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International
Women's Day 1998
The
women they waited patiently,
To
hear that voice, it was Melanie,
A
speech from an indigenous sister set the scene,
The
crowd they listened, the sun it gleamed,
The
time to move was drawing near,
Justice
and Native Title, our theme this year,
United
we marched to help right the wrongs,
Raising
our voices, loud and strong,
'Not
the church, not the state,
Women
must decide our fate!'
One of
many chants of the day,
Women
determined to have our say,
The
Bangshees played their drums,
A
musical cry for justice and freedom,
Parliament
House, our rally on the steps,
Women,
their banners, the arena was set,
Our
first speaker, Michelle from the UTLC,
Her
public speaking debut as Assistant Secretary,
Than
came Max, from the AMWU,
A
Women of Metal, a proud one too,
She
was followed by Stephanie,
A
newly elected member of the ALP,
Time
for Michelle S. to have her chance,
A
feminist speaker from Resistance,
The
Bangshees led us back along the road,
No
doubt about it a really great show,
Rymill
Park, the site of our Festival,
Stalls
and entertainment, a true spectacle,
An
afternoon of rejoicing, unity and fun,
Relaxing
in the shade, too hot in the sun,
I saw
a beautiful fairy floating around,
The
laughter of children a joyous sound,
The
time arrived for the afternoon to end,
Lots
of tired smiling faces, newfound friends,
I
remember thinking as we packed our stall away,
A
bloody good effort, Happy International Women's
Day!!!
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