General News

13 March, 2025

'Breaking ceilings', International Women's Day at Ararat College

Ararat College played host to this year’s International Women’s Day morning tea, featuring speakers Katrina Beer, Martina Gemmola, and Lauren Walker.

By Ellen Anderson

Ararat College played host to this year’s International Women’s Day morning tea, featuring speakers Katrina Beer, Martina Gemmola, and Lauren Walker. 

The event embraced the theme “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”, highlighting the need for continued progress toward parity.

Mayor Cr Jo Armstrong opened the event, recognising this year's theme, for gender equality. “We are celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and today serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity,” she said.

“It urges us to increase momentum in addressing the unique barriers women face both personally and professionally. For us at council, this call resonates deeply with our commitment to fostering a community where everyone, regardless of gender, has equitable access to opportunities and is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Achieving that kind of vision is a collaborative effort,” Cr Armstrong said.

ederation University Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Katrina Beer addressed key challenges faced by women in Australia, identifying domestic violence, social violence, pay gaps, mental health, and financial impact as the top five issues.

She invoked the Latin phrase “Per ardua ad astra”, through adversity to the stars, to symbolise the resilience and determination required to overcome barriers.

“These are major issues in our community today. We've come a long way, though,” Ms Beer said, recalling how her own mother had to obtain permission from her husband, whom she was separated from, in order to undergo a hysterectomy in 1991 due to cervical cancer.

Ms Beer said through the support of others she was able to achieve goals and education that she did not believe she was capable of.

“It was only through the empowerment of other women, of my mum, through my work history, that I’ve had amazing people to support me and get me to where I am today.”

Martina Gemmola, a freelance interior photographer and former Ararat College student, shared her journey into photography, which began with a photo series of her grandmother.

Starting in Year 10, she learned darkroom photography and went on to win a junior photojournalist award. 

Her early career included working for the Herald Sun, photographing in Greece, and travelling through North and Central America.

“The opportunity to travel allowed me to see where my heart lay in terms of photography. I started photographing interiors and spaces, but it started something that has then continued into a commercially viable job,” she said.

Despite her international career, Ms Gemmola has maintained local ties, photographing projects in Ararat, including the Ararat House redesigned by fellow Ararat-born architect Adam Haddow.

“Look for your people, they are around. You’ve got to work hard and be curious and open. There are so many people who want to do something incredible together.”

Lauren Walker, a counsellor at Ararat Wellness, shared her personal journey of resilience. 

Diagnosed with Spondylitis, a spinal condition, at 21, she was forced to stop working, but instead of seeing it as a setback, she viewed it as an opportunity. 

“It led me to reflect on how I could support others facing similar challenges,” she said.

“Determined to turn adversity into opportunity, I chose to study for a diploma in counselling while unable to work.” 

By 2022, Ms Walker had recovered and officially joined Ararat Wellness, where she continues to advocate for better mental health support, particularly for neurodivergent women.

“Historically, neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD have been underdiagnosed in women due to diagnostic criteria and social perceptions that more closely align with male presentations,” she explained.

“The delay in diagnosis is often attributed to the tendency of females to mask or camouflage their symptoms, leading to under recognition and misdiagnosis,” she said

The event brought together a diverse range of perspectives, reinforcing the power of shared experiences and coming together to better not only each other but the community as a whole.

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