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Two of my articles were published in The Beagle online newspaper; and BayPost/Moruya Examiner/The Independent online and print newspapers in July as part of the Eurobodalla Fellowship of Australian Writers 'Write Place, Write Time' series.
Leadership, social history, Patricia Evans: a woman before her time inspiring new generations. From 2013, Suzanne Newnham researched her mother Patricia Evans’ pioneering story, to inspire future generations. Patricia has been recognised for her achievements: Hall of Fame; Herstory educational database multiple recognition by BORAL including 2021 International Women’s Day. In 2021 What glass Ceiling? Patricia Julianne Evans (nee Morris): a memoir was published. These days we tend to take for granted that women fulfil all kinds of roles and responsibilities, but in 1949 becoming BORAL’s (Bitumen and Oil Refineries Australia Limited’s) first female accountant was a big deal at a societal level. For Patricia, whose motto was "never underestimate what you can do in life", it was just another stride forward in demonstrating that she was equally skilled working within male-dominated industries. This didn’t mean there weren’t obstacles and discrimination but these were overshadowed by her independence, desire for learning, and making the most of opportunities when they presented. From a young age having seen her parents embrace diversity and inclusion, she emulated their values, and wasn’t afraid to be a voice. Patricia tells amusing anecdotes when her shortened name, Pat, was used and the confusion when not a man but a capable woman presented herself and her work. A believer in “can the person do the job?”, she was insistent that a woman, man, disadvantaged, differing cultural heritage, or homosexual, was no excuse not to employ them. Patricia helped others break the glass ceiling, empowering them to realise their abilities. Patricia was a natural story-teller. Her work revolved around facts and figures However, memories for other detail creates insights into the past: from 1940s and 50s, walking through grimy factories, to sitting in the splendour of polished oak boardrooms; smelling intoxicating lanolin-soaked wood in wool-stores, or pungent rubber of the sandshoe factory; to 1970s gleaming glass and modern buildings overlooking the harbour. Suzanne considers herself lucky that she is from a long line of strong, resilient, and practical women: her mother Patricia, grandmother Phyllis, 1920s to mid-1973 financially capable, unafraid of male-dominated banking and real-estate traditions; and great-grandmother Lizzie with her thriving bridal-trousseau business from 1896 to 1937. Patricia Evans 1927-2022 Rest in Peace Suzanne Newnham is the author of Ethics of a Psychic Reading and What Glass Ceiling?; writer and contributor to numerous journals and anthologies; health advocate for chronic pain management; and researcher into chronic pain using Tai Chi, Qigong, and meditation. Her current project is family inspired social history – 180 years of pubs on Moruya Waterfront Hotel Motel site with a request for stories, anecdotes, family history, photos, and/or documents from everyone to include in this look at a social icon in the community. For all Suzanne’s publications, information, and purchase: https://www.suzanne-newnham.com Moruya pub project:https://www.suzanne-newnham.com/books--articles.html
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 Today 17th March is a poignant day. I keep in mind your motto: Never underestimate what you can do in life. Mamma - a beautiful, inspiring, loving mother, I miss hearing your stories, hearing your laughter and seeing your smile, the 2am cups of tea and watching 'Overboard' yet again.
A year ago ... the number of times I've gone to ring you with some exciting news or just to say hello; the visits to Canberra; but you're not there. It's another St Patrick's Day, a day which was special to you, the start of your new life in Canberra in 1976, and the day you left. Mamma, you're in my heart always I'm honoured that you entrusted me with your life story and so proud that What Glass Ceiling? was published so that you could read it, and send to your family and friends. That your friend read to you on your last day chapters from your book fills me with joy and comfort.
This sample theme with fancy font looks interesting, I'll have a look. On opening the theme the layout was uninspiring, however, on trying to revert back to the original this new one remained. A few attempts later it stubbornly held fast. The previous was no longer accessible in theme back-up. An upgrade in the past was all it took to remove a site that I'd been told was 'full of personality', 'absolutely beautiful'. For years the compliments had flowed like water. Now not only was the name with its beautiful font and shadowing no more, but the Magellan Cloud background had disappeared.
With articles to write and send before submission deadlines, the last thing I needed was to completely re-design a website. Grieving struck. I was in denial that this could have happened as I was so careful about backing up my website. Realising I couldn't update the site with some exciting news, finding the time to replace the nondescript theme staring back at me had suddenly been made priority. Anger seethed that my website imagery no longer existed, and feeling a loss of my online identity; the talking to, shouting at, and bargaining with my inanimate laptop were all futile. The offending not-my-theme resolutely stuck to my screen. Searching for options, my shoulders slumped as a foreboding depression grew, coupled with the frustration that I had to find time to completely redesign my website. It seemed ages before the fifth stage of grieving - acceptance - was to become apparent. After nine years, I'm taking the opportunity to create a new look, rebrand, with emphasis on my books; a new look website has emerged. Suzanne Newnham’s memoir What Glass Ceiling? chronicles her mother Patricia’s extraordinary journey in establishing her career during a period of Australia’s history when women did not have many opportunities to do so. Newnham’s fluent storytelling reveals her mother’s inquisitive nature, fostered by her parents when she was a small child in the 1930s, encouraging her questioning mind and enabling her to succeed later.
