Mia Feasey, Dai Le, Wendy McCarthy, and Pauline Nguyen
DAWN, a new women’s network, was born in Fairfield, New South Wales, last week when more than 200 women and their supporters celebrated the inauguration of the Diverse Australasian Women’s Network at the Paradiso Function Centre.
The network aims to provide support for leadership, professional participation, heritage and culture among women of Australian and Asian background.
DAWN’s main focus will be on women of Asian background in Asia and the Pacific but women from non-Asian backgrounds are also welcome to join.
Fairfield City councillor Dai Le is one of the six founding members of new women’s network, DAWN
Officially launching the network, veteran Australian feminist and current chair of Circus Oz, Wendy McCarthy, told the gathering of mostly young women that she remembered how hard it was to advance the cause of women in the 1970s.
“But women know what is best for them and together they can change the rules,” she said.
Ms McCarthy said that 125 years ago a women’s magazine, The Dawn, was conceived and published by Louisa Lawson, early feminist and mother of poet Henry Lawson.
“This is a good omen and it echoes an early initiative for women in the tradition of women getting together to help each other,” Ms McCarthy said.
Other guest speakers were the founder of the famous Red Lantern restaurant Pauline Nguyen and interior designer Mia Feasey.
DAWN has six founding members: Dai Le, Fairfield councillor; Sue Lee Lim, MA student; Connie Nguyen, entrepreneur; Sarah Huynh, home loan financier; Katrina Le, financial advisor; and Tiana Tran, public servant.
The next event will be held to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2014.
