Edna Ryan Awards

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Edna Ryan Awards
Awarded formaking a feminist difference to women in NSW and ACT, Australia.
VenueSydney Trades Hall
First awarded1998

The Edna Ryan Awards, also referred to as simply "The EDNAS", are Australian awards established to recognise women who have "made a feminist difference". The inaugural Edna Ryan Awards were held in 1998, the year following the death of their namesake Edna Ryan. Ryan was a life-long feminist, labour movement activist, and mentor and role model for a whole generation of women. [1] These awards were created to honour her life and work by a group of her friends, particularly Eva Cox and other members of the Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL). [2]

Contents

Ryan had been closely involved with WEL, particularly the Women in the Workforce group which she convened. [3] WEL hosted and administered the EDNAS from 1998 -2010, but from 2012 they were administered by The Edna Ryan Awards Committee and hosted by the Australian Services Union (ASU). In 2020 the Older Women's Network (OWN) NSW took over hosting the awards. [4] [5]

Nominees for the awards must be comfortable identifying as a feminist and must live or work in NSW or the ACT as Ryan did during her lifetime. A panel reviews all nominations and the awards are presented on an annual basis at an evening social event. [6] Since their inception the awards have recognised many high-profile Australian women for their feminist activity, including Eva Cox, Meredith Burgmann, Susan Ryan, Anne Summers, Wendy McCarthy, Jane Caro and Sally McManus. However, many of the recipients have been tireless advocates for women's rights who worked as community activists over a long period with very little other reward or recognition. [7] [8]

The award categories can vary but in recent years there have been awards in many fields including workforce, government, arts, community activism, media/communications, leadership, mentoring, sport and education. [9] The awards are not intended as simply recognition of women who are successful in their own field, but require evidence that their achievements or actions have made a feminist difference by improving the lives and status of women within the community. There is also a Grand Stirrer award for inciting others to challenge the status quo.

Grand Stirrer Award Recipients

NameYear
Sam Mostyn [10] 2023
Chanel Contos 2022
Brittany Higgins 2021
fEMPOWER2018
Mehreen Faruqi 2017
Amanda Hill2016
Tara Moss 2015
Sally McManus 2015
Dorothy McRae-McMahon 2014
Destroy The Joint 2013
Teresa Savage2012
Rhonda Wilson2009
Karen Lee Willis2008
Tegan Wagner 2006
Gerri Greenfield2005
Anne Summers 2004
Di Graham2003
Wendy McCarthy 2002
Dorothy Symonds2002
Robyn Plaister 2001
Jennie George 2000
Joan Bielski 1999
Eva Cox 1998

Award Recipients–by year (all categories)

2023

NameCategory
Sam Mostyn Grand Stirrer
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon Arts
Bree van Reyk Arts
Kristine HewettCommunity Activism
Audrey MimsCommunity Activism
Climate Writers: Marlene Baquiran & Eezu TanCommunity Activism
Sarah RosenbergCommunity Activism
Chrystina Stanford Leadership
Ginger Gorman Media Communication
Daphne Lowe KellyMentoring
Shirley RandellMentoring
Pilar LopezMentoring
Vanessa Donald-SmithMentoring
Anne Junor Workforce
Meg SmithWorkforce
Neelima KadiyalaWorkforce

2022

NameCategory
Chanel Contos Grand Stirrer
Louise HislopPolitical Activism
Amanda RoseLeadership
Annie CroweCommunity Activism
Brenda GaddiLeadership
Janice PaulsonMentorship
Jenny Leong Leadership
Julia Zemiro Media Communication
Licia HeathPolitical Activism
Lorraine UsherMentoring
Maha AbdoCommunity Activism
Malaika MfulaLeadership
Rizina YadavLeadership
Melina Georgousakis Mentoring
Natalie LangWorkforce
Renae Ryan Workforce
Romy ListoLeadership
Rosie HerberteArts
Sue EdmondsArts

2021

NameCategory
Brittany Higgins Grand Stirrer
Ann ReynoldsCommunity Activism
Adina JacobsMentoring
Bobbi MahlabMentoring
Catherine Gander Leadership
Charmaine HuismanCommunity Activism
Claire Couson Arts
Clair Jackson Arts
Danielle VillafanaCommunity Activism
Denise ThompsonMedia/Communication
Diane HagueWorkforce
Dulce MunozCommunity Activism
Elaine EvansLeadership
Elizabeth HillWorkforce
Emily Mayo Media/Communication
Georgie Dent Workforce
Hayley FosterLeadership
Jess Hill Media/Communication
Jo-Anne CahillArts
Kim LooCommunity Activism
Kittu RandhawaLeadership
Robynne MurpheyWorkforce
Rosell Flatley Arts
Sunita GlosterMedia/Communication
The LoveysArts
Yvette KinkadeCommunity Activism

