It was all about women at the CocknBull on Thursday night, as Echuca Regional Health held its first-ever public event for International Women’s Day.
The evening was a networking evening for women, which included a panel of local women who spoke to the challenges they’d faced.
The pursuit of balance was something shared by the women on the panel, with ERH Board chairperson Stacy Williams saying it was something she was always in pursuit of.
“I have a full-time job, I’m a community volunteer, I raise three children, I’m a wife, a daughter, a sister, all those things. I think it’s that ever pursuit of balance that is the challenge for me,” she said.
“I have a really supportive village that helps me raise my children, a supportive husband, all of those things, but I think what women really struggle with is the mental load.
“The mental load is making sure everyone’s where they need to be. It might not be me taking them, but it’s that everyone’s where they need to be.”
This was also something that local lawyer and director of Cosgriff Lawyers Skye Engwerda reflected on during her time with the mic.
“I think ultimately it’s about making conscious choices about who and what you invest your time and energy in. To me, that is family, purpose through my work and giving back,” she said.
She said making those choices was just one of the ways that she found the energy for everything she is a part of.
“Part of the motivation to find the energy is also about the example we set for our children in terms of them understanding they have a responsibility greater than themselves,” Ms Engwerda said.
“I hope our children come to realise that happiness comes from the collective community and giving back, and any materialistic happiness will be short-lived.”
Being the only woman in a space is something that Ms Engwerda is familiar with.
“There have been tables I’ve sat at where I’m the only woman, and there have been tables I’ve sat at which are full of women - which is usually more productive,” she said.
“I think when we look at the world we live in and if we use COVID as an example, the response and the workload that women took on to see the world through that ... all of those things were undervalued in terms of our contribution.”
Farmer, firefighter and former Richmond footballer Kate Dixon is passionate about making sure there is space for talented women.
“In primary school, I was never allowed to play football ... then one time a school teacher said, I’ll give you an opportunity to play. It was Grade 6 when I played, and I kicked four goals, and I absolutely smashed it,” she said.
“In secondary school, it was the same thing. It didn’t exist, so I didn’t have the fight. Fast forward 20 years later, I was given an opportunity at the age of 30 and was selected to play down at Richmond.
“Our pay scales aren’t the same, but inclusion is slowly starting to come. Now you see girls, and they commentate, they coach, it’s becoming more inclusive, and I think it starts at home and making kids feel welcome.”
ERH chief executive Robyn Lindsay said it was great to hold the International Women’s Day event.
“We’re the biggest employer in town. We have over 1000 staff members, with about 900 of them being women, so it’s really, really appropriate that we lean in and support this sort of event,” she said.
“The panel was so generous with their time and it was important to hear about both some of the real successes they’ve had as women in leadership and making contributions, but also some of the challenges.
“We often think that we’re on our own when we face those sorts of challenges, but the strength of the network is awesome.”