2021 inductees

Lactation specialist Suzanne Cox has been at the forefront of development and assurance that accurate and consistent breastfeeding advice is given to mothers by health professionals particularly by consultants who have accreditation from examinations she helped develop.

Suzanne Cox trained as a General Nurse at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) and completed midwifery training. While raising two children, Suzanne became aware that few women knew how easy it was to breastfeed and if anything went wrong, they often switched to bottle-feeding. This began Suzanne’s 40 years as a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor and educator with the Nursing Mothers Association of Australia, now the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA).

When Suzanne returned to midwifery in 1977, she recognised a lack of current knowledge and wrote a successful submission to the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Director of Nursing to be employed as a staff educator and new mother support. Suzanne began eight hours per week as the Breastfeeding Sister on the Maternity ward. Over the next 30 years, Suzanne continued to increase her paid hours at the RHH while volunteering with ABA and professional associations including election as first non-American President of the International Lactation Consultant Association.

In 1985 Suzanne was a member of the Inaugural Board of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, in Washington DC. Suzanne served on the Board for two years assisting in standardising the questions and language for an international audience in the first examinations in 1985 and 1986. This exam is now administered in approximately 30 languages in more than 350 locations across 55 countries and territories. Suzanne was responsible for promoting the examination in the Pacific region and establishing Australian examination sites. In 2012, Suzanne developed and presented the nationally accredited training course Peer Support for Breastfeeding in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

To educate Australian health professionals Suzanne has presented seminars throughout Australia and been a guest speaker at more than 100 international lactation and breastfeeding conferences.

Suzanne is the author of books about breastfeeding and has also written and presented DVDS. Suzanne’s books have been published in several languages.

Mary Dean is passionate about making a difference for adult learners, the environment, women and the community and gender equity.

After bringing up her family, Mary enrolled at the University of Tasmania and graduated with a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education in 2000. Mary’s career has included training consultant, TasTAFE lecturer, political adviser, electorate assistant, pharmacy assistant and small business owner.

Mary has supported other women locally, nationally and internationally as a member/ director of Business and Professional Women Australia (BPW) for over 40 years. Mary has also been involved with the Launceston Chamber of Commerce and WISE Network for women in Small Business.

Mary served on the inaugural board for Landcare Tasmania’s State Management Committee from 1990 to 1995 and has overseen the Tasmanian Landcare Awards judging panels. Mary was an early female board member of Landcare Australia and advocated for women to hold more senior roles in Landcare.

Mary was an executive member of the Trevallyn Primary School and Riverside High School Parents and Friends groups and the Max Fry Community Hall Trust, helping raise funds for school and hall infrastructure. Mary’s lobbying and fundraising work included for sun-safe undercover shade areas, which are now recommended for all school developments. Mary also campaigned for mandatory swimming pool fencing in the early 1990s.

Through her employment Mary advocated for many Tasmanian communities and organisations including the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster and the East Coast Bushfires.

Mary proudly advocates for her grand-daughter, who has a physical disability, and is a contributor at National Disability Insurance Scheme meetings and provides feedback on current issues.

Mary has convened seminars, workshops and conferences at local, state, national and international levels to encourage girls and women to reach their full potential.

Martine Delaney has played an indispensable role in achieving legal reforms such as marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections and birth certificate reform enabling greater inclusion for trans and LGBTIQ+ people.

In 2003, Martine joined the Equal Rights Network (ERN), a national voice and lobbying platform on LGBTIQ+ issues, became a board member of Working it Out and an active member of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group.

From 2004, Martine began meeting with successive Tasmanian Attorney Generals, calling for changes to the state’s legal recognition of gender. In 2006, she also started lobbying the Australian Government about reforming gender markers on passports. During the 2006 Tasmanian State Election, Martine stood up for inclusion and the rights of trans and gender-diverse people.

FIFA, the international football body, developed inclusive policies in 2005, after Martine became the first person in the world to play both Men’s and Women’s senior soccer.

In 2011, Martine was part of a small group of advocates who worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs to revise passport regulations - enabling trans and gender-diverse people to have their gender legally recognised on travel documents.

In 2017, Martine was a founding member of Transforming Tasmania. In 2019, the Tasmanian legal recognition of gender was reformed.

Martine was also a founding member of both the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) and Australian Marriage Equality (AME), national LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups focusing on marriage equality.

In 2013, Martine became one of the first “human books” in the Hobart Human Library. Her story is one of incredible courage and resilience.

