International Women's Day

This week, in honour of International Women's Day on March 8, we have been profiling some wonderful women on our socials - who have gone on to accomplish some incredible things  after graduating from St Joseph's College.

It gives us great please to share the inspirational stories of these women and what International Women's Day means for them.

Erica Mandi Manga

Erica is a senior Assistant Minister at an Anglican church in central Sydney (St. Barnabas Anglican Church). After graduating from St Joseph’s College in 2002,  she attended Melbourne University studying a double degree in Arts/Law.  

Erica has been prolific in advocating for domestic and family violence as the founder and spokesperson for Common Grace’s Domestic and Family Violence Justice Team. Common Grace is a non-denominational Christian social justice movement. As part of her work in domestic and family violence advocacy, she has helped to create Safer, an online resource for people experiencing domestic or family violence, and those seeking to support them (saferresource.org.au);

Erica reflects on women in Australian society; 

“Where I find some hope is that there is now much more education and some growing understanding about the complexity of gender-based violence. Cultural and structural change is a long game, and we’ll need equal amounts of persistence and patience to see a reduction in violence towards women in this country. Alongside that, I’d love to see more women enter, and thrive, in ministry. The church needs them."

Ingrid Farrant

Ingrid is an experienced pharmacist with a background in community health, Indigenous health, aged care, paediatrics and health service board governance. 

Ingrid will be a familiar face to many as an active member of our local community, where she currently works and lives with her husband and two young sons. There are many of our alumni that return to our Echuca Moama community with their gifts and talents, which is wonderful to see and incredibly important for the growth and vibrancy of our region.  

Ingrid believes that celebrating International Women’s Day is crucial for young women: "If you can’t see it, you can’t be it!"

Facing career barriers herself as a female pharmacist she says:

“I have been cast as the assistant so often standing next to male dispense techs, IT techs and students even when they were younger than me. Although I will point out this has most often been when dealing with older people who have been conditioned to a social-norm. Overcoming this type of barrier is really assisted by the promotion of women in professional roles through measures such as International Women’s Day.”

Ingrid believes women should follow their innate talents and interests but also remember to prioritise their financial future through planning, preparation and hard work. She also thinks it is important for women to remain dynamic and multifaceted. 

“I believe that women who have achieved success in their careers are guaranteed to be dynamic in both their personal and professional lives and this assists them in varied ways to fuel their achievements,” she said.

Ingrid reflects on her time at St Joseph’s College (graduating in 1995) with fond memories of participating in events like the Rock Eisteddfod and sports days and said she is grateful for the supportive teachers who helped guide her through some of the typical teenage angst!

Sarah Link

Sarah, a TV writer and advertising copywriter, embodies resilience and empowerment in the vibrant landscape of Los Angeles. Sarah attended Melbourne University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and Post-Graduate Diploma. She started her career as a music writer, reviewing albums and concerts for various magazines before moving to London doing a stint at Clash, a music magazine. From there she moved to Sydney and began a career in advertising as a copywriter at M&C Saatchi, making TV, radio, and digital ads for clients such as Woolworths, Optus, and Westfield. 

Upon moving to Los Angeles she attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and completed the professional programs in both Screenwriting and Television Writing. Sarah was involved with script writing for the following TV series: Queer as Folk (2022) and In the Dark (2019), Time Bandits (a new Taika Waititi show starring Lisa Kudrow) and is currently working on a new show for Apple that stars Billy Crystal.

When asked about the significance of International Women's Day, Sarah echoes the sentiment that there's nothing more important than women uplifting one another. She sees this day as essential for opening dialogue.

Sarah acknowledges the male dominance found in Hollywood, reflecting that it is often the loudest voice in the room gaining the most attention. She responds by working harder, staying focused, and allowing her work to speak for itself. 

Sarah credits her parents for instilling the belief that she can achieve anything, encouraging her to take risks, explore the world, and pursue her dreams in LA.  She reminisces about the values that were instilled in her whilst attending St Joseph's College, including how to treat people in her daily life and work.  

