NATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN
Renewal
How can we save the Earth for ourselves and future generations?
11-12 September 2022
Albert Hall, Canberra (and online)
How can we save the Earth for ourselves and future generations?
11-12 September 2022
Albert Hall, Canberra (and online)
See the full program
See the guest contributor and artist details
Send us your feedback
Scroll below for a account of the event and links to the recordings
See the guest contributor and artist details
Send us your feedback
Scroll below for a account of the event and links to the recordings
SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
'Planting the seeds of renewal'
See photo reel from the day
'Imagine walking into a room filled with strangers and feeling immediately welcome. The people who are here are keen to share their experiences, learn from each other, connect and grow. The conversations held in this space touch a chord and allow us to create a shared vision.'
This was the impression of the first day of the Congress by attendee Padmapriya Muralidharan.
See Padmapriya's impressions of each session below.
Read her full account of the day here
'Planting the seeds of renewal'
See photo reel from the day
'Imagine walking into a room filled with strangers and feeling immediately welcome. The people who are here are keen to share their experiences, learn from each other, connect and grow. The conversations held in this space touch a chord and allow us to create a shared vision.'
This was the impression of the first day of the Congress by attendee Padmapriya Muralidharan.
See Padmapriya's impressions of each session below.
Read her full account of the day here
WOMEN GATHERING — the chanting is beginning
Introduction -- Dr Janet Salisbury (WCC Founder)
Welcome to Country — Dr Matilda House (Ngambri–Ngunnawal Elder)
Artistic opening — 'The Singing Hill' presented by Dr Glenda Cloughley
Watch the video recording
Padmapriya Muralidharan reflected:
'Dr Matilda House, a Ngambri-Ngunnawal Elder, started the day with a fierce and rousing call to action on climate change. Her Welcome to Country was an honest conversation that didn’t hold back the anger that she feels about climate change; it is a familiar anger – I feel it, I’m sure everyone in that room was there because they felt anger at what’s happening to our beautiful world. I have found her exhortation to use that anger to “get your spurs on” and drive change a valuable approach to the emotional impacts of climate change.'
'What came after Dr Matilda House’s ‘Welcome to Country’ was just one example of how different voices and perspectives were seamlessly brought together in the NCW. Drawn from ancient Greek mythology and some more recent Canberra history with poet Dorothy Cameron and Australia’s first Greens senator Jo Vallentine, Dr Glenda Cloughley’s presentation wove art, music and poetry to tell a powerful story of our connection to the Earth and what we as women can change. This story was about The Singing Hill, a poem by Dorothy Cameron, celebrating women’s voices; in setting the backstory to the poem Glenda took us back to the 1980s, a brief moment in history when some Canberra women met in the Australian Parliament House to meditate and create the environment for collaboration. I found the image of women meditating profoundly moving in its approach, not to mention the courage it must have taken for an act of coming together to meditate. The calm and clear voice of Jo Vallentine reading the poem The Singing Hill, as she did in 1991 to a testosterone-fuelled Parliament as she resigned, was one of the most emotionally moving moments for me in the NCW. There was quiet determination in her voice, the same determination that fuels everyone who decides to make a difference.'
Introduction -- Dr Janet Salisbury (WCC Founder)
Welcome to Country — Dr Matilda House (Ngambri–Ngunnawal Elder)
Artistic opening — 'The Singing Hill' presented by Dr Glenda Cloughley
Watch the video recording
Padmapriya Muralidharan reflected:
'Dr Matilda House, a Ngambri-Ngunnawal Elder, started the day with a fierce and rousing call to action on climate change. Her Welcome to Country was an honest conversation that didn’t hold back the anger that she feels about climate change; it is a familiar anger – I feel it, I’m sure everyone in that room was there because they felt anger at what’s happening to our beautiful world. I have found her exhortation to use that anger to “get your spurs on” and drive change a valuable approach to the emotional impacts of climate change.'
