INVITATION TO AN IMPORTANT BOOK LAUNCH

The Victorian Women's Trust wishes to celebrate the work of acclaimed journalist and author Margo Kingston, by hosting the Melbourne launch of her new book ‘Still Not Happy John'.

The Launch will take place next Monday 22 October at 10.30 a.m. - at EQ Café Bar, 100 St. Kilda Rd, Melbourne (behind the Arts Centre on the Yarra River side).

‘Still Not Happy John' is a re-published special edition of ‘Not Happy John', Kingston's bestseller in 2004. Penguin Books Australia decided to republish the book in time for this year's federal election.

The book focuses on ways in which the Howard Government has attacked our democratic institutions. The book's ethos is very much in line with the Victorian Women's Trust's ‘Purple Sage Project' - a community dialogue based project that revealedthe depth of people's concern about the erosion of democracy during the Kennett Government's tenure in Victoria.

Like the Purple Sage Project, Kingston's ‘Still Not Happy John', includes ways in which we as citizens can defend our democracy. It also includes extra chapters on what's happened since 2004.

Celebrated musician Kavisha Mazzella will perform at the launch.

Thanks to the generosity of Dur-e Dara at EQ, the event is free, but please RSVP as soon as possible. Ring the Victorian Women's Trust so we can help confirm numbers, (03) 9642 0422, or by emailing women@vwt.org.au

We look forward to seeing you there!

‘Kingston fearlessly takes the Howard government to task on what she sees as themany betrayals of the Australian people and their freedoms' - Sydney Sunday Telegraph

Timed to coincide with National Water Week, the Save Water Save Energy Expo is the first National event of its kind and positioned as Australia's largest showcase of products and services which save water, save energy, reduce waste, increase recycling or provide cleaner energy.The Expo offers the community a chance to see, try and buy key products inthe market for homes, offices, businesses, schools and gardens that will make a difference to our planet; now and in the future.

The Victorian Women's Trust has been offered an exhibition stand to distribute the Trust's recently published document 'Our Water Mark' to visitors tothe Expo. Spread the word to your friends and networks and come and say hello to Trust and Watermark staff at our stand F10, near the Entry/Exit point.

International Women's Day 2007

The Victorian Women's Trust was again active on International Women's Day, March 8th 2007.

Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Trust spoke to approximately forty female, and a four lucky male, students at Northcote High School on the power of the individual. Mary quoted Margaret Mead, US anthropologist and populariser of anthropology (1901 - 1978) "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is theonly thing that ever has."

Dur-e Dara Convenor of the Trust was guest speaker at an IWD dinner in Ballarat organised by ZONTA, an international women's group which aims to advance the status of women. Over 250 were in attendance and were entertained by local choirs between courses. Dur-e's main message to the dinner was that if we look after women in our society, we will also be looking after children and men. She also urged women to make sure we are heard by the political forces around us.

Staff from the Trust attended an IWD lunch for business women at the Queen Victoria Centre organised by the QV Centre and WIRE. Proceeds from the lunch will go towards a new grant "Women taking Control" to be managed by VWT.

Our staff were also represented at the Victorian Trades Hall Council lunchtime rally at the GPO.

Happy IWD!

ChangeMakers Australia Workshop

Executive Director, Mary Crooks, conducted an inaugural ChangeMakers Austalia workshop in June, 2006. "Suffer the little children: contemporary trends and issues impacting on Australian children".

Download session notes here.

Multiculturalism - it's worth defending

The Essie Burbridge Community Award was launched on Tuesday 11th July 2006 at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne.

The key note addresses were given by the Hon Mary Delahunty Minister for the Arts and Women's Affairs and Professor Marilyn Lake from the School of European and Historical Studies at La Trobe University. Both speakers addressed the importance of multiculturalism to our state and our society and how one person, Essie Burbridge, was able to make a difference.

For more information on the Award or the launch please see go to the Essie Burbridge Community Award website www.vwt.org.au/ebca .

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