Community
14 March, 2024
Celebrating women
A TALE of determination and the desire to help others was among the inspiring local stories told as part of International Women’s Day.
Businesses, organisations, community groups and families across the region took a moment last Friday to celebrate the women who inspire, among whom was Terang and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) registered nurse Meena Neupane.
Mrs Neupane was the guest speaker at an International Women’s Day breakfast held at Terang hospital, where she shared with her colleagues how she forged her own path in to the healthcare industry by leaving her native Nepal for the chance of a better life in Australia – an act which has also inspired hope back home.
Mrs Neupane aspired to be a healthcare professional from a young age, following her father’s footsteps who had also worked in the industry.
In part, her decision to leave for Australia was based on the inequality women face in Nepal - from requiring a higher level of excellence to achieve the same success as male counterparts to social pressure for women to adhere to traditional gender roles.
“It’s been gradually changing in Nepal, but if you look at remote areas there are still few women allowed to go to school; they are confined in the house and have to do all the household things - they are restricted,” Mrs Neupane said.
“I’m from the city (Dang, but moved to the capital city of Kathmandu for study), but my mum teaches in rural parts of Nepal where even if you want to go to school, you would have to walk hours and hours; the landscape is so hard to get to school and back. There isn’t the vehicles or access.
“The economic differences are there too; many people in Nepal are only working for their survival; they will work in the fields just to have some food in the evening, and don’t have a lot of money for study.”
The theme for International Women’s Day in 2024 was ‘inspire inclusion,’ encouraging all to understand and value women’s inclusion to create a better world through a sense of belonging and empowerment.
Mrs Neupane is among those who inspire others through little more than living their day to day lives, bringing visibility to what women can achieve with opportunity.
Her mother often uses her story when teaching to highlight what ambitions can be achieved despite the disadvantages many people in Nepal face.
“When my mum tells my story to them, they are inspired to study, want to go to school or travel to other countries,” Mrs Neupane.
“When I went to Nepal last year, I visited where I studied when I was around four or five with my mum because I used to go to school with her.
“When I went there and met all of the people, they were all so happy and they were saying they would send their daughter to school, and if they want to study nursing I will try to pay for them.
“They’re so inspired, so it makes me feel so good – I want to go there every year.”
Mrs Neupane and her husband have been in Australia for a little over five years, moving from Sydney to the south west around two years ago at the recommendation of friends from Camperdown.
She said she loved living in the south west, and was proud to be involved with a progressive organisation such as TMHS, which makes a concerted effort to ensure equal opportunities are available to all.
“When I see an organisation led by a woman here, I tend to go back and see organisations in Nepal which have so fewer women in positions of power,” Mrs Neupane said.
“It’s amazing to work with so many women here.
“I would encourage all women to keep dreaming, keep inspiring yourself, and know that nothing is impossible to achieve.”
TMHS chief executive officer Julia Ogdin said the success of the health service was a credit to the commitment and dedication of staff members, the majority of whom are women.
“When we look to consider the hurdles that many of our female staff have overcome to pursue their careers in the health sector, it is inspiring,” she said.
“A number of our staff have committed to studying as mature aged students whilst juggling young families and the caring responsibilities of aged parents.
“These factors highlight the determination and willingness of our staff to commit to a career in rural health and be role models for their colleagues and many in our community.”