The Labour Day long weekend is an enjoyable time of the year in Horsham, we relish the start of autumn and welcome visitors to the long running Horsham Fishing Competition.
Fingers crossed that our largest event, the Wimmera Machinery Field Days, will make a welcome return in March next year.
March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis effects one in 10 women worldwide, with many and varied symptoms. I am one of those women.
Another significant day in March is International Women's Day.
The United Nations states that "International Women's Day is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political."
We all have special women in our lives who have supported and encouraged us throughout our lives, they are our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, best friends and mentors.
The Coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on women globally and locally. I acknowledged that men have been affected too.
What we have seen during this pandemic is an increase in mental health issues in women, the emergency access to superannuation saw women access their super funds at a higher level than men.
Women also provided a greater level of educational support to their children during lockdowns.
The teachers, retail workers, cleaners, nurses and childcare workers who have supported us during this pandemic are predominately a female work force.
Our gender, beliefs, skin colour or language we speak should not determine what we can and can't do. Until we start talking about equality we are not going to be equal.
As most of you will be aware, Council has launched Horsham Rural City Talks – Our Future 2041.
This is about developing a Community Vision for our whole municipality, an image of the community we want for the future. For this to be successful, we need to hear from the people of our community.
You can do this by hosting a conversation. This is as easy as having friends over for dinner, having lunch with your work colleagues or maybe your volunteer group hosting a conversation at its weekly meeting.
Currently, expressions of interests are being sort for a deliberative panel to review and consider the results of all the conversations.
If you are over the age of 15 please consider being part of this important task which will help shape our community into the future.
I am not just talking about women I am talking about those in our community who have a disability, come from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those who identify as LGBTIQ.
Everyone's voices matters when it comes to Horsham Rural City Talks – Our Future 2041.
