Bassendean Deputy Mayor Kath Hamilton and Mayor Renee McLennan.
Camera IconBassendean Deputy Mayor Kath Hamilton and Mayor Renee McLennan. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Mayor pays tribute to inspirational women

Staff writerEastern Reporter

BASSENDEAN Mayor Renee McLennan paid tribute to inspirational women who live in the Town of Bassendean at an International Women’s Day event on Tuesday.

Cr McLennan delivered a speech about her journey from being the lone female councillor to becoming Mayor at the Town of Bassendean’s event on March 10.

She also shared stories of influential residents including WA Women’s Hall of Fame member May O’Brien, the late May Holman who was the first female Labor Party parliamentarian, former Labor Senator Pat Giles and Noongar singer-songwriter Gina Williams.

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Neuroscientist Lyn Beazley was a guest speaker at the event.

Cr McLennan said she was grateful to live at this time in history.

“As an Australian woman in 2020 I have more opportunities and freedoms than women have had in years gone past,” she said.

“Yet, there still remains the need to create a more gender equal world for women of this generation and our girls who are our future.

“I was first elected to our council four years ago and it was a very solitary experience.

“As the lone female councillor at the time and with an executive team made up entirely of men, I was frequently the only woman in the room.

“Being pregnant and breast-feeding a new born baby for the first two years of my term added yet another dimension.

“Four years on and things have changed significantly here in Bassendean.

“We now have four women councillors leading our community, including myself and the Deputy Mayor, which gives females the majority.

“Our administration is also led by an outstanding woman, our chief executive Peta Mabbs.

“This is the first time our Town has had such strong female representation in our local government.

“This is quite unique in WA and is currently only shared with the City of Armadale.”

L-R: Peta Mabbs (CEO, Town of Bassendean) and Cr Renee McLennan (Mayor, Town of Bassendean)
Camera IconL-R: Peta Mabbs (CEO, Town of Bassendean) and Cr Renee McLennan (Mayor, Town of Bassendean) Credit: Supplied/David Baylis www.communitypix.com.au d492536

She said Bassendean was full of amazing female leaders from community groups, schools and businesses.

“Building on the gains they’ve made towards a gender equal world is essential for our communities to thrive both locally here in Bassendean, and globally around the world,” she said.

“But it requires collective action and shared responsibility; everyone of us has a role to play in creating a more gender-balanced world.

“We are all parts of a whole and our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets can all have an impact on our world.

“Collectively, we can make change happen.

“Together, we can each help to create a gender equal world for women of this generation and the girls of the future.”

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