Breakfast with a difference was the event the Shire of Merredin in Western Australia held to celebrate the launch of the Year of Women in Local Government.
Around 20 staff, men and women, came to breakfast in Council’s function room and were served food cooked by male employees, including CEO Greg Powell.
“Men did everything for the breakfast, including cleaning up,” said Council’s Executive Manager Community Services Debbie Morris. “We generally have three staff breakfasts a year and it is always the women who organise and do everything.
“We suggested that to recognise women, men could do everything this time. They were all very supportive and it was great that they looked after us.
“We had information and posters about the Year of Women in Local Government around the function room.
“The Shire of Merredin is generally appreciative and supportive of female staff. In fact, it’s supportive of everybody. It takes all of us, working together, to make the organisation successful.
“In a small country town, the Shire is a very good employer of women. I find there are a lot more opportunities for women in Local Government in country areas than in the city.
“Local Government has been excellent for my career. I started at the Shire 12 years ago as a Community Development Officer, moved up to community and economic development, and then into this role which oversees the visitor centre, library, theatre, community and economic development and environment.”
Half of the Shire of Merredin’s 55 employees and five of Council’s nine elected members are women.
