Queen’s Gardens Honour

Boards ‘Launch’ 2016 event evaluation

Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee

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Contents Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee .................................................... 2

The Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee ......................................................................... 2

The Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards – a history ................................................................................... 3

The Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards ‘launch’ event .............................................................................. 1

Date ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Venue .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Format ................................................................................................................................................. 1

Audience .............................................................................................................................................. 2

Catering ............................................................................................................................................... 2

Budget ................................................................................................................................................. 2

Advertising/Publicity ........................................................................................................................... 2

Appendix 1: ‘Roses in the Queens Gardens, Shepparton’ report* ...................................................... 3

Appendix 2: Publicity ......................................................................................................................... 15

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Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee (GSWCAAC) is a community advisory committee (of the Greater Shepparton City Council) that is part of a broader network of Local Government Area (LGA) advisory committees across the state that are guided and informed by the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter. The Charter recognises the need to increase women’s participation in key decision making forums in the community and in democratic governance.

A three point action plan focussing on Diversity, Active Citizenship and Gender Equity guides the key strategic objectives of this committee.

The GSWCAAC is made up of community representatives and Council Officers, and is supported by Greater Shepparton City Council. The GSWCAAC meets monthly and community members are welcome to attend as guests, with an annual intake of members undertaken in March each year.

Above: Some of the members of the Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory

Committee.

The Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee The Greater Shepparton City Council established a Heritage Advisory Committee to act as an advocate for cultural heritage matters within the municipality.

Cultural heritage includes both tangible cultural heritage (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art and artefacts) and intangible cultural heritage (such as folklore, traditions, language and knowledge). The municipality contains a wide-variety of cultural heritage places of local, regional and international significance, owing to its richly-layered history, dating back over 40,000 years.

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The primary purpose of the Committee is to provide the best possible advice to the Council on the best methods to conserve and promote this unique cultural heritage.1

In September 2015 the Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee wrote a report about the significance of the roses in the Queen’s Gardens, and outlined the importance and history of the signs (also located in the Queen’s Gardens) honouring women and women’s clubs. The report was researched and written by Val Hill and Marjorie Earl.

See Appendix 1 for the full report.

The Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards – a history A brief history of the Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards is as follows:

• The Business and Professional Women Shepparton Group organised ‘Woman of the Year’ awards

• The first recipient was honoured in 1984 and the awards continued with the last recipient honoured in 1997

• In 1991 a rose garden was planted at the International Village recognising seven groups working for women in the community

• A rose was also planted for each of the award recipients • In 2001, due to the closure of the International Village, the roses were relocated to the

Queen’s Gardens • Signage honouring the Women of the Year Award recipients and the seven groups working

for women in the community were erected in the Queen’s Gardens • In 2015 the Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee made their report regarding

the rose gardens and honour boards available to the GSWCAAC • The GSWCAAC decided to make a recommendation to Council requesting that Council note

the significance of the existing roses in the Queen’s Gardens in their master plan and also recommended that Council (with GSWCAAC support) restore the existing honour boards and establish a new honour board to list the names of the GSWCAAC Award recipients

• In 2016 this recommendation was supported • The honour boards were restored and re-erected in the Queen’s Gardens • A new honour board was also erected to acknowledge Tracey Sofra who was the 2016

recipient of the GSWCAAC Award • Future recipients of the GSWCAAC Award will have their names added to the new honour

board

1 Greater Shepparton City Council website: http://greatershepparton.com.au/bpi/planning/strategic-planning/cultural-heritage/heritage-advisory-committee Accessed 16/9/2016

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The original Woman of the Year Award recipients were:

1984 Judy Bonnett

1985 Mavis Euling

1986 Pat Drum

1987 Sr Pancratuis Holland

1988 Carmel Johnson

1989 Dr Beverley John

1990 Dorothy Roche

1991 Carmel Schroen

1992 Joan Guymer

1993 Sheila Bennetts

1993 Assunta Depino-Curtis

1994 Cherie Crawford

1995 Erna Werner

1996 Vicki Mitsos

1997 Dr Ursula Russell

Above: The restored honour board listing the Business and Professional Women’s Club ‘Woman of the Year Award’ recipients.

