Women in Focus

Tutor/Leader: Marlene Cann
Speaker: Catherine Brown
Location: Sunbury Football Social Club,
Behind Clarke Oval, Riddell Road, Sunbury
Date: Thursday 21 November 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 11:45 AM
Delivery: Face to Face
Numbers: 50

Catherine Brown will be our Guest Speaker today. Following on from her very popular “Property to Partners” course she will be continuing in the same theme. “Women in Focus” is an examination of the lives, contributions, and influence of women who have left an indelible mark on society, culture, science, politics, and more.

This narrative brings into focus both the well-known and lesser-known figures, exploring how their achievements reshaped the world and challenged the roles traditionally assigned to women in their time. From the intellectual brilliance of Renaissance women like Maria

Sibylla Merian, a pioneering naturalist and entomologist, to the trailblazing leadership of Angela Merkel, the first female Chancellor of Germany. We delve into the arts with Frida Kahlo, whose evocative paintings spoke of pain and resilience, and the realm of science with Elizabeth Blackburn, a Nobel laureate known for her research on telomeres and ageing.

The political sphere is explored through figures like Emmeline Pankhurst, who spearheaded the British suffrage movement, and Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister, whose tenure was marked by both significant reforms and intense scrutiny. These women’s stories are set against the backdrop of changing societal expectations, demonstrating their perseverance in breaking through gender barriers.

“Women in Focus” celebrates individual accomplishments but also reflects on the collective impact women have had in shaping modern society.

It captures their resilience in the face of discrimination, their intellectual and creative contributions, and their roles as leaders, innovators, and pioneers across different eras and disciplines.