The conference focussed on encouraging more women to nominate to positions in local government, as well as supporting women who are already working within the local government sector. 

Cr Coleman said she was extremely passionate about ALGWA’s goals.

“Our main focus, irrelevant of political allegiance, is trying to encourage women to get involved in local government. At the moment the percentage of women councillors in New South Wales sits at 29.5 per cent. We would like it to be fifty-fifty, like the community we represent.

“I’m excited to be on such a diverse committee, and learn from these women who will help me become a better councillor.”

Ms Coleman said her role on the executive would open up opportunities for Lithgow. 

“The really important thing for Lithgow is that the executive meets six times a year around the state in different locations, three in the city and three in the country, and one of those meetings this year will be held in Lithgow on November 17, because I pushed that through,” she said.

“The bigger picture, and I have spoken to the mayor and the general manager of Lithgow City Council about this, is Lithgow bidding for the next [ALGWA] conference to be here in in 2021. 

“Bringing 100 women here is so beneficial to our town, and they would stay in our accommodation, eat out, and visit in our shops. We will have to bid against other country towns but the great step forward is that they will be here in November.

“I’m so proud to represent Lithgow in this association and put Lithgow on the map.” 

Both Cr Statham and Cr Coleman said they were committed to supporting more women running for councillor positions in Lithgow. 

“Women are a voice and should be entitled to speak up,” Cr Statham said. 

“I think as women we are pretty harsh on ourselves. Women need to be more open minded and know that they are worthy of taking a seat on council or any other board or position they wish to go into.

“As a councillor I’m always networking with people and encouraging them to join groups whether that’s council, the Garden Club, Can Assist, it’s no different. In Can Assist we have 35 members and only a couple of them of male so we encourage men to join Can Assist too.”

Cr Coleman said that ALGWA would run forums for women interested in joining council before Lithgow’s next election.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” she said.

“The biggest step is to get more women to run for local government, which is really quite daunting,” she said.

“It’s really difficult for women who have younger children to consider running. They need to be reassured that they’re able to bring children to committee and council meetings. There’s no reason why that can’t be supported.

“I’m lucky because I have teenage girls and my husband is very supportive and picks up a lot of the slack. But there should be no reason why women can’t run.”

Both councillors mentioned the usefulness of a presentation skills workshop run by networking professional Robyn Henderson. 

“She explained some points on speaking and how to correct yourself, which is useful for when you need to get up chamber and express your point of view,” Cr Coleman said. 

The national president of ALGWA Cr Coral Ross mentioned in her opening address ALGWA’s intention to organise a nation-wide survey on councillors’ experience of sexual harassment and sexist comments, inspired by the international #metoo and #it’s time movements. 

Cr Ross quoted a UK report on gender disparity in government. 

“Whilst we make the case for women’s representation and for diversity we must also reflect on the fact that men never have to justify their over-representation. ‘Why do we need men in local government?’, is a question never asked,” she said.