There is so much I could say about the happenings on International Women's Day that I'm not sure where to start. I think the most important thing, besides saying it was a great day, with friendship and lots of stimulating ideas, was the recognition of women past and present and the sharing of ideas of how to proceed in the future. Sharing the experience with other women was somehow more significant because of it's "ordinariness"
Let me start with the function. As I said before, it was low key. No notable people giving speeches, just a group of women from the Bayside suburbs of Brisbane who support the local "Schoolhouse Gallery", gathering together to recognise the role of women in our society. Past, present and future.

There was a selection of works on display, from both men and women artists, but the work of women featured.

They had taken time to decorate all the bollards with knitted and crocheted covers. These looked colourful but certainly home made and that was part of their charm.


The morning tea was prepared by the women themselves and it's charm was that it looked "home-made", not professionally prepared by a caterer.


There was tea made in a teapot, china cups and saucers, plates and serviettes and a tray to put your used utensils so they could be taken to the kitchen and cleaned. (Not the usual disposable ones that get put in the garbage bin.)
We recognised the difficult times in which we live and how women are trying to survive in Ukrane, Turkey, Syria and other troubled places. That what was once a whole collection of women's organisations has seen them being "watered down" and that the move to "gender equity" has actually seen many women pushed to the margins.
When I watched the news that night there was a feature about the presentation of a new set of statues outside Federal Parliament.

These were the first female members elected. There were no toilets for them in the building and they had to drive to their homes to access one.

What troubled me was that there were no young women there. I know that many would have had home and work responsibilities but for all the gains that have been hard fought for I hope 'complacency' doesn't see them slide away.