Monash women added to honour roll

10 March 2010

Seven of the 20 outstanding new women inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women this year are members of the Monash community.

Victorian Minister for Women's Affairs Maxine Morand announced the 2010 inductees last week, in the lead-up to International Women's Day on 8 March.

"This year we celebrate a remarkable group of women who have used their tenacity, vision, outstanding leadership, commitment and just plain hard work to succeed in their chosen field and have a lasting impact on their community," Ms Morand said.

Among those recognised were Australia's first female Nobel Prize winner and Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished Visiting Professor Elizabeth Blackburn; medical practitioner and commentator Dr Sally Cockburn (MBBS 1982); and Aboriginal rights champion Eleanor Bourke (a former Monash staff member).

Others include Department of Social Work lecturer Lesley Hewitt (BSc 1976, BSocWk 1979, GradCertHE 2001); broadcaster May Hu (MComn&MediaSt 2009); legal and community advocate Mary Anne Noone (BA 1977, LLB 1980); and astrophysicist and climate change pioneer Professor Rachel Webster (BSc(Hons) 1977).

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women began in 2001 as part of the Victorian Government's Centenary of Federation celebrations. The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life.

To date more than 450 women have been inducted on the Victorian Honour Roll. Monash alumnae on the roll include company director Margaret Jackson AC (BEc 1973, HonLLD 2002), philanthropist Jill Reichstein OAM (BA(Hons) 1974) and health expert Dr Joanne Wainer (PhD(Med) 2005).

Celebrations are held at Clayton and Caulfield campuses each year to acknowledge International Women's Day, which is celebrated across the world in recognition of the social, economic and political achievements of women.