Date issued: 29 July 2008

Women attending an Annual Climbing the Corporate Ladder luncheon, hosted by CPA Australia on Friday 15 August 2008, will become a part of Victorian history by signing the 2008 Monster Petition.

They will sign one of 170 calico banners that are traveling across Victoria this year to mark the 100th anniversary of Victorian women winning the right to vote. The banners will be sewn together and displayed as the 2008 Monster Petition at the Centenary of Suffrage Finale and Parliament House Open Day on 23 November.

Minister for women's affairs Maxine Morand said, 'Our aim is to collect 30,000 signatures in acknowledgment of the achievement of the original 'monster' petition that was organized in 1891 to demonstrate to parliament that ordinary women wanted the right to vote.'

In just six weeks and after an exhaustive door knocking campaign across Victoria, the suffragists collected almost 30,000 signatures.

'The concept for a modern day monster petition has been taken up with enthusiasm by many groups,' Ms Morand said.

CPA Australia Victorian Women's Network Committee has issued an open invitation to women to join in commemorating 100 years of women's suffrage at its forthcoming lunch.

The event will celebrate the journeys of successful women with a panel of inspiring Australians. Former ABC broadcaster Lynne Haultain will facilitate a forum with the following women who will share stories of their personal journeys and give an insight into their careers:

• Dr Rhonda Cumberland — director of the Office of Women's Policy
• Karen James — general manager, direct services and sales of local business banking, Commonwealth Bank
• Christi Malthouse — TEN network reporter
• Clare Penniceard — owner and sole director of the Pig Pen Pty Ltd

Ms Morand said the 2008 Monster Petition provides the opportunity to everyone to learn more about Victorian history and role that the suffragists played in delivering a basic right — the right for everyone to vote.

The 2008 Monster Petition is about 260 metres long and 20 cm wide and is made of paper pasted to cotton or linen fabric backing, rolled onto a cardboard spindle which rests on a stand. Several attendants were required to carry it into Parliament where it was tabled in September 1891.

The petition stated that 'government of the People, by the People and for the People should mean all the People, not half'.

Today the original monster petition is held safely at Melbourne's public records office. It was recently listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Australian register and was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in August 2007.

The Climbing the Corporate Ladder luncheon will be held on Friday 15 August at The Arts Centre, ANZ Pavilion, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne at 12.00 pm for a 12.30 pm start.

To attend this event and become part of history by signing the monster petition visit the Training & Events section of the website and enter the event code 6381 and follow the prompts, or call 1300 857 705.

For further information about Victorian Women Vote 1908 – 2008 visit the Office of Women's Policy website.

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