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2008 Monster Petition project

In 2008, over 350 calico banners displaying the 'Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008’ logo travelled to metropolitan, rural and regional areas in Victoria. Victorians were invited to sign these as a way of marking the centenary.

The aim was to collect 30,000 signatures in acknowledgment of the achievement of the original Monster Petition and as a commitment to pursuing equality for women in all aspects of Victorian life.
On Monday 10 November a selection of these banners were displayed on the steps of Parliament. The Premier John Brumby, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Maxine Morand and Victoria’s only woman Premier, the Hon Joan Kirner were present to sign one of the final banners.

So far, over 30,000 signatures have been counted. If sewn together, the 2008 Monster Petition would measure 450 metres in length.

About the original Monster Petition

In 1891, Premier James Munro said he would introduce a bill for women's suffrage if it were demonstrated that ordinary women wanted this right.

The Victorian Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the Victorian Women’s Suffrage Society took up the challenge, joining forces to organise a petition. Embarking on a door knocking campaign across Victoria, they collected almost 30,000 signatures in six weeks.

The Monster Petition, so named for its great length, is about 260 metres long and 200mm wide and is made of paper pasted to cotton or linen fabric backing, rolled onto a cardboard spindle which rests on a stand. Several attendants were required to carry it into Parliament where it was tabled in September 1891.

For more information and to search for signatures on the Monster Petition, log onto:

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/WomensPetition/background.htm
http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/petitions/women.asp

For further information about the 2008 Monster Petition Project please contact The Office of Women’s Policy on (03) 9208 3129 or by email owp@dpcd.vic.gov.au

Parliament House Open Day and Victorian Women Vote 1908-2008 - 23 November 2008

On Sunday 23 November, the Parliament of Victoria held its annual Open Day. Visitors embarked on a self-guided one way tour that ended in the Parliamentary Gardens. This year’s open day focused on the contribution of women over the last 100 years, and highlighted some of the many activities and projects that were presented as part of the Victorian Women Vote celebrations.

Banners from the 2008 Monster Petition Project were on view as a digital feature and a selection of banners were displayed in Queens Hall. The 1891 Monster Petition was also on display in Queens Hall, as well as a display of 100 ceramic suffragists.

DVD’s by Arts Festival Committee Mirboo North, Wonthaggi Neighbourhood House, Central Goldfields Art Gallery – Maryborough, and Women's Health Goulburn North East were screened.

A marquee in the Parliamentary Gardens featured displays from a number of Centenary of Suffrage Community Grants recipients including:

Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association
Beechworth Arts Council
Casterton & District Historical Society
Cloverdale Community House
Country Women's Association – Bacchus Marsh
Dallas Neighbourhood House
East Grampians Health Service
Haddon Community House
Meriba Service Club of Colac
Union of Australian Women
Victorian Women's Trust
Women's Electoral Lobby (WELS)

Victorian Women's Football League held a handball competition in the gardens

Short performances by the Turaton Players, Women of Woady Centenary Choir, Ranges Young Strings, Catherine Connor’s brass septet performing a fanfare, Wilma Farrow, the Women’s Circus, the Stiletto Sisters and MC Shirley Billing were on stage in the Parliamentary Gardens.

The Public Record Office of Victoria’s Signature Stories exhibition was on display inside Parliament House.

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