Since arriving in Tasmania in 1964, Margaret Eldridge has built community connections, improved cultural awareness, forged links between Tasmania and Asia and made others feel welcome.

In 1968, Margaret was an inaugural member of the Host Family Scheme and helped plan ‘Operation Welcome’ for the 1969 intake of international students. Margaret was a convenor of the Host Family Scheme for 16 years, and later an AusAID tutor and ESL teacher at the University of Tasmania and elsewhere.

Noting the isolation of women accompanying their student husbands who were enrolled at the University of Tasmania, Margaret helped create the International Women’s Group, by offering English lessons and helping partners establish their homes. Margaret has also shared her home with asylum seekers and is known as “Mum” to many in Tasmania and to generations of overseas students.

During the 1980s and 90s the Adult Migrant English Service (AMES) employed Margaret both for her knowledge of Asian cultures and her teaching skills and amongst other groups, she worked at Mt St Canice Migrant Hostel with the first Vietnamese refugees to come to Tasmania.

As an AMES educational counsellor and ESL teacher, Margaret taught English to Hmong people who had fled Laos to resettle in Tasmania in the 1980s and 1990s. As trust was built, the community shared stories and asked Margaret to write their history, which became a Masters’ thesis and the book New Mountain, New River, New Home? Margaret and Robin Smith also helped the Hmong set up their first stall at Salamanca Market and Margaret encouraged them to sell their handicrafts at the Red Cross Arts and Crafts Shop.

By being involved in the lives of migrants and refugees, Margaret has provided cultural awareness training to police, customs officers, the army, volunteers, health care professionals and other government employees, state and federal. Margaret offered cultural awareness sessions at the Royal Hobart Hospital to help midwives and doctors better understand the cultural requirements of migrants and the trauma experienced by refugees.

Margaret’s other volunteer roles include President of Friends of Chauncy Vale, fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease Research, office bearer for Oral History Australia, McAulay Reserve Bushcare, establishing and convening the Hobart Baptist Church Refugee Settlement Group, Tassienannas (protesting about children in detention) and establishing and helping to run the Waimea Heights School Sustainable Market.

Honora Maud Fahlborg (nee Donnelly) was the oldest of 16 children. Maud saw the general devastation of poverty on country districts in Tasmania in her early years including the reality of a high infant mortality rate. Three of her siblings died in infancy.

Maud knew better conditions and a just world required political convictions channelled into action.

Maud’s social activism began in the 1920s as a member of the Women’s Non-Party League. The League was focused on advancing the inclusion of women in positions of power and influence in the state. Maud proved a strong advocate for improved health care in Tasmanian rural and regional communities. She fundraised for the Bush Nurses Association, the Blind Institute, and the Ashley Home for Boys in Deloraine.

Maud’s empathy for women who were raising families in poverty lead to her focus on issues of early childhood development and education. In 1927 She campaigned for the introduction of the child endowment scheme, was an active committee member of the Children’s Playgrounds Association, campaigned for better educational opportunities for young girls, provided radio education on good nutrition, and canvased for an improved milk supply.

Maud’s commitment to Tasmanian families continued into the 1940s when she organised a Country Women’s Association campaign to establish a free kindergarten in Bellerive.

Maud saw the impact of the Great Depression on Tasmanian families through her membership of the Hobart City Mission’s general committee. During that time she had charge of a canteen, at St Frances Xavier Hall in South Hobart, where hot meals were provided for 100 disadvantaged children every day.

Maud was elected president of the Australian Labor Party’s Bellerive Branch in 1937. The Branch’s work focused on child endowment, unemployed youth, milk supply, women on juries, and raising the school leaving age to 16. In 1937 Maud was also appointed a Special Magistrate and presided at the Bellerive Children’s Court.

During World War Two, Maud’s work supported the Red Cross Society and the Australian Comforts Fund.

Maud was appointed state president of the Housewives Association in 1950.

Dr Vanessa Goodwin devoted her working life to the service of the Tasmanian community as a lawyer, criminologist, Associate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, and later as Member for Pembroke, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Corrections and the Arts; as well as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

Dr Goodwin was passionate about her local community, the law, social justice and disadvantaged Tasmanians. Through her work as a Criminologist, Dr Goodwin spent significant periods of time during her study with Tasmania’s prisoners, talking to them about their lives, why and how they had found themselves incarcerated. Vanessa dedicated her studies to researching the causes of crime, to prevent people spending time in our corrections system. This work has contributed to some significant law reform in this State.

Vanessa also conducted post-doctoral research on inter-generational crime through the Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies and collaborated with the Australian Institute of Criminology to explore the role of inter-generational transfer of criminality within families.

