Zoe Moffatt
Last year’s Melburnian of the Year, Melton resident Antoinette Braybrook gave a keynote speech in front of a packed Kyneton Town Hall for Macedon Ranges International Women’s Day celebration.
The March 8 event brought together women of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate the day and learn about this year’s theme: Cracking the code.
Ms Braybrook said 2023 was the year to “crack the code for Aboriginal women’s safety”, and that the first time Australia celebrated IWD in 1928 Aboriginal women and men were not recognised as Australian citizens.
“Aboriginal women had no rights, no basic rights, no human rights,” she said.
Ms Braybrook went on to speak about the racism and bullying she received growing up in a town where her family was the only Aboriginal family.
“[We were] made to feel ashamed of who we were,” she said.
After leaving school at 15 years old, Ms Braybrook went on to study law at Deakin University as a mature aged student and now advocates for the rights of Aboriginal women.
“It’s personal, it’s our life and it begins the day we are born.”
Ms Braybrook, a Kuku Yulanji woman, is the chief executive of Djirra and co-chair of the Change the Record Campaign. She said there are many things individuals can do to be an ally for Aboriginal women.
These include challenging racism and violence, learning about Australia and its history, following and amplifying Aboriginal women’s voices on social media ad learning about their stories, she said.
“Amplify the voices of Aboriginal women. Learn about our lives, our work, our causes. Listen to Aboriginal women,” she said.
“Walk with us, not in front of us.”
Council chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan also spoke at the event and the role men can play in supporting women.
“The role men have is to advocate and be an ally, he said.
“[It is] a critical piece in the gender equality puzzle.”
