Nominate someone for an EDNA

Hi Everyone,

Have you considered the nomination of someone you admire for an EDNA Award? Now is the time to collect the necessary information in order to meet the closing date of 16 April. Remember the EDNAs are the only awards that recognise feminist activists who support other women. We’re sure you know someone like that.

THE EDNA RYAN AWARDS

The EDNA Awards (The EDNAs), inaugurated in 1998 by the Women’s Electoral Lobby NSW (WEL NSW), were developed to recognise the life and passion of Edna Ryan (1904-1997) who worked tirelessly to make a better world –especially for women. The Awards have two aims: to provide the opportunity to nominate those who we feel should be acknowledged and to provide an occasion to come together to celebrate what we do.

The EDNAs are awards made to women who have made a feminist difference. Those whose activity advances the status of women: the troublemakers, the stirrers, the battlers, who show extraordinary commitment and determination.

There are 10 Award categories: Workforce, Government, Arts, Community Activism, Media /Communication, Humour, Mentoring, Battling, Education and The Grand Stirrer.

Criteria for Awards.

The EDNAs are not awards for long service, or only for those who are well-known. Nor are they simply a recognition of women who are successful in their own field.

In considering the nominations, an independent panel will seek specific evidence of the nominee's achievements or actions which have –

(1) fostered or offered opportunities for women to clarify and/or fulfil their goals, or

(2) raised or discussed in the public arena issues and perspectives of particular interest to women, which are often otherwise marginalised or denigrated.

Nominees must be comfortable with being called feminist, and must live and work in NSW or the ACT. These are the places where Edna lived and worked, and the geographic limits help to avoid potential difficulties in managing the review process. Details on all women awarded an EDNA are deposited with the NSW State Library, and are made available to the public.

Nominate a person you admire. Nominations must be on the nomination form (attached) and must meet the criteria. Closing date for nominations is 16 April 2010.

The Edna Ryan Awards night will be held on 14 May 2010 at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts .Come along and join us to celebrate some of our achievements, and to encourage all of us (as Edna did) to keep on contributing, to keep on making a feminist difference.

Nomination forms and booking forms are attached for your information. Further details are available on the WEL NSW website: www.welnsw.org.au or by contacting the WEL office: 66 Albion St Surry Hills .Phone/fax: 9212 4374.Email: welnsw@comcen.com.au