2018

NameCategory
Mary O'SullivanCommunity Activism
Leonie McGuireCommunity Activism
fEMPOWERGrand Stirrer
Lee Lewis Arts
Pearlie McNeillArts
Margot OliverMedia/Communication
Deborah Brennan Education
Helen L'OrangeLeadership
Marilyn HattonLeadership

2017

NameCategory
Erin Wen Ai ChewCommunity Activism
Jude FinchCommunity Activism
Lewina JacksonCommunity Activism
Simone WhiteCommunity Activism
Mary KonstantopoulosSport
Mehreen Faruqi Grand Stirrer
The Baulkham Hills African Ladies TroupeArts
Nina AngeloArts
Gabriele JonesArts
Erika Addis Media/Communication
End Rape on Campus Australia (EROC)Education
Hannah WandelEducation
Rachel CooperWorkforce
Marion BrownLeadership

2016

NameCategory
Billi McCarthy-Price and

Hannah Massingham [11]

Sport
Amanda HillGrand Stirrer
The Women's Library Arts
Catherine OrdwaySport
Lina CabaeroWorkforce
Janine WhitemanMentoring
Carol Booth and Liz RickmanLeadership
Sharon McKinnonLeadership
Darriea TurleyGovernment
Jozefa Sobski Education
Jan BreckenridgeEducation
Monica DavidsonMedia/Communication
Julie PerkinsCommunity Activism
Jane DavidsonCommunity Activism
Heidi Zajac [11] Community Activism

2015

NameCategory
Ashleigh ThomsonMentoring
Margaret HickieMentoring
Louise EvansSport
Chris RonaldsLeadership
Margaret Henry Leadership
Sally McManus Grand Stirrer
Betty FergusonMentoring
Amanda ShalalaSport
Tara Moss Grand Stirrer
Finola Moorhead Arts
Darelle DuncanCommunity Activism
Jeannie SotheranCommunity Activism
Saba Vasefi [12] Community Activism
Anjani RegmiCommunity Activism
Frances CrimminsLeadership

2014

NameCategory
Roxanne McMurrayLeadership
Maeve MarsdenArts
Vee MalnarArts
Lillian Howell ProjectCommunity Activism
Marilyn ForsytheWorkforce
Bronwyn CullingMentoring
Lin CooperMentoring
Bush LemonsLeadership
Marian Baird Workforce
Hawzhin AzeezMedia/Communication
Kate RoweSport
McKenzie RaymondCommunity Activism
Zoya PatelMedia/Communication
Dorothy McRae-McMahon Grand Stirrer

2013

NameCategory
Suzie van OpdorpCommunity Activism
Shirley KentCommunity Activism
Anne ButtsworthMedia/Communication
Maree O'HalloranLeadership
Kim Rubenstein [13] Leadership
Destroy The Joint Grand Stirrer
Ursula FrederickArts
Lee GrantArts
Rebecca OrdishMentoring
Fiona MillerMentoring
Wendy HerbertEducation
Dragica SinikoskiEducation
Danielle WarbySport
Heather ReidSport

2012

NameCategory
Nadia SalehWorkforce
Sonia LavertyWorkforce
Bronwyn PenrithMentoring
Natasa NikolicMentoring
Sylvia KinderMentoring
Teresa SavageGrand Stirrer
Jenna Price Media/Communication
Maree McDermottCommunity Activism
Bronwyn Bancroft Arts
Georgina AbrahamsArts
Cigdem AydemirArts
Jan McDonaldCommunity Activism

2010

NameCategory
Ludo McFerranCommunity Activism
Jennifer DalitzWorkforce
Kat ArmstrongBattling
Debbie CarstensWorkforce
Shokufeh Kavani Arts
Sue SalthouseCommunity Activism
Nina FunnellMedia/Communication
Frances PlummerMentoring
Mary DimechMentoring
Jane PollardEducation
Dawn AtkinstonEducation
Gabe KavanaghCommunity Activism
Rose CampbellCommunity Activism
Susan SmithCommunity Activism
Maggy FargoCommunity Activism

2009

NameCategory
Edith WeisbergEducation
Charmaigne WeldonBattling
Ruth PollardMedia/Communication
Jane Caro Media/Communication
Rhonda WilsonGrand Stirrer
Julie BatesWorkforce
Patricia GriffinCommunity Activism

2008

NameCategory
Jo KowalczykWorkforce
Liz BarlowGovernment
Lesley LaingEducation
Jude IrwinEducation
Matina MotteeCommunity Activism
Karen Lee WillisGrand Stirrer
Elaine Odgers NorlingCommunity Activism
Judy James BaileyMedia/Communication
Beth EldridgeCommunity Activism
Christine SinclairCommunity Activism
Tess BrillCommunity Activism

