Edna Ryan Awards (The EDNAS)
Awarded formaking a feminist difference to women in NSW and ACT, Australia.
VenueSydney Trades Hall
First awarded1998

The Edna Ryan Awards, also referred to as simply "The EDNAS", are Australian awards established to recognise women who have "made a feminist difference". The inaugural Edna Ryan Awards were held in 1998, the year following the death of Edna Ryan. Ryan was a life-long feminist, labour movement activist, and mentor and role model for a whole generation of women.[1] These awards were created to honour her life and work by a group of her friends, particularly Eva Cox and other members of the Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL).[2]

Ryan had been closely involved with WEL, particularly the Women in the Workforce group which she convened.[3] WEL hosted and administered the EDNAS from 1998 -2010, but from 2012 they were administered by The Edna Ryan Awards Committee and hosted by the Australian Services Union (ASU). In 2020 the Older Women's Network (OWN) NSW took over hosting the awards.[4][5]

Nominees for the awards must be comfortable identifying as a feminist and must live or work in NSW or the ACT as Ryan did during her lifetime. A panel reviews all nominations and the awards are presented on an annual basis at an evening social event.[6] Since their inception the awards have recognised many high-profile Australian women for their feminist activity, including Eva Cox, Meredith Burgmann, Susan Ryan, Anne Summers, Wendy McCarthy, Jane Caro and Sally McManus. However, many of the recipients have been tireless advocates for women's rights who worked as community activists over a long period with very little other reward or recognition.[7][8]

The award categories can vary but in recent years there have been awards in many fields including workforce, government, arts, community activism, media/communications, leadership, mentoring, sport and education.[9] The awards are not intended as simply recognition of women who are successful in their own field, but require evidence that their achievements or actions have made a feminist difference by improving the lives and status of women within the community. There is also a Grand Stirrer award for inciting others to challenge the status quo.

Grand Stirrer Award Recipients

Name Year
Sam Mostyn[10] 2023
Chanel Contos 2022
Brittany Higgins 2021
fEMPOWER 2018
Mehreen Faruqi 2017
Amanda Hill 2016
Tara Moss 2015
Sally McManus 2015
Dorothy McRae-McMahon 2014
Destroy The Joint 2013
Teresa Savage 2012
Rhonda Wilson 2009
Karen Lee Willis 2008
Tegan Wagner 2006
Gerri Greenfield 2005
Anne Summers 2004
Di Graham 2003
Wendy McCarthy 2002
Dorothy Symonds 2002
Robyn Plaister 2001
Jennie George 2000
Joan Bielski 1999
Eva Cox 1998

Award Recipients–by year (all categories)

2022

Name Category
Chanel Contos Grand Stirrer
Louise Hislop Political Activism
Amanda Rose Leadership
Annie Crowe Community Activism
Brenda Gaddi Leadership
Janice Paulson Mentorship
Jenny Leong Leadership
Julia Zemiro Media Communication
Licia Heath Political Activism
Lorraine Usher Mentoring
Maha Abdo Community Activism
Malaika Mfula Leadership
Rizina Yadav Leadership
Melina Georgousakis Mentoring
Natalie Lang Workforce
Renae Ryan Workforce
Romy Listo Leadership
Rosie Herberte Arts
Sue Edmonds Arts

2021

Name Category
Brittany Higgins Grand Stirrer
Ann Reynolds Community Activism
Adina Jacobs Mentoring
Bobbi Mahlab Mentoring
Catherine Gander Leadership
Charmaine Huisman Community Activism
Claire Couson Arts
Clair Jackson Arts
Danielle Villafana Community Activism
Denise Thompson Media/Communication
Diane Hague Workforce
Dulce Munoz Community Activism
Elaine Evans Leadership
Elizabeth Hill Workforce
Emily Mayo Media/Communication
Georgie Dent Workforce
Hayley Foster Leadership
Jess Hill Media/Communication
Jo-Anne Cahill Arts
Kim Loo Community Activism
Kittu Randhawa Leadership
Robynne Murphey Workforce
Rosell Flatley Arts
Sunita Gloster Media/Communication
The Loveys Arts
Yvette Kinkade Community Activism

2018

Name Category
Mary O'Sullivan Community Activism
Leonie McGuire Community Activism
fEMPOWER Grand Stirrer
Lee Lewis Arts
Pearlie McNeill Arts
Margot Oliver Media/Communication
Deborah Brennan Education
Helen L'Orange Leadership
Marilyn Hatton Leadership

2017

Name Category
Erin Wen Ai Chew Community Activism
Jude Finch Community Activism
Lewina Jackson Community Activism
Simone White Community Activism
Mary Konstantopoulos Sport
Mehreen Faruqi Grand Stirrer
The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe Arts
Nina Angelo Arts
Gabriele Jones Arts
Erika Addis Media/Communication
End Rape on Campus Australia (EROC) Education
Hannah Wandel Education
Rachel Cooper Workforce
Marion Brown Leadership

