THE FIRST female Speaker of the Victorian Parliament, Judy Maddigan will deliver the 2015 J.K. McDougall Lecture in Ararat.
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Ms Maddigan's lecture is titled: ‘The Speaker who refused to be called Madam’.
The Ararat Branch of the Australian Labor Party said it was delighted to continue the tradition of bringing highly respected political figures to the district.
The J.K. McDougall lecture is its 13th year and has included a string of notable speakers including Julia Gillard, John Brumby, Joan Kirner, Barry Jones and Joel Fitzgibbon.
Ms Maddigan was the Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2006.
She said the J.K. McDougall Lecture was held in high regard across the Labor Party.
"The Ararat branch of the ALP is renowned for its passion and vision and it's a real honour to be invited to speak at the J.K. McDougall Lecture," Ms Maddigan said.
The J.K. McDougall lecture series was initiated to celebrate the centenary of the Ararat ALP branch.
The lecture series is a tribute to J.K. McDougall who was the Ararat branch's first secretary and member for the federal seat of Wannon from 1906 until 1913.
J K McDougall was a farmer, poet and prose writer, an activist and politician. He was also part of a great Labor tradition, ‘a champion of regional development’, responsible for the extension of telephone, telegraph and postal services in his Wannon electorate.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the J.K. McDougall Lecture on Saturday, October 17 in the Red Room at the Ararat Hotel commencing 6.30pm.
Tickets are $50 for adults and $40 for concession card holders and can be booked with Julie Suares 0409 611 275 or email jasuares@bigpond.com