Marg O’Rourke
2024 WOMAN OF GOLD
I left school and didn’t pursue any formal qualifications. I got a job at Telecom (now Telstra) as a typist but would scan the Commonwealth Gazette each week to look for vacancies and more senior opportunities. When I later became a Service Delivery Manager, I was the second woman in Australia to hold that role, in my time with the company I worked in all states.
My husband and I raised our two daughters during a time when being a stay-at-home-dad was uncommon. I am pleased to see that this is becoming more of the norm and the importance of sharing the household load is a key discussion point in modern society.
We are still some way off seeing our workplaces and everyday life demonstrating this, however there are positive changes taking place.
Maintaining momentum is essential, so we must all accept responsibility to speak up on issues of gender inequality and stereotypes.
We must all strive to live in a fairer, more accepting society and work together to ensure gender equality is something we can be proud to say we contributed to.
“As a local leader, it is very important to me that I demonstrate to my daughters, their friends and the wider community that your gender should not define you and that young women, in particular, have the opportunity to see what they can be.”
- Marg O’Rourke
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.