2016

Name Category
Billi McCarthy-Price and

Hannah Massingham[11]

Sport
Amanda Hill Grand Stirrer
The Women's Library Arts
Catherine Ordway Sport
Lina Cabaero Workforce
Janine Whiteman Mentoring
Carol Booth and Liz Rickman Leadership
Sharon McKinnon Leadership
Darriea Turley Government
Jozefa Sobski Education
Jan Breckenridge Education
Monica Davidson Media/Communication
Julie Perkins Community Activism
Jane Davidson Community Activism
Heidi Zajac[11] Community Activism

2015

Name Category
Ashleigh Thomson Mentoring
Margaret Hickie Mentoring
Louise Evans Sport
Chris Ronalds Leadership
Margaret Henry Leadership
Sally McManus Grand Stirrer
Betty Ferguson Mentoring
Amanda Shalala Sport
Tara Moss Grand Stirrer
Finola Moorhead Arts
Darelle Duncan Community Activism
Jeannie Sotheran Community Activism
Saba Vasefi[12] Community Activism
Anjani Regmi Community Activism
Frances Crimmins Leadership

2014

Name Category
Roxanne McMurray Leadership
Maeve Marsden Arts
Vee Malnar Arts
Lillian Howell Project Community Activism
Marilyn Forsythe Workforce
Bronwyn Culling Mentoring
Lin Cooper Mentoring
Bush Lemons Leadership
Marian Baird Workforce
Hawzhin Azeez Media/Communication
Kate Rowe Sport
McKenzie Raymond Community Activism
Zoya Patel Media/Communication
Dorothy McRae-McMahon Grand Stirrer

2013

Name Category
Suzie van Opdorp Community Activism
Shirley Kent Community Activism
Anne Buttsworth Media/Communication
Maree O'Halloran Leadership
Kim Rubenstein[13] Leadership
Destroy The Joint Grand Stirrer
Ursula Frederick Arts
Lee Grant Arts
Rebecca Ordish Mentoring
Fiona Miller Mentoring
Wendy Herbert Education
Dragica Sinikoski Education
Danielle Warby Sport
Heather Reid Sport

2012

Name Category
Nadia Saleh Workforce
Sonia Laverty Workforce
Bronwyn Penrith Mentoring
Natasa Nikolic Mentoring
Sylvia Kinder Mentoring
Teresa Savage Grand Stirrer
Jenna Price Media/Communication
Maree McDermott Community Activism
Bronwyn Bancroft Arts
Georgina Abrahams Arts
Cigdem Aydemir Arts
Jan McDonald Community Activism

2010

Name Category
Ludo McFerran Community Activism
Jennifer Dalitz Workforce
Kat Armstrong Battling
Debbie Carstens Workforce
Shokufeh Kavani Arts
Sue Salthouse Community Activism
Nina Funnell Media/Communication
Frances Plummer Mentoring
Mary Dimech Mentoring
Jane Pollard Education
Dawn Atkinston Education
Gabe Kavanagh Community Activism
Rose Campbell Community Activism
Susan Smith Community Activism
Maggy Fargo Community Activism

2009

Name Category
Edith Weisberg Education
Charmaigne Weldon Battling
Ruth Pollard Media/Communication
Jane Caro Media/Communication
Rhonda Wilson Grand Stirrer
Julie Bates Workforce
Patricia Griffin Community Activism

2008

Name Category
Jo Kowalczyk Workforce
Liz Barlow Government
Lesley Laing Education
Jude Irwin Education
Matina Mottee Community Activism
Karen Lee Willis Grand Stirrer
Elaine Odgers Norling Community Activism
Judy James Bailey Media/Communication
Beth Eldridge Community Activism
Christine Sinclair Community Activism
Tess Brill Community Activism

2007

Name Category
Julie Velthuys Mentoring
Ellie Ellis Education
Rosemary Kariuki Community Activism
Muyesser Durer Battling
Kellie Tranter Community Activism
Spiderlily Redgold Media/Communication
Denele Crozier Community Activism
Libby Silva Community Activism
Marie Muir Community Activism
Emily Maguire Media/Communication
Rosalind Helyard Education

