Well Thumbed Books in Cobargo will be hosting a sale of a collection of books from the personal library of the late Senator Susan Ryan from 10am until 1pm on Saturday April 17.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Susan Ryan had a strong connection to the Southern Women's Group (SWG) during its formative years and in the campaign for securing funding for the Bega Women's Refuge.
In 1984 local women, concerned about the lack of services for women fleeing from domestic violence began providing women safe beds in their own homes.
READ ALSO: Women's refuges may be forced to cut staff
This small group of dedicated women put considerable effort into lobbying politicians and community members to establish services in the Bega Valley.
Susan Ryan was a politician who took these concerns seriously and lobbied for women's equality.
As a result of all this work Bega Women's Refuge was established, then Bega Women's Resource Centre, and a Women's Health and Sexual Assault Program was set up through the Bega Community Health Centre.
Ryan was also Labor's first female cabinet minister and served for 12 years.
She was pivotal in the passage of the Sex Discrimination Act and Equal Employment Opportunity and the Affirmative Action Act.
The funds raised from the sale of her books are being donated to the Southern Women's Group in support of the Bega Women's Resource Centre.