Knocking at the Door or Banging Loudly to Be Heard? A Short History of Women and Democracy in Australia

Oration by Associate Professor Clare Wright – Author of The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka and winner of the 2014 Stella Prize

The Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) and Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL) are proud to present the annual Dame Roma Mitchell Memorial Lunch. The lunch commemorates Dame Mitchell, the first Australian woman to be appointed as Queen’s Counsel, a judge, a chancellor of an Australian university, and as a State Governor.

Associate Professor Clare Wright is a historian who has worked as an academic, political speechwriter, historical consultant and radio and television broadcaster. Clare’s most recent book, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, won the 2014 Stella Prize and the 2015 NIB Award for Literature and was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, the NSW Premier’s History Awards, the WA Premier’s Literary Awards, the Victorian Community History Awards and the Queensland Literary Awards. She wrote and presented the ABC TV documentary Utopia Girls: How Women Won the Vote and co-wrote the ABC TV series The War That Changed Us. She is currently a Principal Research Fellow in History at La Trobe University.

Clare’s address will discuss the history and legacy of women’s political activism in Australia. Clare will introduce us to some of the extraordinary women who have struggled for democratic reforms that we now see as central to our civic liberty.

This event is supported by The Stella Prize.

When: Wednesday 11 March, 12.00 pm – 2.00 pm

Where: Mural Hall (Myer Building) 6/314-336 Bourke Street Melbourne

RSVP: By Friday 6 March to the Law Institute of Victoria

Further details can be found on the VWL website and in the event flyer.