WIMMERA women considering a run at next year's council elections are being encouraged to learn more about local government.
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The Victorian Local Governance Association and Horsham Rural City Council will host a free workshop next month for women interested in becoming Wimmera councillors.
The workshop is part of the Local Women Leading Change campaign which "recognises the important roles that women play in their communities".
Horsham councillor Pam Clarke was elected to the council in 2003 and has served three terms as mayor. She said it was important to have a good gender balance on council.
"To do that, we need to give women the opportunity to discuss the issues that they have, which are usually different to men, and give them a really good picture about what council involves," she said.
"It's important that we have a diverse range of women with diverse ideas on the council. Council is also a stepping stone for future leadership opportunities too, such as state or federal politics.
"I would definitely like to see more women run for council next year and I have already been talking to quite a few, trying to get them to come to the workshop and help them understand what they can contribute."
Cr Clarke said attitudes had changed since she was first elected.
"It was really dominated by older men over 50, so I quite often felt like I wasn't listened to. But it has changed quite considerably," she said.
She said it was also important to have diversity of ages and backgrounds on council.
"We need diversity and people from different backgrounds to foster diverse ideas," she said.
"The way council is structured now is very different from what it was in the past. It used to be you had to be a farmer or other business owner who was flexible because we had all day meetings, which is impossible if you're in a nine to five job."
Horsham councillor Alethea Gulvin also wanted to encourage more women to consider running for council.
"It's also important to have all kinds of diversity, including having a younger demographic," she said.
She also said she'd like to see more women hold leadership roles in all areas of life.
Yarriambiack Shire council has four female councillors and three male councillors.
Yarriambiack councillor Kylie Zanker said she was proud councillors had a diverse range of backgrounds.
"It's the diversity that makes us a strong council. We have a diverse range of ages, genders and career backgrounds. I do value the fact that we have a mixed council," she said.
Cr Zanker said women were sometimes more hesitant than men to join councils.
"It's good to be able to empower each other to have a go. Women can also downplay some of the leadership roles they've had in the community. We have the skills, but don't often recognise them," she said.
Yarriambiack councillor Corinne Heintze said it was important to have a diversity of backgrounds in all workplaces.
"Workplaces with both men and women tend to have better outcomes," she said.
Cr Heintze said the reason she joined council in 2016 was to represent her community.
"I felt I had a fair handle on the community and was interested in learning about local government," she said.
"I'm not really into this gender equality thing. If you have the ability and want to do something, then just do it. Women's rights give us the right to do what ever we want with our lives.
"It's difficult to attract the right person to council. A lot of people who put their hands up are already busy with work, family and volunteering. You've got to have someone who is really community minded."
Northern Grampians Shire councillor Merrilee Reid said she was "not interested" in gender equality and called it "patronising to women".
"I didn't put my hand up for council because I'm a woman, I put it up because I want to represent my community," Cr Reid said.
"Gender equality makes me angry. I think there are many people in our community who could be on council, and it doesn't matter if they're male or female.
"There are opportunities now for both women and men in all different fields of work - we've come a long way."
The free Local Women Leading Change workshop will be at Horsham Civic Centre on August 13 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
It is open to all women in the Wimmera Southern Mallee region, including those living in the Horsham, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians and West Wimmera councils.
People can register online before August 6.
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