As a young girl in the 1950s, Patricia is intelligent, hard-working and determined to attend university to study medicine. While this dream is unrealised due to bureaucratic reasons, Patricia studies accountancy at college, just as her beloved father (and her role model) did. Later, she begins an internship with an accountancy firm, showing great aptitude for auditing and bookkeeping. Her work assignments are fascinating – auditing the accounts of a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of Australian companies, giving Patricia (and the reader) rare insights. Newnham’s colourful bird’s-eye descriptions of Sydney’s city streets create tantalising images. We ‘see’ Patricia arrive to brief company board members wearing her smart two-piece and heels (she had done some modelling in her twenties, so she knew how to enter a room), carrying ledgers, pencils, and paper in hand, confident of her skills. One gets the sense that Patricia is undeterred by the social norms of the times, entering this male-dominated field expecting full access. When one company’s board member assumes he will be briefed by a male version of ‘Pat’, Patricia remembered: “As I walked into the board room for a client meeting with a group of executives to discuss accounts, I was greeted by many incredulous expressions: this was in addition to hearing a lot of fussing about me being a female and not a male accountant, so I calmly queried “do you think I had two heads?” It probably wasn’t a mature way to speak, but an educated woman in a position of responsibility within a company shouldn’t be considered odd!” Over the years, Patricia adds marriage and four children - fitting her work and voluntary activities around family life. She epitomises ‘work-life balance’ before the term is in common usage. Yet, as we turn the pages to the story’s end, Newnham’s evident love, pride and respect for her mother’s achievements leave a lasting impression. What Glass Ceiling? is a ‘must-read’ for daughters of today’s generation as they evaluate how to ‘do it all.' They would learn a great deal about one woman’s unintended leadership shaping a fulfilling career just ‘by doing’ at a time when it was often exclaimed: “Ladies, just don’t do that!” What Glass Ceiling? reveals the merits of walking beyond the obstacles that aim to prevent us from achieving. Rather, we should not consider life a strategic project - all mapped out in front of us. It should be taken in bite-sized portions, never more than we can chew. Karen Kentwell 2023  1949, at 21 years of age, Patricia was the first female accountant with Bitumen and Oil Refineries (Australia) Ltd. In 2021, Patricia was guest speaker for BORAL's professional women's group - WISE. Given a BORAL bear following her talk it soon became a treasured reminder of an exciting part of her life.
Patricia's memoir What Glass Ceiling? is available in print and e-book.  In time for Christmas and the New Year the e-book is 50% discounted between 16 Dec to 1 January 2023 via Smashwords: What Glass Ceiling? Patricia Julianne Evans (nee Morris) a memoir
Discounted from $US6.99 to $US 3.49 (approximately $5.10 Australian dollars) Signed print copies are available for postage within Australia through https://www.suzanne-newnham.com/store/p1/books--articles.html  My talk at the Eurobodalla Health & Psychic expo was just by chance - I contacted to see if I could have my books for sale there and when I took them into the Moruya Golf Club on Saturday morning I was offered a spot on the (already full) program to talk about my Ethics of a Psychic Reading book, and then for Sunday too. I was put last on list of talks and then first today - which luckily for me also meant that if I was triggered by sounds I wouldn't be disrupting the schedule for others. I'm quite restricted because of a medical reaction to sound and have to always weigh up 'can I cope with the situation/event', 'am I prepared for, and is it worth, a decline in health for an indeterminate period of time'?
I haven't been doing readings at fairs or expos for years as I'm not well enough to cope with sounds, and it is too risky to commit in an unfamiliar space. Fortunately this weekend, there were no singing bowls, drums, chimes, or music to trigger a medical reaction. Thank you to Nina and the Eurobodalla Health & Psychic Expo at Moruya for the opportunity to participate, and promote Ethics of a Psychic Reading. Sunday turned into an amazing discussion with Anne-Veronica from Rainbow Light Reflections facilitating (in lieu of her talk – thank you for including me) and members of the audience asking questions, explaining their experiences, wanting to know more about how to understand more in the world of spirit when everything is either new or doesn’t make sense. The joy of learning and sharing. I'll post my full talk shortly.  It's my double publishing anniversary: 10 years on 11 July for 'Ethics of a Psychic Reading'; one year on 8 July for 'What Glass Ceiling?'
I'm so excited marketing and promoting both books. https://www.suzanne-newnham.com/books--articles.html  What Glass Ceiling? Patricia Julianne Evans (nee Morris): a memoir was launched on Sunday 25th July.
What Glass Ceiling? tells the story of Patricia Evans/Morris, one of the earliest women to work in accounting in Australia. Family and career, with professional and social expectations through each decade interweave her story. Some of Patricia's achievements include: BORAL's first female accountant 1949; workplace family-friendly contract 1968; National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame 2017; recognised by BORAL for 2021 International Women's Day Print books available via Bookstore page E-books available in various formats: Smashwords; Scribd; Barnes & Noble; Apple; Kobo; Odilo |
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