Pauline Toner Award
Ms WARD (Eltham) (10:03): This year I again celebrated International Women’s Day by celebrating the achievements of local young women in memory of Pauline Toner, the first woman—who was a Labor woman—to represent my community at a local and state level, including as Victoria’s first female minister. Congratulations to all those great, strong, kind and inspirational young women who were nominated for the Pauline Toner prize: Deanna Anestis from St Helena Secondary College, Libby Fisher from Montmorency Secondary College, Emily Brooks from Eltham High, Clare Steele from Eltham High, Sylvia Robin from Eltham College, and this year we awarded the prize to two young women, Anna Denishensky from Eltham College and Evangeline Hurrel from Catholic Ladies College.
We are lucky to have so many strong women in our community. Thank you to the wonderful Aunty Pam Pedersen for being our guest speaker and telling her stories; the member for Jagajaga, Kate Thwaites; and a big thankyou to Eltham High and their VET students for hosting this year’s breakfast, which was fantastic. A big shout-out to school captains Hannah Smailes and Bailey Johnson for their great speeches and role as MCs. Thank you also to Madeline Toner, Sue Dyet and Sandra Macneil for their work as panel members.