynter from Eltham High School for being awarded my Pauline Toner Prize for 2022. Named in honour of Victoria’s first female cabinet minister and the first woman to represent our community, this prize celebrates young women activists in the areas of social justice, the environment and gender equality. Shahla is passionate about jazz and is working to break the bias that women do not play jazz, including by being very active in the Girls Do Jazz series with the Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival. This terrific young woman is also active in fighting for social justice through her work with Eltham High’s LGBTQIA+ Stand Out group and the EHS harmony team.

We had an incredibly strong group of nominees this year: wonderful young women like Indi, a member of Nillumbik shire’s youth council as well as an active participant and leader in her school community; like Cassie, an active member of the scouting community who stood up to be a jamboree unit leader and who has helped drive Eltham High’s Do it in a Dress campaign; like Jeorgia, who has found incredible inner strength to be an advocate for others, channelling her energy into raising awareness for victims of sexual assault and the wellbeing of students; like Tahlia, who led her school’s wellness week to help students re-engage with the school community post remote learning; like Kira, who advocated for meaningful reconciliation with Australia’s Indigenous population in her school community, and she also volunteers with the Big Group Hug initiative, helping local families and children affected by family violence; like Ayelet, who has volunteered at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation, building relationships with those in detention and advocating for people seeking asylum in Australia; like Lama, who has led her school’s climate change group— (Time expired)