In 2009, Vanessa was elected to the Tasmanian Parliament as the Member for Pembroke in the Legislative Council. As Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Corrections and the Arts, she put in place key reforms in relation to bullying, the corrections system, reducing recidivism, and the Neighbourhood Disputes about Plants Act 2017 to help resolve disputes among neighbours about problem plants and trees.

One of Vanessa’s key reforms was the Tasmanian Government apology and expunging of historical criminal records for people charged under Tasmania’s previous laws that criminalised homosexuality. In 2017, the Expungement of Historical Offences Act created a scheme to enable charges and convictions of historical offences to be expunged.

Vanessa’s dedication and pursuit of the law was recognised with the establishment of the Dr Vanessa Goodwin Law Reform Scholarship in 2019, supported by the Tasmanian Government, Dr Goodwin’s Estate, UTAS, the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute and many private donors. The scholarship is a fitting tribute to Dr Goodwin’s legacy, fostering and supporting the next generation of legal minds in Tasmania.

Chartered accountant Janine Healey lends her expertise to a variety of organisations and is a valuable mentor.

Janine has over 30 years’ experience in Chartered Accounting including 15 years at KPMG and 8 years at Deloitte. In 2003, Janine joined Ruddicks Chartered Accountants in Launceston where she is a Director.

Janine serves on several boards and committees. Janine’s expertise in areas such as business, governance, succession planning, finance and knowledge of the community are valuable for the Boards on which she serves.

Janine's high-level involvement with significant corporate entities ensures she is across current issues facing all businesses. Janine is a past director of Hydro Tasmania and Port of Launceston, trustee of the Tamar Peace Trust, director of Football Federation of Tasmania, TasRail, Fermen Tasmania and Queenstown’s Unconformity Festival.

From 2012 to 2015, Janine served as the first female president of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce (founded in the 1840s). Janine was the Launceston Chamber of Commerce’s vice-president for 2011 and treasurer from 2000 to 2010 and again since 2017.

Janine is the first female divisional State president of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a mentor and advocate for women on boards. Janine recognises talent or potential and connects people. It is this ability to bring people together that has improved the community.

Janine is a founding director (2011- 2018) of the Harvest Market that has become a staple of Launceston’s food scene.

Janine is a founding trustee of the Tamar Peace Festival that brings various groups together to focus on community goodwill.

Under Janine’s guidance, Queenstown’s Unconformity event has grown from a local arts weekend into a state-wide and national event with a growing reputation.

Roseanne Heyward demonstrates that a quiet achiever can be an effective community leader.

Roseanne has an outstanding record serving her community through local government, volunteering and providing leadership, stability and unity through difficult times.

Roseanne was elected to the Tasman Council in 2005. From 2007-2014, she served as Deputy Mayor. In 2014, Roseanne was elected Mayor, only the second woman to hold the position since the establishment of the Tasman Council in 1907.

Roseanne’s enduring legacy as Deputy Mayor was to unite the community, particularly during the January 2013 Dunalley bushfires.

The esteem in which Roseanne is held in local government resulted in her being appointed a member of the Local Government Act Review Steering Committee.

An egalitarian approach has characterised Roseanne’s local government and community advocacy. Roseanne’s commitment to the welfare of her community was exemplified by hard work and always finding the time to attend community events.

For over 10 years, Roseanne was an active member and chair of the Port Arthur Historic Site Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee’s role is to involve the local community in the management and conservation of the World Heritage Port Arthur Historic Site.

In 2019, Roseanne was appointed to the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority Board as a non-executive director.

Roseanne has also been actively involved as a volunteer community driver; secretary of the Shelly Beach Coastcare Group and Tasmanian Holiday Experience for children with a Disability Inc. (Breakaway House); a committee member for the Koonya Hall and The Tasman Peninsula Historical Society; President of Dunalley Tasman Neighbourhood House Management Committee; Vice-President of the Tasman Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association and volunteered with the Youth House, Nubeena, Koonya Garlic Festival, Tasman Regatta and Feast, Eaglehawk Neck Fair and Friends of St Albans.

Retired kindergarten teacher Beverley Holman has been a tireless community volunteer throughout her adult life.

In 1994, Beverley was made an Honorary Member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association and retired from the Association in 2014 after 42 years of service. Beverley joined the Australian Nursing Mothers Association (now Australian Breastfeeding Association) in 1972 and became a Breastfeeding Counsellor and Group Leader in 1974, Tasmanian Branch President (1979-1982), National Board Member (1983-1985 and 1990-1992) and National President (1985).