'What came after Dr Matilda House’s ‘Welcome to Country’ was just one example of how different voices and perspectives were seamlessly brought together in the NCW. Drawn from ancient Greek mythology and some more recent Canberra history with poet Dorothy Cameron and Australia’s first Greens senator Jo Vallentine, Dr Glenda Cloughley’s presentation wove art, music and poetry to tell a powerful story of our connection to the Earth and what we as women can change. This story was about The Singing Hill, a poem by Dorothy Cameron, celebrating women’s voices; in setting the backstory to the poem Glenda took us back to the 1980s, a brief moment in history when some Canberra women met in the Australian Parliament House to meditate and create the environment for collaboration. I found the image of women meditating profoundly moving in its approach, not to mention the courage it must have taken for an act of coming together to meditate. The calm and clear voice of Jo Vallentine reading the poem The Singing Hill, as she did in 1991 to a testosterone-fuelled Parliament as she resigned, was one of the most emotionally moving moments for me in the NCW. There was quiet determination in her voice, the same determination that fuels everyone who decides to make a difference.'
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WISDOM OF THE ELDERS
Watch the video recording 'With wide-ranging experience of the conversationalists in public service both inside Parliament and in other settings, the discussion was guided by the lived experiences of the many challenges women continue to face; whether it is getting elected into Parliament, balancing various roles and responsibilities and the pressure of dealing with a patriarchal Parliament to name a few of a long list. The discussion of war, war games, emissions by the world’s armies and a masculine worldview was honest and crucial. Women carry a disproportionate risk and burden of climate change. Honest conversations about the impact of deep-rooted social norms are needed. One powerful solution discussed in this conversation was meeting people where they were. I found this useful, especially in the context of climate change; rather than ‘preaching’ to people, approaching them with empathy and understanding can help build bridges and catalyse climate action. The other was the importance of allies – something the WCC envisions and events like the NCW create the platform for.' [Padmapriya Muralidharan] |
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SEEDS OF RENEWAL 1
Transforming power through political leadership Watch the video recording 'The conversation with present politicians brought to light a certain shift in culture – from competition to collaboration and from hard to soft power – that these women in Parliament today are championing. The women spoke about the ways they work across party divides, including collaborating away from the cameras. Some very interesting questions were posed to this panel, including how they would change the current Parliament. The answers shed light on the patriarchal and binary conventions of the Parliament along with challenges posed by a larger cultural shift to bipartisan stances. To me, it was interesting how support and allyship was once again highlighted as a key step in creating a more inclusive environment in Australian politics. Another interesting theme that recurred throughout conversations was meeting people where they were as a starting point for climate action.' [Padmapriya Muralidharan] |
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SEEDS OF RENEWAL 2
Transforming power through creative vision Watch the video recording 'A famous artist once said “Art is the highest form of hope”. Art is a crucial element of climate action, especially given its social and emotional impact.' 'The role of stories – whether they are timeless cultural stories or the stories about one’s own family, the role of dance as a medium of expression and education, music as a form of protest, were all discussed in this far-ranging conversation. In what was to me a profound summary of the practise of art and its transformational capacity, artist Miriam Pickard said ‘Wisdom isn’t just for the old, innocence isn’t just for the young.’ Art allows for thinking, imagining, expressing and, not surprisingly, activism.' [Padmapriya Muralidharan] |
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SEEDS OF RENEWAL 3
