COHUNA District Health director of clinical services Wendy Lunghusen has said we must not forget those who marched “for us” 100 years ago, “as we march forward for our granddaughters”.
The healthcare worker was a guest speaker at Gannawarra Shire’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast on March 7 at Cohuna.
The theme this year was ‘March Forward – it’s time to turn promises into progress’.
“I believe that if it is to be, it is up to me,” Ms Lunghusen told a crowd of about 60 people.
“Mine is a good life, well lived, raising remarkable young men who are incredible partners and fathers, who don’t use phrases such as ‘babysitting’ their own children, who are supporting their wives and partners to achieve their dreams – partners who I am so blessed to be a bonus mum to.
“The best days are when I get to pay it forward and empower another, to help someone to see that they can be and do anything – if they dream big, find their ‘why’ and make it so compelling that they will bear any ‘how’, to get there.
“We must not forget those who marched for us 100 years ago, as we march forward for our granddaughters.”
Attendees enjoyed a free breakfast and coffee provided by local Cohuna businesses, The Hippie Harvest and Suzie Q, before hearing from Ms Lunghusen and Koondrook indie rock singer/songwriter Elise Drake.
Ms Lunghusen reflected on the origins of IWD, in Europe in 1911. It was first celebrated in Sydney in 1928.
“Born from oppression and inequality, during times of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world, booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies, IWD has indeed progressed over time, what was once a day of militant marches, can now be the experience that we have today,” she said.
“And I say ‘can’ intentionally, because of those who marched before us, we can share an experience such as today’s.
“A supportive collective, the sharing of stories and a celebration of each other’s stories.
“Thank you, to those who have walked before me, those who have paved the way for the rights, empowerment and equality that I have had the good fortune to experience in my life.”
Ms Lunghusen also acknowledged the 30th anniversary of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a policy framework that aimed to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
It was adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.
Considered the most progressive blueprint, ever, for progressing women’s rights, it had 12 critical areas of concern – amongst them poverty, education and training, economic empowerment, power and decision-making and human rights – rights, empowerment and equality.
“As I was reading through the declaration, I had a moment of profound gratitude and a very sure realisation that my own life story could have been very different,
if not for the courage and determination of so many women before me, to make a better world for their daughters,” Ms Lunghusen said.
“I give thanks that I was born into a loving farming family with a strong work ethic, that I was raised well and continue to be loved fiercely.
“For that I am grateful. For, because of being loved and valued, I would always have the capacity, to love, and to value.
“To love my children, their partner, and my grandchildren, fiercely.
“Without strong foundations, it can be challenging to build a strong sense of self and identity.
“I give thanks that I was born in an age and time, that I have always had access to knowledge, to education, and the freedom to access that knowledge and education.
“In my own life’s story, I can see the work that was done to ensure economic freedom, empowerment and equality in this country.”
Ms Lunghusen said “part of my life are statistics”, data collected and analysed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“Teenage pregnancy – tick, didn’t finish Year 12 – tick, divorce – yes, we can tick that box as well,” she said.
“Pages within a chapter within a very long and diverse book, for that is all statistics are, just notes on a page.
“I believe that it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react and what you make of it, that really matters.”
Born at Cohuna District Hospital, and raised on a dairy farm backing on to the Gunbower Creek, close to the Murray River, Ms Lunghusen was successful for the permanent position of director of clinical services five years ago.
“The past five to six years in health have certainly been challenging; pandemic, flood, drought, bushfire, health service reforms and workforce burnout and shortages,” she said.
“I have grown, made mistakes, been knocked down and gotten up again.”
