BAYSWATER Council has added an award for female leaders to its Community Citizen of the Year awards.
Councillor Lorna Clarke’s motion to create an annual outstanding women in leadership award as part of its Australia Day citizenship ceremony was passed 8-3 at last month’s meeting.
Deputy Mayor Chris Cornish and Crs Sally Palmer and Michelle Sutherland voted against it.
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READ NOWThe award recognises women who either live or work in the City of Bayswater.
It will be in addition to the Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year and Active Citizenship awards.
Several councillors supported the concept while others raised concerns about sexism, identity politics, patriarchy and whether the award would be in competition with other awards.
Cr Clarke said there were less women on boards, in power and in politics than ever before.
“Each industry had their own women in leadership (award) and I did wonder why we haven’t got one here,” she said.
“People could put forward women who they think are phenomenal and they might be women who are physicists, teachers, stay-at-home mums or they are a leader in their field at whatever level that might be.
“I’ve worked in workplaces where I am the only woman in the room and I am the only one around the table; I continue to go to events in commercial law when I am the only women there.
“You’ve got a men’s award; it is called most of the positions that people have in power.”
Cr Palmer said there should also be a male leader award.
“I am just not pro-one side because there are some amazing men out there as well as outstanding women,” she said.