DEBBI GRAY - Born 1957

Debbi's life is a story of courage, strength and resilience.

She was born in 1957 without arms and with malformed legs.

Standing just 1.14 metres, Debbi has no complaints: "nature provided me with a lot of really special abilities - an agile upper body, long neck, strong teeth and jaw, and dexterous toes".

In a jam-packed life, she has travelled solo around the world, driven to Broome and hitchhiked to Cairns. She has ridden horses, typed with her feet and given birth to a beautiful daughter.

Debbi is unstoppable. She cares for her daughter, Emma, is active in her local Gippslandcommunity, runs her own business, does cross stitch and speaks at conferences and schools. She is now writing her own story to assist and inspire others.

ESSIE BURBRIDGE, OAM - Born 1908

If there is work to be done, Essie does it - and in the process, makes a significant difference to the lives of others.

Called ‘Ma' by hundreds of students studying in Melbourne's West, some of whom were sick, homeless or lonely overseas students struggling with a new language, Essie opened her heart and home to non-Europeansat the time of the White Australia Policy.

Essie ran her own business, The Tucker Box Café in Footscray, in the 1930's. When she saw people starving, she opened a soup kitchen form the same café.

Working for decades for the local Youth Club, and holding monthly bingo meetings in her home to raise money for the Club's Ladies' Auxiliary, Essie has also been a tireless worker for the Mothers' Club of North Footscray state School for some 40 years after her two boys had left.

Essie was made a Life Governor of the Western General Hospital in recognition of her decades of fundraising effort. She was also recently awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her services to the community.

GERALDINE BRIGGS - Born 1910

Geraldine, aYorta Yorta woman, has always fought for what she believed in - justice and equality for her people.

She was a member of the first delegationto Canberra toprotest against Aboriginal tribal people being kept in chains. She was also the first Aboriginal House Parent for teenage boys at the Kirrinari Hostel in NSW, and later was appointed House Mother for homeless teenage girls at Moondana Aboriginal Hostel in Northcote Victoria.

Over the years,Geraldine has made an enormous contribution to the welfare of her community through her work at the Aboriginal & Islander Women's Co-operative, and on the United Council for Aboriginal & Islander Women.

MRS ELIZABETH MOBAYAD -Born 1964

A deeply personal tragedy set Liz on a new course in life.

Following the death of her beloved father on a construction site in Melbourne in 1995, Liz established Industrial Deaths, Support and Advocacy Inc (IDSA). Staffed by volunteers, this organisation provides practical assistance, support and guidance at no cost to families and workmates affected by an industrial death. IDSA is also very active as an advocate, on sites and elsewhere, doing what it can to prevent workplace deaths.

In 1998, Liz wrote ‘Til Death Us Do Part, a testament to workers killed on the job. It is currently in its fourth reprint.

MEGAERA - Born 1955

Megaera uses the beauty of her artwork to encourage, support and inspire survivors of child abuse.

A feminist artist living in Daylesford, Megaera works in water color, pastel and charcoal to create images which pay tribute to women's strength, beauty and courage. Megaera's work has been dedicated to mothers and daughters, old women, fat women, lesbians and even the Virgin Mary and includes one series that is dedicated to those whose childhood sleep was shatterd by violence.

In her beautiful and moving slide presentation, An Artists Story of Healing, Megaera talks about her ownjourney of healing from childhood abuse, and presents images of protection, nurture and empowerment to help others.

The reproduction of Megaera's images in magazines and women's diaries has brought heran international following. Her originals, including portrait commissions, are found in over 100 private collections worldwide (www.megaerart.com ).

DR BERNA MADILL - Born 1923

Berna overcame obstaclesof class and poverty to become one of Australia's first femalespecialists in the male preserve of gynecology and obstetrics.

Born into aworking class family, Berna was one of only two students in her Grade 6 class to stay on until Form 3. She went on to business college and worked asa secretary, studying at night tocomplete her Intermediate, Leaving and Matriculation certificates. She graduated in Medicine from Melbourne Universityin 1960.

After completing her specialist studies and practicing in England, Berna returned toAustralia to work in the remote outback town of Alice Springs. There areso many stories of Dr Madill and her extraordinary dedication to working in the outback. Without fuss or complaint, she quietly helped to improve women's health and instill faith in theAboriginal womenwho'd travel miles to see "the little one with grey hair and glasses".

DR EVELYN BILLINGS - Born 1918

Evelyn's vision and goal is that every woman should have accurate information about her own individualpattern of fertility, potential fertility and time of ovulation.

Along with her husband, this distinguishedmedical scientist has spent the past 50 plusyears researching and documenting 'The Billings Method'. She has trained teachers and travelled throughout Australia and overseas to educate andempower women about their fertility.

Her best-selling book The Billings Method has been translated into a dozen languages.

JOY MURPHY WANDIN - Born 1944

Joy works tirelessly asan ambassador for her people.

An elder of the Wurundjeri, Joy is an engaging and powerful public speaker. She has worked at all levels of government in executive policy and community development, as well as being actively involved in Aboriginal Affairs for over 25 years.

Joy was Executive Producer ofthe documentary Flights of the Imagination and is an evocative storytellerforthe Aboriginal Dreaming Stories for Aboriginal Nations.

A proud feminist, Joyce Thorpe Nicholson AM was born in 1919 and worked in publishing for 56 years. Already an established writer she took over her father’s company in 1968. Highlyrespected in the trade she was made a member of the Order ofAustralia for ‘services to writing and the book publishing industry’ and received the Lloyd O’Neil Award in 1998 for services to the entire book industry.

A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria she has published over thirty books which include historical novels, children’s books and several feminist books.