The narcissists, the nefarious and the ne’er do wells: tales of an investigative journalist

It is an honour and privilege to be a guest at the Jessie Street National Women's library annual luncheon this September at the NSW Parliament House. To be in the company of these extrordinary, vibrant and strong women whom I respect and who fuel for my soul, brain and heart.

I am also designing and making the raffle prize for the luncheon, which always reflects the theme of the guest speaker. This years guest speaker is investigative journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald Kate McClymont and has titled her address the The narcissists, the nefarious and the ne’er do wells: tales of an investigative journalist. While she has pursued shady characters from the criminal underworld, had her phone tapped, received death threats and occasionally needed police security. Kate has broken many of the most significant, long-running stories of the last few decades, revealing crime, corruption and abuse her address should be very entartaining and shocking to say the least.

Jessie Street Jessie Street National Women’s Library is a unique specialist library dedicated to the preservation of Australian women’s work, words and history. Patrons of the library are The Hon Elizabeth Evatt AC, The Right Hon Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, The Hon Quentin Bryce AD CVO and Professor Emerita Elizabeth Webby AM.

The Library set up Tapestry to document the lives of Australian women that are not recorded anywhere else. The main aim was to collect published and unpublished materials which document the lives and experiences of women of all ethinc, racial and religious backgrounds and all socio-econimic classes.

Tapestry's establishment was announced in 1996 and members were urged to put pen to paper and start recording their lives. The plan was for these stories to be collected and published and was subsequently endorsed by the Centenary of Australia's Federation.

The Jessie Street National Women's Library

Ensures that documents relating to Australian women’s lives and activities are preserved and made accessible to highlight the contribution of Australian women to this country’s development.

To visit the library and submit your works or to book tickets for this years the anual luncheon on Monday 17th September 12pm at NSW parliamnet House, Macquarie Street, please follow this link http://www.nationalwomenslibrary.org.au/

Who was Jessie Street?

Jessie Street (1889-1970) was an activist, a feminist and a lifelong campaigner for women’s rights, the peace movement and the elimination of discrimination against Aboriginal people. She worked throughout her life to improve the status of women, both in Australia and overseas. Jessie fought for equality of status for women, equal pay, the rights of women to retain their jobs after marriage, appointment of women to public office and their election to Parliament. She stood for Federal Parliament twice and was only narrowly defeated each time.

Over the course of the next few weeks I will be revealing the design of my next piece of jewellery for the raffle, which I hope is narcissistic its craftsmanship and utterly non- nefarious!!!!

Cheers,

Connie