Jenny Wills’ fight for gender equality is well known across the Bellarine and even further afield.
That tireless work resulted in her being awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division on January 26.
Among a lengthy list of accolades, Ms Wills, from Portarlington, is a co-founder of Y-WILD (Young Women in Local Democracy) and co-founder of Empowering Women 50/50×2025 Network.
She is an inaugural and current member of the Women In Community Life Advisory Committee.
Jenny has also played a prominent role in the attempt for better public transport in and out of Portarlington and the northern Bellarine and president of the Staying in Portarlington committee from 2017.
“I’ve always been interested in issues around equality and social justice,” Ms Wills said.
“I’m really following in a lot of other women’s footsteps. One of the damning things in a way is it is just over 100 years since the first woman was elected to a Victorian council.
“It’s been very slow in terms of women’s representation.”
Ms Wills was involved in the development of the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter and is a founding member of the Australian Local Government Association.
She is currently helping to set up a new network to empower women (50/50×2025), which is aiming for an equal split of women in government by 2025.
“Time’s up for gender equality,” Ms Wills said.
“Hopefully we will achieve it this time around.”
