Judy Stewart
2024 WOMAN OF GOLD
It’s difficult to join a community – it was hard for me a woman in her country of birth.
Imagine if you had been in a refugee camp 5 weeks ago, or displaced across various countries before finding yourself in a rural Victorian city; or your brain is wired so that reading/writing/spelling and/or math’s were a nightmare that you had to face daily convinced that you are something less.
Imagine having mental health issues and trying to cope with this world as a child, imagine being a teenager facing so many options and trying to grow in a world full of opinion so easily shared as fact while trying to make sense of yourself and dealing with the circumstances of your life. Imagine!
I chose or found myself walking a path to help, to welcome, to communicate, to laugh, to be that friendly person that could be trusted. Often, I did this as an individual to the point that people thought I was a paid community worker. This was not my paid job, I had a full-time job, along with being a full-time parent but it was important that someone who cared or was frustrated with the current situation, did something for the benefit of individuals and ultimately our community. This included starting BOLD (Building Opportunities for those who Learn Differently) which ran for 12 years running sessions for education staff and families providing a shared starting point for topics such as dyslexia which was not a term being readily used in education at the time. I would welcome new arrival families, inform them about sport, especially how soccer/futsal works here provided all the details that we assume is known and connecting them and their children with clubs, facilitating their involvement and walking beside them until they are comfortable which led me to part of the Cultural Diversity Implementation Plan.
I have worked with many wonderful people and organizations, who listened, guided, and supported me so we could develop programs to benefit others and ultimately our broad community.
I have loved everything I’ve done including working with and alongside young people, many facing challenges. Being that person that cares and listens, that will advocate, support, provide suggestions and boundaries, while sometimes showing my wackiness, my mistakes and taking responsibility. I have described myself as a facilitator and that when around young people I’m like an aunt – sometimes that crazy, welcoming, always safe, trusted, and reliable aunt who doesn’t have the responsibilities of their parent or teacher. Be an aunt!
“If community is something you value then take steps to strengthen it, which might mean that you create, support, encourage, liaise for now but also for the future. Volunteer to help create the community and future that you want and don’t sit back waiting for the future you fear."
- Judy Stewart
2024 WOMEN OF GOLD ARTISTS
Women of Gold is a multimedia project celebrating the stories and contributions of women in the City of Greater Bendigo. Increasing the representation of women across different sectors and inspiring industry to innovate and meet the needs of our community as a whole.