Transforming power through business and community leadership Watch the video recording 'With three young people who have been in the frontlines leading climate action, this conversation ranged from discussing their challenges to speaking about strategies that they use to overcome these challenges. When you’re a young person, especially a young woman, in a room full of older men in a patriarchal system, where do you start change making? When you’re a young mother and social norms dictate child-caring responsibilities, how do you nurture your career? These are tough questions, wicked problems, with no easy answers. But rather than providing answers, the conversationalists in this session shared their challenges, experiences and approaches. One such approach I found powerful when considering climate action – an existential task if there ever was one - was the analogy of ‘patchwork’ used by Charlie Wood. “What can you do in your patch”? If each of us tends to our patch, create a network of allies across other patches we can create what Charlie called ‘an ecosystem of movements’. And this ecosystem can be a powerful, people-centred, connected, nurturing one.' [Padmapriya Muralidharan] |
COP 27 NEWS
Elise Buckle (Co-founder, She Changes Climate) - live from Geneva
News of open letter to COP27 Presidency to promote 50% representation of women, and global Women's Leadership Summit (4 Nov 2022)
Rania Makarious (Senior Diplomat, Egyptian Embassy)
Watch the video recording
ARTISTIC CLOSE
Songs for Renewal — 'Hymn to Gaia' and 'The Promise' by Glenda Cloughley from The Gifts of the Furies
Introduced by Dr Glenda Cloughley, sung by A Chorus of Women
Watch the video recording
Read about the songs (lyrics)
Sing along (sheet music) | Sing along (practice track)
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Elise Buckle (Co-founder, She Changes Climate) - live from Geneva
News of open letter to COP27 Presidency to promote 50% representation of women, and global Women's Leadership Summit (4 Nov 2022)
Rania Makarious (Senior Diplomat, Egyptian Embassy)
Watch the video recording
ARTISTIC CLOSE
Songs for Renewal — 'Hymn to Gaia' and 'The Promise' by Glenda Cloughley from The Gifts of the Furies
Introduced by Dr Glenda Cloughley, sung by A Chorus of Women
Watch the video recording
Read about the songs (lyrics)
Sing along (sheet music) | Sing along (practice track)
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EVENING SOCIAL EVENT
Musical contributions from WCC members
Sophia Fletcher — a singer/songwriter/musician from northern NSW shared a video her new song 'Extinction is forever' (available via Music | Sophia Fletcher (bandcamp.com) to open the reception.
Bronwyn Kelly — a songwriter, lyricist and composer gave a live performance of her arrangement of 'My Country' by Dorothea McKellar.
Book launch
Right Here Right Now by Natalie Isaacs (Founder, 1 Million Women)
Watch the video recording
Presentation by Costa Rican Ambassador
HE Mr Armando Vargas Araya, Ambassador of Costa Rica
Watch the video recording
Musical contributions from WCC members
Sophia Fletcher — a singer/songwriter/musician from northern NSW shared a video her new song 'Extinction is forever' (available via Music | Sophia Fletcher (bandcamp.com) to open the reception.
Bronwyn Kelly — a songwriter, lyricist and composer gave a live performance of her arrangement of 'My Country' by Dorothea McKellar.
Book launch
Right Here Right Now by Natalie Isaacs (Founder, 1 Million Women)
Watch the video recording
Presentation by Costa Rican Ambassador
HE Mr Armando Vargas Araya, Ambassador of Costa Rica
Watch the video recording
ARTISTIC OPENING – She Spins
Video presentation of 'She Spins' by Meg Rigby, sung by A Chorus of Women and with visuals by Sally Blake
Watch the video
Video presentation of 'She Spins' by Meg Rigby, sung by A Chorus of Women and with visuals by Sally Blake
Watch the video
PACIFIC WOMEN'S VOICES
Presentation by Pefi Kingi (Pacific Australian Womens Association)
Watch the video recording
Presentation by Pefi Kingi (Pacific Australian Womens Association)
Watch the video recording
NEW SHOOTS 1
Short presentations:
'Climate Compact' — A national plan for action on climate change
presentation by Professor Kim Rubenstein (law professor, human rights and gender equality advocate, citizenship expert)
Watch the video recording
Short presentations:
'Climate Compact' — A national plan for action on climate change
presentation by Professor Kim Rubenstein (law professor, human rights and gender equality advocate, citizenship expert)
Watch the video recording
Australia Together — Transforming power through long-term integrated planning
presentation by Dr Bronwyn Kelly (Founder, Australian Community Futures Planning)
Watch the video recording
presentation by Dr Bronwyn Kelly (Founder, Australian Community Futures Planning)
Watch the video recording
OUTLINE OF THE WCC CHARTER FOR CHANGE
Presented by Dr Janet Salisbury and Dr Honey Nelson
Watch the video recording
See the charter here
Presented by Dr Janet Salisbury and Dr Honey Nelson
Watch the video recording
See the charter here
NEW GROWTH 1
Small mall group conversations about the Charter themes
At the Albert Hall venue the parallel groups were hosted by WCC members and colleagues with experience in the different theme areas .