Beverley was a Board Member of the Mersey Leven Child Care Services from 1991 to 2007. In 2007, Beverley was awarded Life Membership in recognition of her outstanding commitment and dedication to families, children and the Mersey Leven Childcare community. Beverley has also held the position of President with the local Child Health Association.

In 1987 Beverley joined the Australian Lace Guild and held the positions of State President (2000-2003), North West Secretary (2004-2005), State Representative (2004-2005), State Secretary from 2018 and North West President from 2016-20. Beverley was one of four lace makers to make the new Devonport Mayoral Lace.

Beverley contributed to the publishing of The History of North West Lace in 2012. During the COVID-19 restrictions, Beverley helped instigate the newsletter Connecting our Pillows.

Beverley was the first female to be elected president of the Devonport Golf Club (2010-2014) and has also held the positions of Ladies Secretary (2005-2008), Board Member (2007-2014), Ladies Vice President (2015-2016), Ladies President (2017-2018), a member of the Sponsorship Committee from 2008 and the Policy Review Committee from 2013-2018.

Beverley was elected to the Board of Golf Tasmania in 2016, holding the portfolio of Golf Development.

Beverley also led the Devonport Girl Guides group from 1964-1966 and assisted with the 1st Devonport Cub Group from 1975-1980.

Doone Kennedy was Hobart’s first woman Lord Mayor and was extremely popular, polling over 65% of the popular vote over five elections.

The Hobart City Council was traditionally male dominated when Doone was elected Alderman in 1982, and Lord Mayor in 1986. She worked collaboratively while still standing up for those issues she strongly believed in.

Doone’s mayoral campaigns focused on tree-planting programs, supporting local business, the beautification of the city, and recognising Hobart’s tourism potential and commercial centre.

One of Doone’s outstanding contributions to Hobart was spearheading funding for the construction of the Hobart Aquatic Centre (later renamed the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre to recognise her legacy). This world-class facility enabled Hobart to stage major competitions and championships. The Aquatic Centre is also an important community asset used for exercise, therapy, leisure and learn-to-swim programs.

Another gift to the city was Doone’s determination to fundraise to restore and reinstate the magnificent chandeliers that now adorn the Hobart Town Hall Ballroom. The chandeliers had been removed and placed into storage many decades ago during the war era.

Hobart’s parks and gardens were loved by Doone who was responsible for planting many trees and the fairy bud lighting being installed in the trees at Salamanca Place. Doone also championed maintaining the Queens Domain as public open space and renovated Soundy Park and the Lord Mayor’s garden.

Doone promoted Hobart interstate and internationally at the Seatrade Cruise Ship Convention, in Florida, USA, and represented Hobart to its Japanese Sister City, Yaizu.

In 1996, at the time of her retirement, Doone was the longest-serving Lord Mayor in Australia.

Doone was devoted to many charities including: the Mary Ogilvy Home, Narryna House, Queen Alexandra Hospital Board, Hobart District Nursing, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Sudden Infant Death Society, and the Southern Regional Ambulance Service Advisory Council.

Ros Lewis has volunteered for over 40 years and is a community builder and networker who mentors, supports and empowers others by generously giving her time, knowledge and skills.

Ros’ endless reservoir of compassion, fuelled by her sense of fairness and love for people and communities, is apparent through her commitment to Oxfam, Amnesty International, Make Poverty History, Fair Trade, the Australian Aid campaign against malaria, the Launceston Human Library, A Fairer World and Interweave Arts. .

Ros has been a driving force behind Community Aid Abroad/Oxfam in Tasmania since the 1980s. Even when diagnosed with cancer, Ros stepped back, but not down, from Oxfam and stayed in touch.

From 1995 to 2005 Ros was an active member of the Migrant Resource Centre’s Human Rights Committee, in Launceston. When helping organise annual events, Ros involved others to empower them to make their own contributions.

Ros mentors migrants and others in incorporated groups, grant writing and acquitting, organising food handling training, small enterprises and radio presentation skills for young people. Ros is especially supportive of projects aimed at advancing participation of migrants, youth and people living with disabilities.

A community need, a gap in services and an idea led volunteers to form the Women’s Friendship Group, in Launceston, in 2015. Ros was the connector whose skills in governance, community and empowerment principles enabled the group to flourish, involving over 100 women and families.

As a teacher, Ros was part of a team who enabled students with disabilities to access years 11 and 12 education, as well as other programs involving integrating students with special needs.