The groups that were acknowledged were:

BPW Shepparton

Soroptimist International

Inner Wheel

SWCSC (Crest)

Zonta

CWA of VIC Eastern Group

Girl Guides Association

Above: The restored honour board listing the seven groups who worked for women in the community.

The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee Award

The GSWCAAC bestows an award on an annual basis to recognise an individual or group who has made a difference to women and the community. The GSWCAAC award is about acknowledging any individual or group whose actions impact upon women within the Greater Shepparton area in a positive way.

The 2016 GSWCAAC Award recipient was Tracey Sofra.

Tracey was chosen as the recipient of the GSWCAAC award due to her commitment to community work.

Tracey has over 25 years’ experience in financial planning and accounting, specialising in women’s financial issues. In addition to her businesses, Tracey works tirelessly in her community by educating the locals on financial literacy through pro-bono work, sponsoring scholarships for young women who have experienced financial hardship, and developing networking events to bring together like-minded businesswomen (WOW Women).

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Above: Tracey Sofra was the 2016 GSWCAAC Award recipient. Tracey’s name is on the new GSWCAAC Award Honour Board.

The Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards ‘launch’ event

Date Thursday 15 September from 2 to 3pm.

Venue The venue for the event was to be the Queen’s Gardens in Shepparton. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind and the event was relocated at short notice to the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre, Welsford Street Shepparton.

Format Councillor Dinny Adem, GSWCAAC Charter Champion, gave a speech about the history of the Queen’s Gardens Honour Boards and read out the names of the original honour recipients and Groups, as well as speaking about Tracey Sofra whose name is on the new GSWCAAC Award honour board.

Two of the original honour recipients – Carmel Johnson and Assunta Depino –Curtis – were called upon to make an impromptu speech. Both Carmel and Assunta spoke about the honour of being recognised in such a way, and touched briefly on some of the battles they faced and overcame.

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Above: Members of the audience listen to honour recipients Assunta Depino-Curtis and Carmel Johnson make an impromptu speech.

Audience Approximately 40 people attended the event.

Catering Afternoon tea was provided by Irises Coffee Shop.

There were vegetarian and gluten free options.

Budget The total cost of the event was $318.00 including GST. This does not include the cost of restoring the honour boards or the creation of the new honour board.

Advertising/Publicity The GSWCAAC did not conduct any paid advertising. However, the event was promoted in the following ways:

• Through the GSWCAAC Members • To the Friends of the GSWCAAC • Radio ONE FM • Shepparton News • Flyer

Please see Appendix 2 for examples of publicity.

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Appendix 1: ‘Roses in the Queens Gardens, Shepparton’ report* * The below report was researched and written by Val Hill and Marjorie Earl of the Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee. It is reproduced here with pmerission.

ROSES IN THE QUEENS GARDENS, SHEPPARTON

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S ROSES

In 1983 Mrs Elaine Wilson, the President of Business and Professional Women (BPW), was chair of a small committee of BPW members that initially organised the Woman of the Year Awards. In 1991, following the establishment of a rose garden recognising the seven clubs of women working for the community, the woman who was selected as the BPW Woman of the Year had a rose planted in her honour at the Parkside Gardens in the International Village.

1984 Judy Bonnett Olave Baden Powell (missing), Iceberg replaced by Girl Guides

1985 Mavis Euling Jessa Bella

1986 Pat Drum Copper Gem

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1987 Sr Pancratuis Holland Mme A. Meilland

1988 Carmel Johnson Valencia

1989 Dr Beverley John Tatjana

1990 Dorothy Roche Sunblest

1991 Carmel Schroen Vol de Nuit

Each rose had a small plaque noting the year, winner and the name of the rose chosen by the Woman of the Year.

In 1991 Mrs Aileen Piper, Mayoress of the City of Shepparton, paid tribute to a group of women who have been awarded Woman of the Year by the Shepparton Business and Professional Women’s Club. A gathering of about fifty people witnessed the unveiling of a standard rose which was planted in a garden for each of the recipients for the past eight years, at the International Village.

