Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to acknowledge some of the amazing women that worked so hard to organise events celebrating International Women's Day. Of course, all these women work hard all year to celebrate women. I want to start with Sue Advani—the amazing Sue Advani. She's the president of Seva International, which came together with Boronia Multicultural Services and Parramatta city council in Wentworthville to host a wonderful event. I'd also like to thank Bernadette Agyepong, who's the manager of Boronia, and Sharmila Falzon, who's the community capacity building officer for Parramatta council. It was a great day, with lots of women there celebrating our diversity. It was really wonderful.

That night too, I went to an event in Rosehill organised by Maxine Simmons from WOW, which, appropriately, stands for the Wonders of Womanhood. Many women received awards that night, and I want to acknowledge three from the electorate of Parramatta: Simran Gulati, who was most influential woman; Reshma Singh, who was most empowered woman; and Sonia Singh, who won the power award. Again, it was a great night, with lots of women coming together to celebrate all their achievements and what they want out of life.

Finally, at a United India Associations event, again in Parramatta and again with Sue Advani—she does seem to be everywhere!—an amazing group of women came together to raise money for a shelter for domestic violence victims. Again, they were amazing women. I want to thank them all and all of those who supported them in putting these great events together.