For over a decade, Ros has joined with climate activists, young and old, for the sake of future generations.

Sarah Merridew masterfully juggled family commitments, excellence in career and aspirations for community good.

In 1993, Sarah, a Chartered Accountant, was appointed as a Partner with accountancy firm, Deloitte. The appointment was considered ground-breaking as Sarah was among the first three women to be Partners in Deloitte Australia.

Sarah’s financial expertise in accounting, auditing and governance has been valued by the many organisations on which she has served as a Director.

Sarah is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and is recognised as an outstanding company director. Her directorial highlights include as a non-executive Director for over 25 years with experience and expertise as a director of not for profit, private and public companies, and government-owned corporations. Sarah also served with distinction on the AICD State Council and mentored many of the next generation of Tasmanian board directors.

Despite high level career achievements, Sarah supported her husband, George Merridew to develop his career in anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine. At times, Sarah had sole care of their daughters while George was overseas on sabbatical leave. Sarah was also fully engaged in her daughters’ school life and served on the Launceston Preparatory Board of Management from 1988 to 1999 and again from 2007-2010.

Sarah was instrumental in establishing the philanthropic Merridew Foundation as a Private Ancillary Fund and registered charity that invests in education and wellbeing for Tasmanian women and medical research. The Foundation has granted funds to PCYC Launceston to support at-risk teenage girls, Hobart Women’s Shelter, Wicking Institute Dementia Research and Education Centre, and to neuro-immunology research at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

Having studied at the University of Tasmania, Sarah valued the role of education in changing lives. Sarah established the Don Gaffney Scholarship in memory of her father, to support a female science, engineering, technology or maths student form the North or North West Tasmania.

Through charity work, Edna Pennicott has touched the lives of thousands of people.

Edna understands what it is like to fall on hard times. At the age of 12, Edna’s mother died, she was placed in an orphanage and separated from her siblings.

In 2019, Edna received the Tasmanian Volunteering Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award recognised Edna as a full-time community volunteer who has dedicated herself to charity and community service for the past 40 years. Her volunteering includes assisting the Kingborough Cricket Club for 25 years, the Kingborough Tigers Football Club for 45 years, Jireh House, Mara House, Annie Kenney, Kingston Beach RSL, Kingston High School (OurSpace), Kingston Primary School, BCC (Bethlehem Community Centre) Africa, and Walk4Brain Cancer Tasmania.

In 2013, Edna established Kingborough Helping Hands to provide an organisational structure for the work she had been doing for decades. Kingborough Helping Hands fills the gaps with some small, practical means of assistance such as providing food and household essentials to people experiencing financial difficulty.

Kingborough Helping Hands includes an army of volunteers led and inspired by Edna. Together the Helping Hands raise approximately $30,000 per year through events such as the Sharing Tree, Edna’s Christmas Luncheon and Edna’s Soup and Sandwich Fundraiser. Each year, Helping Hands purchases items and collects donations for 150 hampers, and 400 Christmas hampers. The Sharing Tree, launched in 2017, gives out about 700 gifts per year and continues to grow.

Helping Hands runs the weekly Kingston service of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Loui’s Van, which provides food and information to homeless people and others experiencing hardship. Edna’s leadership is vital for Loui’s Van as she recruits volunteers and manages the van’s roster.

Edna Pennicott OAM received a Pride of Australia Medal 2011, the Kingborough Citizen of the Year 2012 and Sunrise Suburban Superstar.

On 7 June 2020 Edna was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Kingborough.

Harriet Lily Poulett-Harris, known as Lily, is the founder of women’s cricket in Australia and connected women of all ages and backgrounds in the sporting arena.

In 1894, at the age of 20, Lily formed the Oyster Cove Ladies’ Cricket Club, believed to be the first women’s cricket club in the colonies. She captained the Oyster Cove team in the first-ever ladies competition cricket matches against North Bruny. By late 1894, the women’s cricket league had grown to include two teams from Hobart with Huonville, Ranelagh and Green Ponds joining a few months later.

Lily taught at her father Richard Poulett-Harris’ school The Cliffs at Peppermint Bay, and later at her sister Eleanor’s school, Ladies Grammar, at 26 Davey Street, Hobart.

Lily played violin and piano, was proficient in musical accompaniment and played at Saint Simon and Saint Jude Anglican Church at Woodbridge and at All Saints Church, in South Hobart. Lily was fondly regarded by students and teachers who erected plaques in her honour at both churches.

