Our People
16 March, 2026
Ararat celebrates women’s leadership on International Women’s Day
WOMEN from across the Ararat community gathered last week for an International Women's Day event at the Ararat RSL, with a panel of speakers sharing their personal and professional journeys.
Guest speakers included Olympian Sarah Blizzard, Marian College principal Catherine Howison, Ararat Women’s Shed founder Rowena Murray and Leading Senior Constable Sandra Marriner from Victoria Police.
Each speaker reflected on their experiences and perspectives on leadership, resilience and what it means to be a woman in both professional and personal life.
Olympian Sarah Blizzard told the audience about her path from athletics in Ararat to competing in bobsledding on the international stage.
After first trying the sport in 2019, she progressed quickly through and qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
“I thought well why not, what can I lose,” she said when she was offered the chance to try bobsledding.
However, despite qualifying for the Beijing Games, a difficult season meant she missed the opportunity to compete.
“I was training to be competing at those games and I just had the worst luck that season, I had a concussion, I had COVID, all these things happened and I didn’t get selected to compete,” she said.
Following the disappointment, Blizzard moved into the driver’s seat of the sled and said she has not looked back.
“I absolutely loved it, I haven’t looked back since,” she said.
“For me making the last games as an alternate and not being able to compete, it was heartbreaking, but it made this moment so much more special.”
Marian College principal Catherine Howison spoke about her own career journey from graphic designer to school principal and the importance of compassion in leadership.
“Growing up my parents impressed on us the importance and the value in helping other people,” she said. “Service wasn’t separate from leadership, service was leadership in action.”
Ms Howison said learning to embrace emotion as a strength had shaped her approach to leadership.
“Over time I’ve come to see those emotions as a strength, they allow me to lead with empathy, they allow me to be relational, to be vulnerable so people experience me as present rather than distant,” she said.
“That’s actually a really powerful form of leadership. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about staying engaged where things feel uncertain and uncomfortable because when people see you choosing courage over comfort, they know you’re in it with them and that builds trust.”
Leading Senior Constable Sandra Marriner spoke about joining the police force as a mature-aged recruit in 2004 and her passion for her work in the family violence sector.
In 2023 she was recognised as Family Violence Practitioner of the Year.
“I was really lucky, really surprised and proud to win that award,” she said.
Ms Marriner also shared the importance of the sector in regional areas sharing statistics highlighting the impact of family violence in Ararat.
In the past financial year, Ararat police attended 315 family violence incidents, compared with 344 across the Northern Grampians municipality.
“Per 100,000 people, we sit 500 above Ballarat,” she said.
Rowena Murray, founder of the Ararat Women's Shed, spoke about the importance of creating spaces where women can connect outside of work and home.
“It could be a café, a shed, a library or a park. It’s where we relax, connect with others and build belonging. They give women space to breathe. We tend to take on the mental load of our families and households, we often take on the physical load as well.”
Ms Murray said she was excited about the future of the Women’s Shed.
“I’m really excited to see what 2026 into 2027 has got to bring for the women of Ararat and people participating in the Women’s Shed,” she said.
“I’m really excited to see the shed come to life and hear some stories that are going to be created within its walls.”
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