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TAKING UP THE CHALLENGE IN 2008

The Australian Local Government Women's Association Victorian Branch is celebrating  the 100th anniversary of the granting of women's right to vote in Victoria.

The Centenary of Women's Suffrage coincides with Local Government elections in Victoria.

The ALGWA has been funded through the Department of Planning and Community Development  Centenary of Women's Suffrage Grants, to recognise and celebrate this historic milestone with the Taking Up The Challenge in 2008 events program which will recognise the value of women's contribution to civic and political roles in Victoria.

The Taking Up The Challenge in 2008 program has provided candidate information workshops to support and inform potential candidates for the November 2008 Local Government elections in Victoria.

In 1981, Victorian Premier James Munro declared he would introduce a bill for women's suffrage if it was demonstrated that ordinary women wanted this right.

The Victorian Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Victorian Women's Suffrage Society took up the challenge, joing forces to organise a petition.

The groups embarked on a door knocking campaign across Victoria and collected 30,000 signatures in six weeks.

The petition of 1891 was 260 metres long and 200mm wide and made of paper pasted onto cotton fabric backing. It was rolled onto a cardboard spindle which rested on a stand. With the assistance of several attendants the banner was carried into the Parliament of Victoria and tabled in September 1891.

Throughout the 2008 celebrations, the ALGWA will be inviting all members and partcipants attending the Taking Up The Challenge in 2008 events to sign the Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008 calico banner as a committment to pursuing equality for women in all aspects of Victorian life.

The banners will be distributed throughout Victoria during the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Women's right to vote and at the end of the year, banners will be sewn together and displayed at the finale of the celebrations at the Parliament House Open Day on the 16th November.

The ALGWA Victoria program for the Taking Up The Challenge in 2008 included the launch of a publication to mark the history of past women Councillors throughout Victoria, an information kit and forums that were held in Geelong, Warragul, Mildura, Ballarat , Narre Warren and Benalla to encourage women to stand as candidates in the 2008 Local Government elections. 

The program was launched in the City of Yarra in recognition of Councillor Mary Rogers, the first woman Councillor in Victoria who was elected to Richmond Council in 1920.

 Taking Up The Challenge in 2008 Program

  Sunday 16th November

                                   Finale of Centenary celebrations of Victorian Women's Right to Vote

                                   Parliament House Melbourne

To receive a Taking Up the Challenge in 2008 Candidate Handbook please email your postal address to State Secretary, Cr Sue Marstaeller JP  algwavic@algwa.com.au or phone 03 5787 1520