Lily died from tuberculosis peritonitis at the age of 23. While Lily died young her legacy endures. On 23 March 2016, The Daily Telegraph reported: “Much of the success of women’s teams today can be traced to the determination of pioneering cricketers like Lily Poulett-Harris, who formed one of the first women’s teams in Australia and was responsible for inspiring many other women to take up the sport.”

The Presentation Sisters came to Hobart in 1866 to establish schools to teach impoverished children. After establishing St Mary’s College in Hobart, and a ‘poor school’ St Columba’s, on the same site, the Sisters soon opened other schools in Launceston, Bellerive, Lindisfarne, Queenstown, Beaconsfield, George Town, Karoola, Lilydale, Longford, and took over the already established school at New Norfolk.

The Presentation Sisters have educated thousands of Tasmanians and provided opportunities for quality and practical education where none existed. Had it not been for St Columba’s School, thousands of Hobart children in the latter part of the 19^th century might not have received any education.

Since the 1970s, when some of the smaller schools closed, the Sisters have gone out into the community as pastoral workers, caring for immigrants, refugees and the marginalised in society. When the numbers of young women entering religious life declined, the Sisters continued to operate their schools with lay teachers, but the Presentation philosophy of welcome, simplicity, compassion and hospitality continues.St Mary’s College students and staff continue to financially support a wide range of charities.

The Tasmanian Sisters have strongly supported their international Sisters in missions in Papua New Guinea, India and the Philippines, working with some of the most impoverished people in the world. In the past, Tasmanian Sisters have worked in Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province, to provide educational opportunities for girls and young women.

The foundress of the Presentation Sisters, Nano Nagle, exhorted “Spend yourselves for the poor”. This philosophy underpins their actions.

Despite falling numbers, the Presentation Sisters continue to serve on some the Governing Councils and Boards of schools they founded.

In 2018, the Sisters gifted a large parcel of Blackmans Bay land to the Tasmanian people on the condition the land be used for affordable housing and supported accommodation for vulnerable women, people with disabilities and families in need.

Dora Blackwood was an early tourism pioneer who spent a lifetime immersed in Port Arthur and operated a museum dedicated to convict history that enthralled visitors for more than three decades.

Dora was one of 8 children who lived with her family in the cottage at Port Arthur that was once home to the Irish political prisoner, William Smith O’Brien. Smith O’Brien Cottage overlooks the historic township.

At 16, Dora attended a dance in the former asylum, then known as the Carnarvon Town Hall, where she met her future husband William (Bill) Radcliffe. The couple waited until Dora was 21 before marrying.

Bill owned land at the western end of the Port Arthur Penitentiary. Bill and Dora erected a shop and house, and after digging up convict artefacts on their property, erected a museum called The Old Curiosity Shop.

The Old Curiosity Shop was full of convict-era relics. The couple also purchased other collections to add to the museum. Sadly, Bill died in 1943, leaving Dora a widow in her 30s and pregnant with her sixth child. Dora had no idea how to run the museum and faced a steep learning curve.

Visitor numbers to Port Arthur increased, particularly when the Tasmanian Government began re-acquiring the ruins and land for heritage protection. Dora’s renamed Port Arthur Museum often appeared in national newspapers and magazines. Dora continued to add to the collection, gave tours, established a souvenir shop and resisted offers to sell objects to private collectors.

After remarrying and selling her beloved museum buildings at the Port Arthur Historic Site to the Tasmanian Government, Dora moved her collection to purpose-built premises just outside the historic site. In 1973, the Radcliffe Collection was acquired by the Tasmanian Government.

During the Port Arthur Conservation Project, Dora was an active participant in the recording of the buildings.

Dora died in 1985 but her museum lives on as part of the Port Arthur Historic Site collections.

Diana Roberts, of Colebrook, is known for the positive contribution she has made to her community.

Simply running a farm, family and working would occupy most people’s time, but Diana has achieved much more.

Diana has been a volunteer for many years. She was an active member of the Campania School Parents and Friends Association for nine years, volunteering in the uniform shop and on the fair committee. She was also treasurer of the Colebrook Online Access Centre (until its closure). Diana is currently a member of the Colebrook/Campania Red Cross and the Colebrook Progress Association, a volunteer at the Colebrook History Room and helps organise the annual Cuppa for Cancer.

After a Colebrook family’s business, and only source of income, was devastated by fire, Diana as treasurer of the Progress Association, helped organise a fundraising dinner dance with proceeds going to the family.

