Dear Julia

Dear Julia, 

I struggle to think of any other way to start this letter then by saying thank you. Two small words that I’m sure you have heard a multitude of times over the last 10 years. As with most Aussies I remember where I was when you made the famous speech, a speech that influenced not just me, not only Australian women but world leaders, educators, parents and beyond. It was a moment in history that was bigger than parliament & bigger than Abbot. It was strong yet calm, powerful yet sensitive and angry whilst still remaining centred. 

… But here’s the thing, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t socially conditioned at the time to feel the heat of the misogyny that lived within my mind. I knew it was powerful, but I was young and fearful of the repercussions for what this would mean for you, knowing all too well the shameful, sexist language you had been exposed to prior. What I also did not understand on this day was the impact that this speech would have on shaping the woman I became. We were given the language to connect with other women and recognise that we can say no from engaging with sexist views rather than adhering to the polite social cues we’ve been taught. We are allowed to say, this is enough. We are allowed to take up space. Period. 

In hindsight, these messages are confronting for me to acknowledge - because yes, that meant ahead of your speech I had not granted myself or my female counterparts the opportunity to be motivated to exists as equal and lean into our power. 

To commemorate this fateful moment in history I saw you speak in Sydney to commemorate 10 years since your ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ speech. It is safe to say that your light and power has only strengthened over the last 10 years. You shared your experience and the moments ahead of this famous speech. That there was minimal formal preparation but as though there was a calm that came over you. You spoke so beautifully about how you were able to deliver it with such force - you were angry, you were analytical and you were empowered. I left feeling inspired in a way that was actionable. It wasn’t overwhelming, but rather a calm motivation that confirmed the path of The Georgie Collective. You spoke of the trust when women collaborate and connect because we lead with compassion, and it is essential that we create more spaces to do so. 

So here we are. 10 years on, and whilst it is important to reflect on the positive leaps we’ve taken over the last 10 years, “We are entitled to a better standard than this”, and we’re working to get there.