Legacy in the Park – International Women’s Day!

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022 (8 March), Sydney Legacy hosted ‘Legacy in the Park – International Women’s Day!’, a special event held at Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park to celebrate equality and diversity.

The event featured Defence Ambassador for the Australian Capital Territory, Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Ret’d), as the keynote speaker who discussed the progress that has been made over the years in breaking the gender bias, and what society needs to do to continue its efforts.

Alison retired from the Australian Army in March 2015, following 30 years of dedicated service, and now focuses on supporting veterans, defence industry and promoting cybersecurity through a number of board positions. 

In her welcoming speech, Sydney Legacy’s first-ever female president, Legatee Nikki Hollis, highlighted the inception of International Women’s Day and introduced this year’s theme: #BreaktheBias.  

“Legacy is honoured to have Alison Creagh with us today for this year’s International Women’s Day,” L/Hollis said. 

“Alison Creagh is one of the most decorated female officers in the Australian Defence Force and has served in the toughest theatres of war in which Australia has been involved in recent years.” 

In her moving speech, Alison addressed a number of important topics, including Indigenous femicide, gender-based violence and gender inequity, before sharing her own experience as a woman in the Australian Defence Force.  

“Today of all days, I want to recognise the women and girls in the room and thank you for what you do to make a difference. I want to also recognise the men in the room who support our women – we need to do this as a team,” she said. 

“So many women have made a difference for so long. Many women have become agents of change, led movements and provided a voice to inequity. (It was) 99 years before we appointed a female Sydney

Legacy president – but we got there in the end, and that small step makes a difference.” 

She also outlined the evolution of cultural change in the Australian Defence Force, which eventually led to the 2011 decision to remove restrictions on the employment of women in combat roles.

Until World War II, women were restricted to the Australian Army Nursing Service. This role expanded in 1941-42 when the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force established female branches in which women took on a range of support roles. 

While these organisations were disbanded at the end of the war, they were re-established in 1950 as part of the military’s permanent structure. Women were integrated into the services during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but were restricted from applying for combat roles. 

In 2013, serving women were allowed to apply for all positions in the Australian Defence Force, except Special Forces, which became open to women a year later. In 2016, civilian women became able to direct entry to all positions.

“We need to remind ourselves that those who have gone before us have done remarkable things to move us forward, and we can also do remarkable things to continue to move us forward,” Alison said. 

Concluding her speech, Alison challenged female and male attendees to address their biases, both conscious and subconscious, and try to adjust them.  

“Young girls today have an opportunity to make a difference tomorrow, the women in this room continue to have an opportunity to make a difference, and the men have the opportunity to help us,” she said. 

Before the event concluded, the raffle winner was announced, and one lucky attendee left with a twin case of wine, kindly donated by Taylors Wines.

Sydney Legacy would like to thank everybody who attended ‘Legacy in the Park – International Women’s Day!’, and for the generous support of the Anzac Memorial Hyde Park.