- Published:
- Tuesday 15 December 2020
The Andrews Labor Government is encouraging Victorians to nominate the inspirational women in their lives for the 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
For the first time, next year’s Honour Roll will include a special category – Leading Through Disaster – to recognise those who have demonstrated leadership in the community through the 2020 bushfires and the pandemic.
Since 2001, more than 600 women have been inducted into the Honour Roll for their significant and lasting contributions to Victoria, Australia and beyond – the annual tradition has become just one way we acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of women in our lives.
This year, 32 women were inducted into the 2020 Honour Roll, including Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy, who is the longest serving policewoman in Australasia, having been with Victoria Police for 47 years and counting.
Dr Misty Jenkins, a Gunditjamara woman from Ballarat was recognised for being the first Aboriginal Australian postdoctoral research fellow at Oxford and Cambridge universities. She is currently a laboratory head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research.
Alice Elizabeth Foley Anderson joined the Honour Roll posthumously for changing the face of the automotive industry in 1919 when she founded Australia’s first all-woman garage.
Elizabeth Grace McNeill was also recognised for trailblazing a path for women working in local government. In 1911, of the 208 local government areas in the state, she was the sole female executive officer, serving as town clerk for the borough of Ararat.
The Honour Roll is proud to reflect the diversity of women across all ages, faiths, ethnicities, sexual identities and disabilities.
For information about the latest inductees or to nominate a woman for next year’s 2021 Honour Roll, visit vic.gov.au/victorian-honour-roll-women-program.
Nominations are open until Sunday, 31 January 2020.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams
“This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Honour Roll – it’s more important than ever to support and honour inspiring women because there can be no gender equality without their leadership.”
“Every day, Victorian women work hard to improve and enrich their communities and by recognising them publicly we are showing young girls what they can be – because you can’t be what you can’t see.”