2007

NameCategory
Julie VelthuysMentoring
Ellie EllisEducation
Rosemary KariukiCommunity Activism
Muyesser DurerBattling
Kellie TranterCommunity Activism
Spiderlily RedgoldMedia/Communication
Denele CrozierCommunity Activism
Libby SilvaCommunity Activism
Marie MuirCommunity Activism
Emily Maguire Media/Communication
Rosalind HelyardEducation

2006

NameCategory
Liz AshburnArts
Betty GreenCommunity Activism
Jane Corpuz-BrockCommunity Activism
Dorothy HoddinottEducation
Joy GoodsellCommunity Activism
Adele Horin Media/Communication
Carmel NolaMedia/Communication
Catherine Fox Media/Communication
Claire Moore (Senator)Government
Victoria AbigailMentoring
Jude StoddartWorkforce
Rosemary RichardsWorkforce
Daphne BaxterWorkforce
Helen Westwood Community Activism
Marie Coleman Government
Anne FieldGovernment
Tegan Wagner Grand Stirrer
Priscilla LumsdenCommunity Activism
Dixie Link-GordonMentoring
Judith Troeth (Senator)Government
Lyn Allison (Senator)Government

2005

NameCategory
Merilyn ChildsWorkforce
Josephine ConwayCommunity Activism
Alva GeikieCommunity Activism
Nola CooperCommunity Activism
Bronwyn MoyeGovernment
Gerri GreenfieldGrand Stirrer
Margaret KirkbyAccess to Abortion
Julia FreeburyAccess to Abortion
Jacqui SmithMentoring
Margaret AlstonMentoring
Helen CampbellMedia/Communication
Anne-Mason FurnageBattling
Stefania Siedlecky Access to Abortion
Trude KallirCommunity Activism
Dorothy CoraCommunity Activism

2004

NameCategory
Muriel HortinCommunity Activism
Susan Ryan Government
Margo MooreCommunity Activism
Anne Summers Grand Stirrer
Lucy PorterBattling
Phillippa HallWorkforce
Joan LemaireMentoring
Dominique Hogan-DoranWorkforce
Julie GriffithsMentoring

2003

NameCategory
Jean SlarkeWorkforce
Denise FerrisArts
Di GrahamGrand Stirrer
Roseleen HealyArts
Cate TurnerCommunity Activism
Rebecca ReillyWorkforce
Aileen BeaverWorkforce
Suzan ViragoWorkforce
Betty JohnsonCommunity Activism
Elizabeth O'BrienCommunity Activism
Vicki PotempaCommunity Activism
Clare BurtonGrand Stirrer
Susan KendallGovernment
Fran HayesWorkforce

2002

NameCategory
Rachael Oakes-AshHumour
Judy Horacek Humour
Julia Baird Media/Communication
Kathleen SwinbourneGovernment
Elizabeth DawsonEducation
Wendy McCarthy Grand Stirrer
Dorothy SymondsGrand Stirrer
Janne EllenCommunity Activism
Joyce Stevens Mentoring
Betty LittleBattling
Leichhardt Women's Community Health CentreCommunity Activism
Jan RobertsCommunity Activism
Jill BruneauArts

2001

NameCategory
Kristine CrudenGovernment
Robyn PlaisterGrand Stirrer
Erica LewisGovernment
Toni ModafferiMedia/Communication
Merle HighetCommunity Activism
Pam JohnstonCommunity Activism
Maggie SmythMentoring
Shirley JonesArts
Chrissie ShawArts
Martha Ansara Media/Communication
Kathryn McConnochieArts
NSW Teachers' Federation (on behalf of 13 women casual teachers)Workforce
Pat RichardsonBattling
Emma Tom Humour

2000

NameCategory
Suzanne BellamyArts
Jennie George Grand Stirrer
Jan WoodCommunity Activism
Christine Nixon Mentoring
Margaret JonesBattling
Sarah MaddisonBattling
Rae Frances Workforce

1999

NameCategory
Joan Bielski Grand Stirrer
Gail HewisonArts
Noreen HewettBattling
Jane GardinerMedia/Communication
Helen McDermottWorkforce
Cathy BlockMentoring
Kate LavenderCommunity Activism

1998

NameCategory
Jenny TaylorBattling
Meredith Burgmann Humour
Juliet RichterLobbyist
Sheryle BagwellMedia/Communication
Eva Cox Grand Stirrer
Marlene ArdittoPolitical Potholder
Julie ComptonBattling
Misha Schubert Young Woman
Ann Symonds Government
Sharon TobinWorkforce
Peggy HewettArts
Lina CabaeroWorkforce

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References

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  10. "Winner of feminist "Grand Stirrer" Award announced on air". ABC listen. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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  12. "Saba Vasefi receives Edna Ryan Award". Asylum Seekers Centre. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
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