Page last updated 22 May 2008


 This web page remains current even though we can’t work on it as much as we’d like to. We invite you to browse. If you can’t find what you are after, please email: linda@vlga.org.au.
 See below for newsflashes; Women's Charter Awards and 2008 election resources.

Newsflash Newsflash

  1. Women make progress. Did you know that women’s participation has made progress in recent Local government by-elections? Councillors Fran Lehman and Carole Wilmink (Colca-Otway) and Cr Paula Nixon (Central Goldfields) were elected in by-elections this year. This is especially significant as both of these Councils have had no women Councillor since their last elections. Cr Ruth McGowan was elected to Baw Baw last year, again in a By-election. That leaves only City of Ballarat and Shire of Gannawarra as the last bastions of male only Councils in 2008. Together we can change this!

  2. Women Matter in Local Democracies. This WPILG Coalition project is currently running events and workshops in funding partnerships with 11 Local governments and the Victorian Government (Centenary of Women's Suffrage Fund and the Community Support Fund). The aim is to encourage increased civic and political knowledge and participation of women from more recently arrived migrant communities. Enquires to the Project Manager based at VLGA (Linda Bennett T: 9349 7904).

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  3. Women's Charter Awards 2008.The WPILG Coalition will again be running awards for Local governments and community groups in September 2008. the Start thinking now about your application for the Victorian Local Government Women's Charter Awards. Read about the winners of the inaugural Victorian Local Government Women's Charter Awards 2004 here and 2006 here .
  4. Victorian Women's Honour Roll. Jenny Wills was admitted to the 2007 Honour Roll in March 2008. The WPILG Coalition nominated Jenny in recognition of her consistent, creative and generous work on behalf of women's political participation in Local government since the 1970's. Among her achievements is the founding of the Coalition itself, in parallel with the Victorian Local Government Women's Charter. One of Jenny's trademarks is her ability to bring people and organisations together over sustained periods to achieve progressive change. Congratulations Jenny, you are an inspiration.

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Victorian Local Government elections: November 2008


 In November 2008, all 79 of Victoria's Councils will go to election for a four year term. Start thinking now about your own candidacy or encourage some other woman you know who would make a good local Councillor.
"If we have the right to vote we should have the right to be voted for."
 – Councillor Zillah Crawcour, Shire of Newtown, Geelong 1919

Resources for women candidates, women Councillors and their supporters


Download or collect collect a copy of the following publications from the VLGA or MAV offices or mail order (see below) for a small handling and postage fee.
  • Now You're a Councillor (3rd edition) Download

  • A Gender Agenda (3rd edition) Download

 Download an order form for these publications
 Production of these publications was supported by the Victorian Government.

WPILGC 2008-2012

WPILGC has identified its 3 priorities up to 2008:
  1. "Getting the numbers" - encouraging and resourcing women candidates, running election activities.

  2. "Doing politics differently" - supporting the emergence of a new political culture where "politics" is done in a way that better reflects women's need and hopes for themselves, their families and communities.

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  3. Sustaining WPILGC - as an effective coalition able to achieve its goals.
The main focus of the work in 2008 will be through the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter and strategies to implement the 3 principles of the Charter: gender equity, diversity, and active citizenship. The new context set by the Victorian Human Rights and Responsibilities Charter makes the Women’s Charter even more applicable in local governments.
See our News or Library section for information about Women's Participation in Local Government. You can add documents or links to the Library.