Diana’s voluntary roles extend beyond the Colebrook and Campania area. Diana fundraises for the Midlands Multi-Purpose Health Centre Auxiliary by crocheting knee rugs for raffles. Diana is also a prolific baker and cooks produce to sell at the Colebrook Market and to fundraise for Girl Guides and CWA.

When the Sorell Girl Guides had no leaders, Diana took responsibility for leading the group, retraining and taking camps, weekly meetings and lessons to teach practical skills and independence. As a Guide leader, Diana is proactive and organised for the Guides to participate in Clean Up Australia Day, Anzac Day Marches, and to assist the RSL with Anzac Day catering. Diana has been a Girl Guide leader from 1988-1996 and since 2014. Diana helped organise the State Guide Camp at Wayatinah in 2017.

Diana positively impacts on individual lives and the community and region where she lives.

Jean Stafford is an Australian country music icon who grew up in modest circumstances in Northern Tasmania and achieved international acclaim as a country and western singer.

Jean is the most awarded female country artist in Australia with over 100 awards including Gold and Platinum albums and Number 1 hits which charted across Australia, USA, Europe and New Zealand.

Jean has won three Golden Guitar awards, two Mo awards (1991 and 2016) and received three ARIA nominations. In 1989 Jean was crowned Australia’s Queen of Country Music. Internationally, Jean is known worldwide as the Golden Voice of Country for her hit song Someday I’ll Take Home the Roses, released in 1982.

Jean was born at Latrobe, Tasmania, and grew up in the small country of town of Meander. Her home didn’t have electricity, so Jean listened to Radio 7LA on a transistor radio.

At the age of 12, Jean, “a silver-voiced girl” made her first public appearance on Northern Tasmania’s Show Time TV series on TNT-9 Launceston. Jean learned her craft performing at local hotels, country halls and dances and supported herself by working as a kitchenhand at the Deloraine Hotel.

The Hadley record label signed Jean in 1970 after she won a Talent Quest on Radio 7LA in Launceston. Jean went on to release five albums on the Hadley label.

Jean released her first debut solo album in 1974, with her song What Kind of Girl Do You Think I Am winning her the first of three Golden Guitars.

Jean has performed and recorded with many musicians including Smoky Dawson, Jimmy Little, Slim Whitman, Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright. During the 1980s, Jean was a regular on Ray Martin’s Midday Show.

In 1992, Jean was appointed Tasmania’s Honorary Commissioner for Tourism to the USA. In this role, Jean wrote a song about Tasmania that was played and broadcast across the USA.

In 2006 Jean won the Western Swing Female Vocal of the Year in the USA and was the first non-American to win this award. Jean was nominated for this award again this year.

In 2008, Jean Stafford’s significant contribution to Australian country music was recognised with her induction into the Country Music Roll of Renown in Tamworth, NSW.

In her career Jean had a number 1 hit in the USA western swing charts for 28 weeks, and two number 1s across Europe.

The Tasmanian Women’s Amateur Athletics Association had a rocky start in the 1930s but when some determined women took up the challenge again in 1951 it was a different story.

Before 1935, and then again from 1938 to 1950, women wishing to participate in athletics only had two options: schoolgirl competitions with short sprints and novelty events, or enter meets under the auspices of the men’s body, the Tasmanian Amateur Athletics Association (TAAA), to compete in short sprints and relay. Despite these restrictions, Tasmania produced some fine women runners. Edith Youl won the hurdles at the National Games. June Smith (later Bowring) was nationally competitive but unable to “officially” compete in the National Women’s Championships because Tasmania did not have a women’s association.

In 1935 the Tasmanian Women’s Amateur Athletics Association (TWAAA) was formed and affiliated with the Australian Women’s Amateur Athletics Union to enable Tasmanian women to compete nationally. However, locally the TWAAA was not supported. Some educational authorities opposed the promotion of track and field activities for young women. The TWAAA went into recess in 1938.

The driving force behind the reforming of the TWAAA was Mavis Triffitt (later Ebzery) who became honorary secretary in 1951 and retained the role until 1981 when the TWAAA and TAAA merged to form Athletics Tasmania.

From 1951 to 1981, the TWAAA served its objectives. Athletics clubs formed throughout the state, competitions were held, and State Championships were hosted annually.

As early as 1956, the TWAAA was able to claim the honour of producing Tasmania’s first female Olympian, Heather Innes AM, a javelin thrower; and Tasmania’s first female Olympic official, Mavis Triffitt, who as Mavis Ebzery was appointed Women’s Manager of the Athletics section for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Team. Mavis also officiated at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane with Tasmanian women Elaine McLeod, Kimbra Eyles and Heather Marshall.