Sarah leaves the following message for young women thinking about their careers:

“Many people say 'do what you love', but that’s not the reality of working life and certainly not when you’re starting out. Most careers aren’t linear, and what you chose initially, doesn’t have to be forever. It may lead to something else, or show you what you don’t want to do, which is just as important as what you do want to do. Be open to that possibility.”

Emily Umbers

Emily has over 15 years experience in marketing, communications and fundraising roles across the for-purpose space, including international development, education, welfare and disability.

Emily works as Marketing and Operations Manager at Australian International Development Network whose mission is to increase the quality and quantity of international giving, impact investing and resources, and hopes that some of the traditional barriers associated with international giving and investing can be overcome. 

Emily is also the Portfolio Marketing & Development Manager at Partners for Equity where she works with a range of locally-led organisations across East Africa. Emily works closely with visionary leaders and their teams to hone their narrative, strengthen their brand and amplify their message. 

She has co-designed and co-delivers an annual professional development program in Melbourne for early stage organisations working towards social cohesion. Emily has lived and worked in East Africa and travels there regularly. She holds a Bachelor of International Development and believes in the power of clear messaging, bold brands and developing meaningful relationships to create positive outcomes for the community.

Emily believes that:

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the situation for women worldwide. It doesn’t often feel like there is a lot to celebrate when looking at the situation for many girls and women around the world who disproportionately bear the brunt of poverty, climate change and gender-based violence. I get to work with many women leaders worldwide who are coming up with solutions to these problems and I am in awe of their resilience and innovation. That is definitely something to celebrate and reflect on! So for me, IWD is not only a celebration of women’s achievements but it is a call to action - to amplify the voices of women and girls here in Australia and in communities around the world.” 

Reflecting on her years at St Joseph’s College, Emily felt that it enabled her to explore and nurture her interest in global social justice. 

“One standout moment was in Year 10 when I had the opportunity to represent the school at The Festival of Global Concern, an event held in the Blue Mountains. I was surrounded by like-minded peers and felt such a sense of excitement and camaraderie.  Later in VCE, it was my International Studies class that made me want to go on and do further study in the field of international development. I didn’t quite know what kind of job I would eventually be able to move into, but these small stepping stones were pivotal in what is now a career that I love and allows me to work with organisations that are tackling some of the world’s most complex problems.”

Madi Colville-Walker

A captivating talent, Madi Colville-Walker writes from the heart as her knowledge, wisdom and resilience flows through her beautiful storytelling and powerful vocals. 

Madi graduated from St Joseph's College in 2019 and many of us still remember her soulful voice uplifting the crowd during assemblies and other special events. 

A proud Yorta Yorta woman, Maddi Colville-Walker is an inspiring musician hailing from the Echuca Moama region who has performed at events throughout Victoria and New South Wales such as the Land of Plenty Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival. In addition to her own gigs, Madi has also opened for many established Australian artists such as Archie Roach, Isiah Firebrace, Fanny Lumsden, Kutcha Edwards and Darlinghurst. Coming from a musical family, Colville-Walker grew up with the influence of her grandfather and Yorta Yorta Elder Archie Walker as well as award-winning artist Benny Walker and guitarist Uncle Rob Walker, who taught Colville-Walker to play guitar. With their support, Colville-Walker has made a big impact on the local music industry with her remarkable talent earning her recognition as the recipient for the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAS), Archie Roach Foundation Award, held in Darwin on Larrakia Country.  She has also showcased her skills on Seven Network’s Sunrise program.

When asked what IWD represents for her she said: 

“I like to reflect on many people who are leaders, my family, my Elders, my ancestors. There are so many reasons to celebrate those women and all of the admirable work they have done and continue to do over the years. The music industry at times can be a hard place and even a difficult industry to break into. There have been a few times where I have been the only female artist on a lineup, a lot of these shows are heavily Mob based gigs. What I love about these shows is how much respect is given, not only for me, but for one another. There have been times where I feel that I am not up to my standard, sometimes I can't wrap my head around some of the opportunities I get. These days often happen if I'm overworked, when this happens I really have to force myself to stop for a moment, put myself first, and reflect. I hold a lot of pride being a young woman in this industry, who is also deeply connected to my culture. I hope to be a role model for younger generations. I'm grateful for every opportunity in this journey."