Today is International Women's Day and we're celebrating some of the women at Ambulance Victoria (AV) who are making a difference for other women and girls, their patients and their communities.
Women in community leadership – meet Avis Salisbury
AV Auxiliaries have a proud history of fundraising and advocating for their local ambulance services, dating back more than 100 years.
One woman who is ensuring that legacy continues in Lakes Entrance is Avis Salisbury.
Avis is president of the Lakes Entrance Ambulance Auxiliary and, in just seven years of involvement, has been instrumental in re-activating the Auxiliary and re-engaging the community.
Avis (second from left) with other Lakes Entrance Auxiliary members.
"About three years ago, the president and secretary at the time were stepping down and there were only two of us who wanted to keep going," Avis said.
"With the support of the local team managers as well as AV's Auxiliaries team, we ran an information night and everyone that was there joined up to the Auxiliary.
"Now, we have about 10 people and it's a really wonderful group."
Avis became a member of the Auxiliary in 2018, a few years after moving to Gippsland from Melbourne.
It wasn't long before she established one of the Lakes Entrance Ambulance Auxiliary's most enduring and successful fundraising initiatives - regular raffle nights.
"It was my second meeting with the Auxiliary and they were talking about how to raise funds," Avis said.
"My husband works at the Waterwheel Beach Tavern and they have Friday night raffles, so I suggested we could get involved.
Avis Salisbury.
"Before I even blink my eyes, the Auxiliary President says 'great, you do it, you organise it, moving right along', and that's how I was thrown into it.
"We started the raffle nights at the start of 2019 and now we're doing them every four weeks.
"It's been a wonderful fundraiser for the Auxiliary and people in the community get to know us because we're locals, so they know where their money is going."
Avis said the community is always at the forefront of everything the Auxiliary does.
"We raise funds for all sorts of things, from additional equipment for the ambulances to extra training for the local paramedics," Avis said.
"At the moment, we're mainly concentrating on getting more 24/7 publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
"What we do is always with the aim to improve the service to the community."
Marnie making an impact at home and overseas
As AV's Senior Manager of Media, Marnie is also President of the Peninsula Belles Branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA), a recent Master of Business Administration (MBA)-graduate, proud mum to a 10-year-old daughter - and about to embark on one of her biggest adventures yet, hiking 50 kilometres through New Zealand's southern alps as part of United Nations Women Australia's Trek for Rights.
The journey is all in the name of making a difference around the globe, raising vital funds to support UN Women, in partnership with local women's organisations, to provide critical services, hope and a lifeline to women and girls in war-torn countries and communities affected by natural disasters.
Marnie Umbers.
"I'm very passionate about supporting women and children and families," Marnie said.
"It's going to be a really great experience hiking with 18 people, predominately women, who are all hiking in support of the same cause."
Marnie and her partner Daniel, who is also participating in the trek, have so far raised more than $8,500.
Marnie walking Ireland's Kerry Camino in 2024.
But it isn't the only way Marnie is making a difference - she's also impacting communities closer to home.
"I joined the CWA 11 years ago when I was searching for something that focused on women in leadership and empowerment and building resilient communities," she said.
Marnie was the Founding President of the Peninsula Belles Branch of the CWA, has held the position of Group President for the Mornington Peninsula, and has her eye on a state level leadership role in the coming years.
"The CWA is constantly evolving and after almost 100 years, it continues to be a trusted voice in Victoria and right across Australia," she said.
"We've done everything from advocate for white lines on the edges of country highways, for maternal health centres, right through to marriage equality and equitable prices for dairy farmers.
Marnie at CWA with her mum Cheryl and daughter Poppy.
"I think if we can always keep the ethos of Lady Mitchell and Lady Somers who brought the CWA to Victoria, which was to use their position of privilege to help people less fortunate than them, then the CWA will always be relevant."
Last year, Marnie completed an MBA to build on her leadership skills, applicable both at the CWA and AV.
It's important to her that there are women in leadership positions across all organisations, to advocate for other women and bring different viewpoints to the table.
"It's really important to have a balance in leadership roles, because people of different genders bring a different take and a different set of experiences," Marnie said.
Last year, Marnie completed an MBA.
"I recall a time where I had someone ask me what was going to happen to my daughter if I applied for a more senior role.
"I was taken aback because I thought, would you have asked a man that question?
"Really, it's important to have representation of women at all levels throughout society.
"We only have to look at something like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) manikins to see that the majority of them are male and it can mean even people who have done CPR training are hesitant to give CPR if they're faced with a woman's body in an emergency."
Marnie was drawn to AV because she was inspired by the work of Victoria's paramedics and first responders and believed she could make an impact.
"We work with some absolutely amazing people who do things I could never imagine doing," she said.
Marnie and her daughter Poppy.
"The lives they save, the impact they have in people's darkest and most challenging times can't be underestimated.
"The level of clinical excellence that I get to see and promote, that's what keeps me here."
Marnie said now, a lot of her motivation is to be a positive role model for her daughter.
"I hope the work I'm doing and the impact I'm having will show her that she can achieve anything if she puts her mind to it and works hard - anything is possible."
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