The election of just one woman to the Moyne Shire Council in the recent local government elections means a 12-year streak of having a lone female voice on council will now extend to 16 years.
Key points:
- Moyne Shire will only have a single woman serving as a councillor from 2008 to 2024
- A concerted push to include more women fell flat during the recent council elections
In the 90s and early 2000s the shire had three women on the seven-person council
After three terms of the south-west Victorian council featuring just one woman since 2008, three Port Fairy-based women united and formed the Women of Moyne group in a concerted push to increase the number of female representatives.
But yesterday's results for the shire revealed just one woman — former journalist and community leader Karen Foster — will serve on council until 2024.
The other six councillors are incumbents Jim Doukas, Daniel Meade, Jordan Lockett, Ian Smith, newcomer Damian Gleeson and former councillor and state MP James Purcell.
Ms Foster said she was disappointed that more women were not elected.
"The Women of Moyne group had some terrific, strong candidates who would have been excellent councillors had they had the opportunity," Ms Foster said.
"I do feel a strong weight of responsibility being the only woman representing half of our population.
"It is disappointing but I suppose that's democracy."
She said the reason that six men were elected may be to do with the coronavirus crisis as well as a "lingering conservatism" in the region.
"Perhaps people feel in times of crisis — like we're currently experiencing through COVID — that they like the familiar faces," she said.
"We've got an opportunity over the next four years to nurture and mentor a new generation of women leaders."
A beacon in a sea of men
Former councillor Jill Parker, from Mortlake, was the only woman on the Moyne Shire Council from 2008 to 2020.
During that time, councils that border Moyne — including Warrnambool, Corangamite, Glenelg and Southern Grampians — all had substantial numbers of women serving, including as mayors.
Ms Parker said at times being the only woman was "lonely".
"It's not representative of the community," she said.
"Women make up 50 per cent of the community but they're not represented in any way, shape or form, not even at 30 per cent level, on council."
Ms Parker said at times she felt left out of the "boys club" on the council.
"I also felt that because I was the only woman it was assumed I would take on particular roles that related to feminine roles, so to speak, rather than roles I was skilled at," she said.
"Like doing the more social things and leaving the important asset-management to the men.
"I didn't bow down to those things and I did follow the portfolios that interested me."
Ms Parker said she was not sure why she was the only woman on the council for so long, but said having wards like some other councils have could help women's chances.
She said raising the issue of equal representation of sexes often led to backlash.
"I've experienced it myself, you get a lot of defensive comments," she said.
Past councils more 'representative'
Port Fairy woman Di Clanchy served three terms on the Moyne Shire from 1999 to 2008 and served alongside two other women during that period.
She said it was important to have balance to represent the people who live in the municipality.
"I always vote for people whether they're male or female, based on the things I'm interested in," she said.
"I follow their policies and ideas but these days it's good to have a gender balance as well."
Ms Clanchy said she'd been hopeful that the Women for Moyne group would result in more female councillors.
"It happened in the past and maybe we need to do research on why there's only been one recently," she said.
"We just have to keep on working, I guess."