The Mangalore-based racehorse breeding facility hosted morning tea in the breezeway of one of its grand stables.
Guests were also treated to a parade of four Yulong stallions – Tagaloa, American Express, Grunt and Written Tycoon – followed by an opening address by Strathbogie Shire Council Acting Mayor Cr Paul Murray and some inspiring speeches from Yulong head veterinarian Dr Nicole Meyer and Victoria Police Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team Detective Senior Constable Elisha Basse.
Acting Mayor Cr Paul Murray addressed the audience by providing thoughtful words on International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8.
“Today we gather to honour and celebrate the social, economic, cultural, environmental, scientific and political achievements of women both individually and collectively,” Cr Murray said.
“It is an opportunity to pause and draw inspiration from those who forged the way on behalf of both women and children so that they could be recognised, fairly and lawfully, for future generations to come.
International Women’s Day is a celebration of the power of women who strive to, lead, work, innovate, create, foster, explore, and live freely. Today we celebrate equality, inclusion and freedom for all.”
Cr Murray highlighted the female representation within Strathbogie Shire Council’s executive management team where more than half of the Council’s executive roles are filled by women as well as three of Council’s seven elected Councilors.
“For the first time in 2020, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data demonstrated there was equal representation in the Australian Government Senate between men and women parliamentarians,” Cr Murray said.
“This is a great achievement and milestone despite the difficulties experienced by many of our female politicians. Here in Strathbogie Shire we can see this achievement through our strong female representation both at a Federal and State Government level with Dr Helen Haines MP, the Member for Indi and Ms Steph Ryan MP, the Member for Euroa.
“At a local level many Strathbogie Shire business enterprises continue to be led by women across our education, health, equine, viticulture, agriculture, legal and hospitality industries.”
Cr Murray also provided words from Council’s Mayor Cr Laura Binks who sent her apologies on the day.
“As a woman in Local Government, I continue to be mentored and inspired by the women in this field who have come before me,” Cr Binks said.
“I hope that the current Council will continue to inspire women, gender diverse and young people of all abilities to consider standing for Council in the future.”