Rita Griffiths, President of BPW, and Mayoress Aileen Piper look at the plaque for the Women of the Year recipients. Pictured in the back (from the left) are recipients Carmel Schroen (1991), Pat Drum (1986), Dorothy Roche (1990), Judy Bonnett (1984), Mavis Euling (1985), Carmel Johnson (1988) and Sister Pan Holland. (1987).

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(photo from Shepparton News 1991)

When two standard roses were destroyed in a storm in 1996, the Secretary of BPW approached the Project Engineer of COGS Contracting at the City of Greater Shepparton (COGS) to ascertain whether these roses would be replaced by Council and if the major plaque could be updated. A reply from COGS Contracting in January 1997 asked for a meeting so the matter could be discussed to clarify who had the responsibility to replace the two roses and update the plaque as the understanding was that BPW would water the roses and Council would maintain them.

In May 1997 another letter was sent to COGS Contracting indicating that verbal confirmation to replace the roses and update the plaque had been given to the President of BPW but the replacement of the two roses and the updating of the major plaque has not yet been carried out. The roses missing were for 1984 and 1988 and the major plaque needed to have the additional names of the Women of the Year added.

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The rose for 1984 had already been replaced twice by the Girl Guides so it was decided to choose a rose of a different name from Olave Baden Powell for Judy Bonnett.

1984 Judy Bonnett Olave Baden Powell (missing), Iceberg replaced by Girl Guides

1985 Mavis Euling Jessa Bella

1986 Pat Drum Copper Gem

1987 Sr Pancratuis Holland Mme A. Meiland

1988 Carmel Johnson Valencia

1989 Dr Beverley John Tatiana

1990 Dorothy Roche Sun blest

1991 Carmel Schroen Vol de Nuit

1992 Joan Guymer Pascale

1993 Sheila Bennetts Blue Moon

1993 Assunta Depino-Curtis Lagerfeld

1994 Cherie Crawford Louis De Fumes

1995 Erna Werner Mr Lincoln

1996 Vicki Mitsos Peace

1997 Dr Ursula Russell Freesia

In July 1997 the Project Manager of COGS Contracting advised that the missing rose bushes would be replaced and the plaque maintained and made larger to make rooms for future names. He also advised that a number of rose bushes had been stolen from the Parkside Garden site.

On 22 July 1998 Mr Chris Hazelman, the Mayor of the City of Greater Shepparton, wrote to the Secretary of BPW indicating that following a conversation with Mrs Val Hill regarding the future of Parkside Gardens and the possible relocation of the Rose Gardens, he requested a meeting to discuss the matter. Representatives from BPW (Val Hill), Girl Guides (Beth

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Brisbane), Soroptimists International (Pat Larsen), Inner Wheel (Aileen Piper), Shepparton Crest Club (Gwen Parsons), and Zonta (Barbara Booth) attended the meeting.

As Parkside Gardens no longer had a caretaker, BPW fearing the possibility of vandalism, wished to take up the option to relocate the roses to either the Queens Gardens or the Monash Gardens and indicated that June or July would be the best time to relocate the standard roses. Consideration to relocate the Women’s Community Group roses for the same reason of possible vandalism was also requested.

On 24 January 2000, Mrs Val Hill received a letter from the Project Manager of Environmental Services at COGS advising that Council was making arrangements for the relocation of the rose gardens from the Parkside Garden to the Queens Gardens in Shepparton. It had proven difficult for Council staff to maintain the rose garden to a high standard at the Parkside Garden site and it was considered that this site now lacked the profile it formerly had as the International Village. The site selected for the new rose garden is on the southern side of the Queens Gardens near the public conveniences.

Mrs Val Hill, on behalf of BPW, objected to the location of the rose bed near the public conveniences and said that this position was not suitable for the recognition or respect of those who had served our City well. On 22 June 2000 she received a letter from the Project Manager of Environmental Services advising of an amended proposal.

On 21 March 2001 the Mayor wrote to Mrs Val Hill, apologising for the suggestion to plant the roses on the southern side of the gardens near the public conveniences. He advised that name plaques will be attached to a low stake at the base of the roses and any remaining bush roses at the Parkside Gardens will also be relocated to the Queens Gardens. Four members of BPW had been watering the remaining roses at the Parkside Gardens to ensure they stayed alive.

