WOW Logan

Aug 9

Welcome to WOW Logan! The achievements of women and girls in the city and surrounding areas were celebrated at a Festival held on Yugambeh & Jagera country at the Logan Entertainment Centre on July 15 and 16.

The WOW (Women of the World) Australia 2022 Festival provides a stage for women’s voices to be heard through a series of bold, entertaining and conversation-provoking events with engaging messages and ideas about equality, diversity and positive change to help break down the barriers which women continue to face. The WOW Logan Festival was the third in WOW’s 2022 program and follows highly successful Festivals held in Cairns in May and Longreach in March.

Human Rights Advocate and Lawyer Nyadol Nyuon and Queensland’s Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman, were amongst a long list of distinguished guests to speak at the Festival. Inspirational speakers fuelled conversations covering a range of matters of importance to women in Logan, including finance, jobs, business, family and religion.

Challenging the roles and expectations of womanhood were leading First Nations academic and author Jackie Huggins and Maori leader Tat Mahuru Stanley.

Discussing money-making ventures were Co-Director of the Griffith University Yunus Centrre Ingrid Burkett, business woman and strategist Christine Mudvanhu-Makumbe, Founder of Ethni, Kim Rollason-Nokes, Denise Edwards, owner of First Nations led company The Cyrogenics Group, and co-founder of Bee All Natural Natasha Roebig.

Academic and social change expert Faiza el Higzi and Jackie Huggins, conversed on issues of identity, activism, leadership and reconciliation all to be found in Jackie’s recently republished publication Sister Girl.

MATE Bystander trainer Michael Jeh facilitated a discussion on the raising of boys and young men with Men4Respect Coordinator for YFS Andrew Taukolo, and MATE Bystander Ambassador Rhys Carroll, and and Muslim Community Leader and Educator Dylan Chown.

The role of faith in women’s lives was discussed with educator, human rights advocate, and interfaith leader Dr Nora Amath, Pastor Tina Vaka and spokeperson for the Home to Bilo campaign Angela Fredericks.

Michelle Deshong shared the recommendations and next steps for the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) report in one of a number of interactive workshops including those on sustainable design and the slow clothing movement with Jane Milburn.

“WOW is an important space of dialogue and action which unites women from diverse backgrounds from across Australia and the world,” WOW Australia Co-Patron, June Oscar said. “I look forward to working together and ensuring that the voices of First Nations women and girls are at the forefront of Australia’s fight to achieve gender equality.”