Monash Memo - 9 May 2001

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Women's activist honoured

Monash staff member Ms Beatrice Faust has been listed in the first Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her work in raising the profile of women's issues.

The honour roll was presented at the Centenary of Federation event Women Shaping the Nation on Monday 7 May.

It pays tribute to women pioneers and significant contributors in fields including science, sport, agriculture, business, arts and environment.

Ms Faust is currently working at the Gippsland campus as an education designer for CeLTS (Centre for Learning and Teaching Support), helping teachers develop materials for use in off-campus learning.

She was delighted to receive the honour for her involvement in women's issues.

"I'm very pleased I was selected, but there were probably 100 women who didn't get selected for every one who did. They have all made a contribution to our society," she said.

Ms Faust was one of the first women to agitate for the repeal of anti-abortion laws in 1963 and founded the Women's Electoral Lobby in 1972, which was successful in canvassing support for women's issues such as advertising contraceptives and inequality within the public service.

She has also been a prolific freelance writer for women's issues and has had articles published in The Age, The Australian, Nation Review and Vogue.