Sally Flannery, Ros Irwin and Jex Lopez were just some of the amazing women of Lismore who received awards for their contributions to our city at an International Women’s Day awards ceremony on Monday. Other award winners were hockey player Gloria McPherson and midwife Andrea Brooks.

Lismore Mayor Vanessa Ekins said the winners of the five award categories were voted on by Lismore City Council’s female-identifying councillors – and there were quite a few entries to choose between. Read on to find out more about the category winners…

“We announced the winners at a women’s luncheon on Monday at Lismore City Hall,” Mayor Ekins said. “The event was the culmination of the fifth Lismore Women’s Festival and it was a great weekend.

“We had a great day of inspiring speeches and women gathered in a positive and inclusive way. There was a session on trans women and a feminist’s panel. I even went to a laughter yoga workshop.”

Jex Lopez on stage at the awards with Mayor Vanessa Ekins.

While our society talks about creating equality for men and women, why is it still so important to acknowledge and celebrate the women in our communities with events and award like this?

“Because women are still fighting for equal rights in workplaces, equal pay and being represented in decision making roles,” Mayor Ekins said. “Childbirth in hospitals can make women afraid and we need to advocate for midwives and choice to birth at home.

“There are so many areas we need to still advocate in for women so they can walk safely down the streets and be in a workplace free of sexual harassment.

“The luncheon keynote speaker Karley Banks talked about being left handed, having and Aboriginal mother and dealing with being at school. She played cricket and was great at it, but in primary school she wasn’t allowed to because she was a girl. Later she was able to play and did it well and finally took on a career as an elite football coach, being a world class trainer in a man’s world.”

THE AWARD WINNERS

Arts Sector Contribution Award - Jex Lopez

Jex Lopez has been captivating audiences with her art noir style, intersectionalist and feminist messaging. She articulates social justice issues to uplift and empowers audiences for positive change. Find out more about Jex Lopez at the following site https://www.facebook.com/jexlopezmusic/ and https://etsy.me/3ozBgir

Jex Lopez with her Hanging Rock flowers awarded to her at the ceremony.

Community Sector Contribution Award – Ros Irwin

Ros Irwin has been involved with Friends of the Koala for many years and has taken the organisation from its humble beginnings in koala rescue, rehabilitation and release to becoming a multi-functional, all-inclusive facility with paid staff and functioning treatment rooms. Read more about Ros Irwin.

Ros Irwin with Mayor Vanessa Ekins.

Economic Sector Contribution Award -  Sally Flannery

Sally Flannery set up the Support Lismore small Business Facebook during the Covid-19 lockdown and had almost 5000 followers overnight. She also created a web directory and many businesses say they survived because of it. Sally also set up the Netflix and chew events and the spend $50$ in Lismore campaign. Now, other councils have contacted her to do the same for them.

Health Sector Contribution Award -  Andrea Brooks

Andrea Brooks has given 30 years of service to the midwife profession - both hospital based and home birth. She has been working to help hundreds of mothers and families through their journey, as well as family planning and sexual reproductive health.

Gloria McPherson with Lismore Councillors.

Sports Sector Contribution Award – Gloria McPherson

Gloria McPherson has been committed to playing hockey since 1969. She’s been a player, coach, mother and grandmother. She was the first woman to play for Far North Coast Hockey, NSW amd Australia. She is over 70 years old and is still playing representative hockey and assisting with all aspects of the game.