Acting Vice-Chancellor, Mr Warren Snell; Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Brenda Cherednichenko; Dr Sue Gordon; Head of Kurongkurl Katitjin, Professor Colleen Hayward and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Advancement), Professor Cobie Rudd
Edith Cowan Memorial Lecture - 100 Years: Obstacles for Aboriginal women in work and community
Dr Sue Gordon AM
Wednesday, 9 March 2011ECU Mount Lawley Campus
ECU welcomes the first full-time Aboriginal magistrate in WA history, Dr Sue Gordon to the Mount Lawley Campus for a personal and thought provoking presentation on 100 Years: Obstacles for Aboriginal women in work and community.
Removed from her family home at the age of four and placed in Sister Kate’s home in Queens Park, Dr Gordon shares her story, and the influential role that the women in her life, particularly her mother and grandmother have played in her personal journey.
Her presentation includes stories from her personal history, with detailed accounts from her family’s life in Meekatharra, the obstacles they faced and the legacy they have created through their children and grandchildren, and also provides an informative and thought provoking look at the history of Aboriginal people in the Western Australian region.
The Edith Cowan Memorial Lecture was held on International Women’s Day to honour ECU’s namesake, Edith Dircksey Cowan, who dedicated her life to equal rights and reducing the barriers to education and leadership for women. This year, 2011 marks the 150th year since Edith’s birth, the 90th year since her election to Western Australian Parliament, and the 20th year since ECU was founded as a university in her honour.