Online participants self-selected a facilitator.
Summary of conversations
Small mall group conversations about the Charter themes
At the Albert Hall venue the parallel groups were hosted by WCC members and colleagues with experience in the different theme areas .
Online participants self-selected a facilitator.
Summary of conversations
NEW SHOOTS 2
The public good — A renewed 'why' for our times
presentation by Dr Millie Rooney (Convenor, Australia Remade)
Watch the video recording
The public good — A renewed 'why' for our times
presentation by Dr Millie Rooney (Convenor, Australia Remade)
Watch the video recording
NEW GROWTH 2
Small group conversations about the Charter themes
At the Albert Hall venue the parallel groups were hosted by WCC members and colleagues with experience in the different theme areas .
Online participants self-selected a facilitator.
Summary of conversations
Small group conversations about the Charter themes
At the Albert Hall venue the parallel groups were hosted by WCC members and colleagues with experience in the different theme areas .
Online participants self-selected a facilitator.
Summary of conversations
BRINGING THE THREADS TOGETHER — ACTION PLAN AND COMMITMENTS
Review of key points from the small group conversations and from the 2 days overall.
Commitments for action
Watch the video recording
ARTISTIC CLOSE
A Chorus of Women led group singing of 'Ubuntu' by Johanna McBride
Watch the video recording
Review of key points from the small group conversations and from the 2 days overall.
Commitments for action
Watch the video recording
ARTISTIC CLOSE
A Chorus of Women led group singing of 'Ubuntu' by Johanna McBride
Watch the video recording
THE SINGING HILL REVISITED
We had arranged to visit Parliament House at the end of the Monday program - to gather at the fountain in the Member's Hall and to report on the Congress to interested parliamentarians and media. Sadly, this event had to ben postponed due to the Queen's death and suspension of Parliament. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
We had arranged to visit Parliament House at the end of the Monday program - to gather at the fountain in the Member's Hall and to report on the Congress to interested parliamentarians and media. Sadly, this event had to ben postponed due to the Queen's death and suspension of Parliament. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
Thank yous ....
Thank you to the National Congress of Women hosting team for putting this event together:
Barbara Baikie, Barbara O'Dwyer, Janet Salisbury, Kirsten Anker, Lyn Stephens, Sally Blake, Sarah Stitt.
With lots of help from:
Thank you to the National Congress of Women hosting team for putting this event together:
Barbara Baikie, Barbara O'Dwyer, Janet Salisbury, Kirsten Anker, Lyn Stephens, Sally Blake, Sarah Stitt.
With lots of help from:
- Congress logistics coordination - Catherine Ross
- Admins extraordinaire - Nettie Hulme, Laurann Yen, Padmapriya, Lynne Audsley, Jenny Robinson
- Artistic program development - Johanna McBride, Glenda Cloughley, Meg Rigby
- Zoom host - Deb Collins (Wicked Elephants Cooperative)
- Visuals coordination - Johanna McBride
- Charter design - Padmapriya Muralidharan and Richard Stanford
- AV/IT and video recordings - Bryan Fitzpatrick (Indivisual Event Management, Canberra)
- Billet hosts, flower arrangers and more ....