A leader among Cairns’ multicultural communities and an advocate for gender equality has been awarded one of the city’s top accolades this morning.
Kesa Strieby has been named the 2022 Cairns Woman of the Year for her tireless commitment to the Cairns and Region Multicultural Association (CARMA), of which she is the long-time volunteer President.
Cairns Regional Council has also revealed its Young Woman of the Year winner, as well as scholarship recipient, at this morning’s International Women’s Day breakfast event.
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Holding her role at CARMA since 2007, Ms Strieby supports people from more than 50 cultural groups, particularly assisting new arrivals as they settle into the region.
She strives to make sure new community members keep cultural connections intact, while promoting opportunities for women young and old beyond their typical gender roles.
Mayoress Claire Manning described Ms Strieby as someone who helps women across Cairns realise their potential.
“Kesa humbly yet boldly takes on challenges, heading up a large not-for-profit organisation that supports and celebrates the many diverse cultural groups in Cairns,” Mrs Manning said.
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“Within CARMA, Kesa not only facilitates and attends community events, but also works closely to mentor community groups and individuals, encouraging them to engage with the local communities, often despite great hurdles.
“There is great respect held for Kesa in our many and varied communities of Cairns.”
Alongside her volunteer work, Ms Strieby spends her day-to-day helping disadvantaged people to find support and accommodation as an assistant with Care and Housing at OzCare.
Jess Fatnowna, a leader among the Cairns hockey community and a proud First Nations woman, was also named Cairns Young Woman of the Year.
As part of Cairns Hockey’s Aspire to be Deadly program, Ms Fatnowna is a guardian and mentor to young girls, drives the Aspire Me mentoring program in four high schools, and supervises a Healthy Choices eating program.
She has created programs that include dance, physical activity, team building and cultural support with over 30 young people per week attending the Aspire Community Hub and Yarning Place at Cairns Hockey.
Ms Fatnowna is also a leader and mentor in programs involving more than 2000 participants a year from Torres Strait Island/Cape York and Gulf Savannah regions.
“Ms Fatnowna has sadly experienced discrimination herself, and has dedicated her life to breaking bias and stereotypes on many levels with a level of empathy, strength and determination beyond her years,” Mrs Manning said.
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“She is realising her vision to create safe learning spaces where engagement is nurtured, and self-worth and self-belief can grow.”
Council’s International Women’s Day Scholarship was awarded to former Cairns Netball president Kym McPhee-Smith, a dedicated volunteer who is seeking to advance her coaching qualifications to support the development of netball in Cairns.
The awards breakfast included a keynote speech by Sharon Dawson, director of the Dawsons Group and deputy chair of Racing Queensland.
Australian Winter Olympian Breeana ‘Bobsled Bree’ Walker, who finished fifth in the women’s monobob at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, also made a special appearance.
Across town at Cairns Airport, Menzies Aviation celebrated International Women’s Day with an all-woman ramp team across the entire airport.
Ramp agents do a range of tasks, including loading and unloading baggage and cargo, aircraft pushback and aircraft receipt and despatch.
The women ensured the safe and on time departure of the first Qantas and QantasLink flights of the day, then worked with their colleagues in passenger services to check-in and board passengers and air cargo for the early departure of a Virgin Australia flight.
Ground Handling Manager Nicholas Trueman said Menzies Aviation Australia and New Zealand exceeded a target to double the number of women ramp agents in 2021.
“At Menzies we want everyone to bring their whole selves to work and to achieve their maximum potential, regardless of their identity or background," he said.
"While International Women’s Day is great, we think women should be supported to reach their full potential every day.
"We’re really proud of our all-woman Cairns team who showed that anyone can break the bias and work in what has traditionally been a male dominated industry.”
So far in Cairns, nine per cent of the ramp team are women.
Menzies is aiming for at least 40 per cent of its middle leadership roles to be occupied by women by 2033 and 25 per cent of senior leadership roles by 2025.