New rose beds were prepared at the Queens Gardens to allow for the relocation of the roses over winter. A ceremony was held in the Queens Gardens on 15 November 2001 and Mrs Aileen Piper, who initially dedicated the roses to the Women’s Services Organisations and the first eight BPW Woman of the Year in 1991 at the Parkside Gardens, also rededicated the roses when they were relocated to the Queens Gardens in 2001.

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Some of the roses honour the recipients of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Shepparton Woman of the Year award, handed out between 1984 and 1997. Other roses are there to celebrate the community work done by members of a range of community groups including BPW, Soroptimist International, Inner Wheel, Crest, Zonta, CWA and Girl Guides.

Pictured at the rededication of a rose garden in Shepparton from left are Mayor Chris Hazelman, Cr Bruce McNeill, Noela Laws, Val Hill, Dorothy Roche, Cr Bill Hunter, Elaine Wilson, Yvonne Hill, Aileen Piper, Win Eliason, Pat Drum and Pat Pedretti

The mayor said that appropriate signage and markers were in place to denote those women and groups that were being honoured and felt that these roses were a beautiful and permanent reminder of the work that is done in our community by many local women, and a fitting way to pay tribute to those individuals and groups.

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SHEPPARTON WOMENS SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

This project was initiated by Mrs Aileen Piper, when her husband was Mayor, to recognise the seven Shepparton Women’s organisations as representative of the support of the wider community. Past President of Inner Wheel, Marlene Gerrard, approached the Rotary Board of Management of the International Village and was delighted when they agreed to build the garden, plant the rose trees and maintain them in the future.

The bush roses that were planted at the Parkside Garden in the International Village in Shepparton recognised the following Women’s Services Organisations.

Business and Professional Women (BPW) Shepparton Iceberg

Soroptimist International Peace

Inner Wheel Innerwheel

Shepparton Women Crest Service Club (SWCSC) Marlena

Zonta Sonia

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Girl Guide Association of Victoria Olave Baden Powell

Country Women Association of Victoria Coronation

-Eastern Goulburn Valley Group

In 1991, Mrs Aileen Piper, as Mayoress of the City of Greater Shepparton, paid tribute to seven Shepparton Women’s Organisations by dedicating a rose garden at the International Village. She acknowledged that these groups all work tirelessly for the community and said it was fitting that we have projects that record for all our community to see the positive, important role of women in the community, making it a better place. These roses will be tangible, visible evidence that respect and honour the working women in our community.

Mayoress Aileen Piper at the rose garden dedicated to women working for the community.

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(photo from Shepparton News 1991)

The seven women’s clubs donated roses for the project and several have roses named after their organisations, such as Inner Wheel and Olave Baden Powell for Girl Guides, or selected roses with names or colours relevant to their clubs.

It was reported that the Business and Professional Women of Shepparton are working on a similar project with a rose garden dedicated to the community minded and committed women of the area recognised as the Woman of the Year over the last eight years. These women will choose their favourite rose and year by year the roses will be planted in a special area of the International Village.

In March 2001 the bush roses, recognising the seven clubs, were moved from the Parkside Garden site to the Queens Gardens near the north eastern corner of Wyndham and Nixon Streets in Shepparton. As Parkside Gardens no longer had a caretaker it was difficult to maintain the rose gardens and some of the roses had already gone missing so the option from the Shepparton City Council to relocate the roses to either the Queens Gardens or the Monash Gardens was gratefully accepted.

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Seven bush roses were planted to recognise the contribution of the women working for the community in Shepparton.

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Thanks are extended to Mrs Val Hill for providing copies of correspondence and articles about the history of the Rose Gardens initially located at Parkside Gardens in the International Village before being relocated to the Queens Gardens in Shepparton.

Marjorie R Earl 30 September 2015

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Appendix 2: Publicity Below: The invitation for the Queen’s Gardens Honour Board launch.

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Below: Article from The Shepparton News, page 5, 12 September 2016.

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Below: Article from The Shepparton News, page 13, 17 September 2016.