2006

Name Category
Liz Ashburn Arts
Betty Green Community Activism
Jane Corpuz-Brock Community Activism
Dorothy Hoddinott Education
Joy Goodsell Community Activism
Adele Horin Media/Communication
Carmel Nola Media/Communication
Catherine Fox Media/Communication
Claire Moore (Senator) Government
Victoria Abigail Mentoring
Jude Stoddart Workforce
Rosemary Richards Workforce
Daphne Baxter Workforce
Helen Westwood Community Activism
Marie Coleman Government
Anne Field Government
Tegan Wagner Grand Stirrer
Priscilla Lumsden Community Activism
Dixie Link-Gordon Mentoring
Judith Troeth (Senator) Government
Lyn Allison (Senator) Government

2005

Name Category
Merilyn Childs Workforce
Josephine Conway Community Activism
Alva Geikie Community Activism
Nola Cooper Community Activism
Bronwyn Moye Government
Gerri Greenfield Grand Stirrer
Margaret Kirkby Access to Abortion
Julia Freebury Access to Abortion
Jacqui Smith Mentoring
Margaret Alston Mentoring
Helen Campbell Media/Communication
Anne-Mason Furnage Battling
Stefania Siedlecky Access to Abortion
Trude Kallir Community Activism
Dorothy Cora Community Activism

2004

Name Category
Muriel Hortin Community Activism
Susan Ryan Government
Margo Moore Community Activism
Anne Summers Grand Stirrer
Lucy Porter Battling
Phillippa Hall Workforce
Joan Lemaire Mentoring
Dominique Hogan-Doran Workforce
Julie Griffiths Mentoring

2003

Name Category
Jean Slarke Workforce
Denise Ferris Arts
Di Graham Grand Stirrer
Roseleen Healy Arts
Cate Turner Community Activism
Rebecca Reilly Workforce
Aileen Beaver Workforce
Suzan Virago Workforce
Betty Johnson Community Activism
Elizabeth O'Brien Community Activism
Vicki Potempa Community Activism
Clare Burton Grand Stirrer
Susan Kendall Government
Fran Hayes Workforce

2002

Name Category
Rachael Oakes-Ash Humour
Judy Horacek Humour
Julia Baird Media/Communication
Kathleen Swinbourne Government
Elizabeth Dawson Education
Wendy McCarthy Grand Stirrer
Dorothy Symonds Grand Stirrer
Janne Ellen Community Activism
Joyce Stevens Mentoring
Betty Little Battling
Leichhardt Women's Community Health Centre Community Activism
Jan Roberts Community Activism
Jill Bruneau Arts

2001

Name Category
Kristine Cruden Government
Robyn Plaister Grand Stirrer
Erica Lewis Government
Toni Modafferi Media/Communication
Merle Highet Community Activism
Pam Johnston Community Activism
Maggie Smyth Mentoring
Shirley Jones Arts
Chrissie Shaw Arts
Martha Ansara Media/Communication
Kathryn McConnochie Arts
NSW Teachers' Federation (on behalf of 13 women casual teachers) Workforce
Pat Richardson Battling
Emma Tom Humour

2000

Name Category
Suzanne Bellamy Arts
Jennie George Grand Stirrer
Jan Wood Community Activism
Christine Nixon Mentoring
Margaret Jones Battling
Sarah Maddison Battling
Rae Frances Workforce

1999

Name Category
Joan Bielski Grand Stirrer
Gail Hewison Arts
Noreen Hewett Battling
Jane Gardiner Media/Communication
Helen McDermott Workforce
Cathy Block Mentoring
Kate Lavender Community Activism

1998

Name Category
Jenny Taylor Battling
Meredith Burgmann Humour
Juliet Richter Lobbyist
Sheryle Bagwell Media/Communication
Eva Cox Grand Stirrer
Marlene Arditto Political Potholder
Julie Compton Battling
Misha Schubert Young Woman
Ann Symonds Government
Sharon Tobin Workforce
Peggy Hewett Arts
Lina Cabaero Workforce

References

  1. Hutton, Marg, ed. (1997). Edna Ryan Remembered. New International Bookshop Cooperative. ISBN 0646330489.
  2. "History of the Awards | Edna Ryan Awards". www.ednaryan.net.au. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  3. Bielski, Joan (July 2005). "The History, Organisation and Achievements of WEL NSW" (PDF). Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  4. "Driving on roads is not enough". City of Sydney - What’s On. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. "History of the Awards". Edna Ryan Awards. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. "Nominations | Edna Ryan Awards". www.ednaryan.net.au. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  7. "Women's advocate smashed educational barriers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  8. "Joyce Stevens: tireless activist for women's and workers' rights". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. "Awards 1998 onwards | Edna Ryan Awards". www.ednaryan.net.au. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  10. "Winner of feminist "Grand Stirrer" Award announced on air". ABC listen. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Edna Ryan Award wins for Y Canberra women". YWCA Canberra. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  12. "Saba Vasefi receives Edna Ryan Award". Asylum Seekers Centre. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  13. "2013 Edna Ryan Award". ANU College of Law. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
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