GIRLPLUSBIKE: On the women who inspire me.

{Nana, Mum, Gran, my sister and I}

I remember when I was around seven years old, an aunty said to me that I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up - even the Prime Minster. At that point, in late 1980s Australia, there had never been a female PM. My only real knowledge of politics was that I thought Bob Hawke had hair like my Gramps. And I certainly didn't realise that to be the Prime Minister, you have to first become a politician.

Obviously I am not the Prime Minister, nor am I a politician (and have no desire to be one!), but my aunty's words have stuck with me as a reminder that there was no reason for me not to aim high and dream big dreams - me, as a human, and me, as a woman.

Friday was International Women's Day, which, according to the website of the UN Women National Committee Australia, is 'a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.'

I have been so fortunate to have had beautiful, strong, courageous, funny, smart, compassionate women as role models in my life.

First my dear great-grandmother, Gran, whose chuckle often grew contagiously into uncontrollable laughter, and was one of the most compassionate people I have ever known. I could forever listen to her stories of growing up in 1920s inner west Sydney, from taking part in her father's magician shows in the Tivoli Circuit, to skipping school - 'playing hooky' - with her brothers around Petersham, to the heartbreak of her family being separated and along with her sister being sent to girl's homes and sometimes mean-spirited foster families. From Gran I learnt that happiness is a well within us that grows the more it is shared.

And from there, my grandmother, mother, sister, aunties, cousins; friends, colleagues, teachers, mentors. Women who have shown me that you're never too old/young. The importance of a good education, and testament to what can be achieved when your mind is set to it. Of tough love, of following your heart, of taking the plunge. Of laughing so much that everything hurts.

We still live in a world where women are not always equal. Choices are not always there for the making. In her recent article on the Daily Life, Anne Summers comments: 'Women still do not participate in the workforce in the same proportions as men, we get paid less for doing the same work...there is a global pandemic of violence against women.'

We have come a long way but there's still a long way to go:

For the women of the world, the symbolism of International Women’s Day has a wider meaning. It is an occasion to review how far women have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilise for meaningful change.

(From www.unwomen.org.au)

I am thankful for the women who have been a part of my journey so far.