Choosing to Challenge

The theme for International Women’s Day this year was #ChooseToChallenge and four Year 12 students put their hand up to be a part of the challenge by speaking in assembly about a female for whom they hold deep respect. 

In more recent years, men as advocates and champions of change have been recognised as a major trend in accelerating women's equality. Below are the addresses given by the students who spoke in assembly, each of whom shared memorable and moving moments that gave pause for thought about the role of significant females in all of our lives. 

“I chose to respect and be grateful to women”.

Today I would like to speak to you all about a special person in my life. Her face is currently plastered across the screen, and she happens to be my mother. 

Although there have been countless times when my mum has supported me, surprised me, helped me, and nurtured me over the past 17 years, it was when she walked the streets with me for over 10 hours collecting donations for my primary school that I realised she had my back and would do so forever. 

I was in Grade 5, and my school started a fundraising campaign where students were asked to collect donations to purchase new tubs and sports equipment. The school enticed students to participate by offering prizes based on how much money was raised by individuals. One prize was a space grey iPod touch 5th generation with 16Gb of storage, and I REALLY wanted it. 

The only problem was that to get an iPod, you had to raise over $1000 dollars for the school. I had no idea who would give me $1,000, so I gave up before I had even started and was resigned to being content with receiving a down-ball for raising $20. 

But my mum recognised a “teachable moment” and came up with a plan. She convinced me to walk around our neighbourhood for as long as it took to get the iPod. Over the weekend, we walked around Strathfieldsaye for 8 hours and managed to collect around $750. We were still a bit short of our goal, so here’s where mum got seriously creative and drove me to Melbourne, where we walked the streets of a well-to-do suburb and made some serious dosh. 

After a total of 10 hours, we had collected over $1100. The school got its money, and I got my iPod. As you can see, it is a bit worse for wear as the “teachable moment for caring for my things” came a few months later. 

Whether it was mum’s intention or not, those ten hours of walking by her side taught me that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to and that reward follows hard work. For this lesson, I am grateful. Thanks, mum. (Looks towards weights room).

“I chose to respect and be grateful to women”.

Angus Fraser (12 Aherne)

“I choose to respect and thank female role models.”

It is easy in life to overlook extraordinary people living reasonably ordinary lives. They are the quiet achievers amongst us who seek to live their lives in support of others. Frequently, these people are mothers and, in my case, mother and role model are rolled into one. 

My mum’s name is Kym. She was born in Cohuna, and she is kind and caring and knowledgeable beyond measure. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. My mum is that village. She is raising four children – myself, along with my brother and two lovely sisters who are moving successfully into the adult stage of their lives, supported, and nurtured by mum with a wholesomeness that I know will stand all of us in good stead. 

There is no single moment or story to describe the positive impact my mum has had on me throughout my life, but there are endless examples of love and affection that have time and again propped me up and pushed me forward. 

Last year, while running a small business, mum also ran our family like a second (very much non-profit!) enterprise. She woke me up, motivated me and encouraged me through online learning. In those deepest, darkest days of winter, while we were isolated from friends and family, mum was a leader. Through a tough year, the time, energy and love my mother put into her four children and her husband deserve unending amounts of respect and appreciation. 

I am very proud to be Kym’s son. She is both my mother and my role model, and whilst she asks for nothing, I believe she deserves the world. 

“I choose to respect and thank female role models.”

Lewis Fitzpatrick (12 Riley)

“I choose to respect the protective love of women.” 

Sometimes, it is not until we are in harm’s way and someone protects us with a ferocity that is primal that we truly understand how deeply we are loved. Being the recipient of that love makes us stronger and bolder, and I am choosing today to thank my mother for this protective layer of security that I enjoy every day. 

One particularly memorable demonstration of this protective love occurred a couple of years ago when my family visited Vietnam. 

I became sick and was struggling to get to sleep, so I decided to take a Nurofen. An hour later, I woke up with a fat lip and wheezy, shallow breathing. 

I intended to go back to sleep and disregard the symptoms, but luckily, my brother Lloyd alerted my parents to my condition, and they quickly realised I needed to get to a hospital. 

During a long stressful taxi drive, mum sat next to me in the back seat, never taking her eyes off me the entire trip. What she realised, that I did not, was that I was having an allergic reaction to the Nurofen.

Mum recognised that my body systems, including my heart, were slowing and making me very tired. I kept closing my eyes, trying to sleep, and mum held my hand, squeezing it repeatedly to get a reaction and to reassure me I would be OK. 

This went on for at least ten minutes. Mum had a quiet resolve that I still recall through the tiredness. She was calmly determined to keep me awake, talking to me the whole time and asking me endless questions making sure I was alright. 

It was mum who steered me through this frightening ordeal, and it was mum who was there in the hospital with me the whole time. It was mum who showered me with care and gave me the reassurance and support that I needed when I felt vulnerable.

Mum is one of the most loyal and dedicated people I know, willing to sacrifice for others without a second thought.

“I choose to respect the protective love of women.” 

Asher Butcher (12 Jenkin)

“I choose to celebrate women’s achievement.”

International Women’s Day is dedicated to acknowledging the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and to reflect this theme, today, I would like to speak about a woman who has achieved much and someone I deeply respect. Someone without whom my life would be very different. That person is my mother. 

My mum is a living, breathing example of how perseverance and effort can lead to lofty achievements. In my mother’s case, just one of these achievements was in competitive swimming. 

Mum started swimming at a young age because her brother had asthma. In those days, swimming was considered beneficial for asthmatics, so my grandma made all her children learn to swim.

As soon as my mum entered the water, she knew swimming was something that she loved, and her teacher urged her to pursue it to the highest level. 

But this is no small task. My mum endured long-distance commutes for training and competitions, she moved away from home at a young age, and she trained five hours a day, six days a week. By the time my mum turned 18, she was a professional swimmer. 

Through sheer determination and unbridled effort, my mum achieved so much, including breaking national records and competing on behalf of her country in international swimming competitions like the Pan Pacific championships. She even received a letter from the Queen, acknowledging her commitment to the sport. These achievements are impressive, but it is mum’s persistent strength, determination and passion that leaves me in awe. 

Serious and unexpected illness cut mum’s swimming career short. This was devastating for her, but her strength and determination shone through again in becoming an incredible Mother, University graduate, colleague and friend to many. 

For that, the respect I have for her is immeasurable.

“I choose to celebrate women’s achievement.”

William Douglass (12 Frew)