Mum’s the word for inspiration

Both women were nominees in this year’s International Women’s Day WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

In her role as a teacher, Selenee Vandersteen developed a program for a group of girls at her school called GRIT (Girls Rule in Technology).

As part of the program the girls are up-skilled in computer skills, with the end goal being that they produce a stop motion pro movie and display it at an event held at Scitech.

Mrs Vandersteen said she was honoured to be nominated considering how many people there were in the community doing so many wonderful things.

‘The community spirit here is really strong ” I believe it’s not what you take but what you give back to the community,’ Mrs Vandersteen said. ‘My mother gave me the strength to go out and try things without fear of failure.’

Kerry Brown, who is the local Cub Scout leader, treasurer of Cubs and president of the P&C for Glen Forrest Primary School, also said her mother was an integral role model for her growing up.

‘When I was my children’s age, my mother inspired me to be part of the community; it has always been instilled in me,’ Ms Brown said.

‘I’m trying to inspire the youth of today to give back to the community.’

The WA Women’s Hall of Fame was first established in 2011 in recognition of the Centenary of International Women’s Day, held annually on March 8.

One hundred women were inducted at the centenary, across a range of sectors and celebrating a diverse set of achievements.

Its purpose is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australian women past, present and future.