By the 1970s TWAAA membership exceeded 500 athletes, including national medallists and champions such as Penny Gray Dunbabin and Jocelyn Millar Cubit.

Lorraine Walker has an outstanding ability to lead, support, mentor, and fundraise, and is well- known in the Huon and Kingborough areas through voluntary involvement with many community events and programs.

Living most of her life in the Huon Valley, Lorraine worked alongside family in the apple industry. In 1980 she established and operated small businesses providing women local access to affordable and smart attire, and vital tourist information for visitors to the Huon Valley.

Lorraine’s business acumen was recognised when she was a finalist in the Retarded Citizens Welfare Association (RCWA) Tasmanian Woman of the Year Quest 1985. Lorraine raised $17,000 in three months to support the RCWA’s organisational work. From this work, Lorraine was invited to join the National Board of Charities and spent years travelling Australia mentoring organisations and working collaboratively to support fundraising, governance and community development.

Conditions on the Huon Highway concerned Lorraine. In the 1980s Lorraine along with members of the Southern Outlet Action Committee organised a motorcade of log and apple trucks to assemble a blockade at Sandfly to express their concerns to Government regarding the condition the Huon highway. This dedication to highlighting road safety issues saw Lorraine invited to the official opening of Vince’s Saddle. Lorraine organised a toll gate, media-stars wheelbarrow race and BBQ at the opening. RCWA was the recipient of $8,000.00 funds raised.

In 1989, Lorraine joined Lifeline Hobart as Business Manager and established upmarket retail outlets in Hobart and Kingston. The outlets secured a consistent income stream for Lifelines counselling and befriending services, earning $94,000 in the first year. Lorraine coordinated Lifeline’s annual door knock appeal. In 1992 Lorraine established the first Lifeline Hobart Car Raffle, netting $19,000 for the organisation.

As Tasmania’s own Redline Southern Operations Manager, Lorraine managed the daily school bus services, organised charter tours, and hosted major National Tours including tour coach commentary for cruise ship passengers. Whilst retiring in 2007, Lorraine’s passion for our state saw her continuing to support tour operators and passengers from the cruise ships.

Lorraine is involved in Huon Valley and Kingborough community life and was awarded for her service and contribution to the Kingston Neighbourhood House in 2019.

Lorraine is a longstanding Rotarian (over 26 years), a Paul Harris Sapphire Fellow who has supported Rotary projects locally, nationally and internationally. She has held key positions at District level for a period of eight years, including Assistant District Governor, Membership and Retention Director, and Chair for Australian Rotary Health Research. Lorraine was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Huon Valley, founding member of Hobart City Central and a Past President of the Rotary Club of D’Entrecasteaux Channel of which she is currently a member. In 2002 The Rotary Club of Hobart presented Lorraine with a Pride of Workmanship award.

Zonta International is a worldwide organisation of women committed to improving the legal, political, economic, educational and health status of women.

Zonta was founded internationally in 1919. The first Tasmanian Zonta Club was established in 1971. Tasmania now has five incorporated Zonta clubs encompassing all regions of the State.

The goal of Zonta is gender equality. All clubs work to achieve this through advocacy, identifying and responding to issues, and participating in projects that respond to the needs of their local communities.

Women’s health has been a major focus of Zonta. Tasmanian Zonta clubs have been organising breast cushion sewing days since 2000, making cushions that provide comfort in the post-operative stages of breast cancer treatment. The cushions are donated to hospitals state-wide.

Through service, advocacy and fundraising, Zonta has supported women and children who find themselves homeless or in need of practical assistance. Women’s shelters and sexual assault services have received financial and practical support from Zonta Clubs across the state since the 1970s.

The “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women” campaign has been operating since 2010. Zonta members regularly participate in White Ribbon Day rallies and 16 Days of Activism to raise awareness of gender violence. Zonta has also established Zonta Missing Person Memorials, which give families and friends of missing persons a place to remember their loved ones.

Zonta promotes education for women and girls. All Tasmanian Zonta clubs contribute funding to the Jane M Klausman Women in Business scholarship, offered through the University of Tasmania. Funding is also provided to the Migrant Resource Centre to deliver programs supporting young girls and women requiring additional assistance.

Z Clubs have been established at Ogilvie and Kingston High Schools. The Z Clubs aim to help students design and participate in service activities that benefit their schools and local communities, and to produce Birthing Kits for women in developing countries.

Zonta Clubs supports the annual Women’s Art Prize Tasmania by raising $1,500 a year for the Emerging Artist Award.