Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2009 - Nillumbik Shire Council

Sherryl Garbutt MP
Nominated by Sue Dyet
Sherryl was born in Pascoe Vale and
went to local state schools and Melbourne
University and later became a teacher in
northern suburbs schools.
Sherryl raised her family in Montmorency
and worked as Electorate Officer to Pauline
Toner MP. This was a natural transition as
Sherryl had developed a strong concept of
social justice during her teaching career and
was then involved in various pre-school and
school committees and setting up CAVE,
which provided emergency housing for
women in Eltham.
Sherryl played a leading role in the Save the
Eltham Copper Butterfly campaign, resulting
in a large area of habitat being made a
sanctuary, rather than developed.
Sherryl was elected to the Victorian
Parliament as Member for Greensborough
(including Eltham, Eltham North, Diamond
Creek, Apollo Parkways, Wattle Glen some
of Research and Hurstbridge) following the
death of Pauline Toner in 1989. Later, due to
redistribution, Sherryl became the Bundoora
MP from 1992 to 2006. At each subsequent
election, Sherryl increased her majority
because of her ability to listen and respond
to the concerns of the local community. In
2006, she retired as the longest serving
woman in Victorian Parliament.
In Opposition, 1992-1999, Sherryl became
Shadow Minister for Community Services
for Women, for Environment, Conservation
and Land Management and Water
Resources.
After the 1999 election, Sherryl became
Minister for Environment and Conservation
and also Women’s Affairs from 1999-2002
and in 2002-2006 Minister for Community
Services. She became Victoria’s first
Minister for Children in 2004.
Her most well known political achievements
were the establishment of Marine National
Parks and the reform of both Child
Protection and Disability Services. Sherryl
played a strong role within the Labor Party
to ensure that women were given the equal
chance to contest winnable parliamentary
seats. This has seen a vast increase in
the number of women elected as ALP
Parliamentarians.
Other achievements were the introduction
of the Companion Card, which enables
carers to accompany people with disabilities
to be accompanied to events free, and
introduction of the Victorian Honour Roll of
Women, recognising the role of women in
shaping Victoria.
In her Valedictory Speech, Sherryl said,
“My interest in and passion for politics have
always been about overcoming disadvantage
and giving people a fair go; about improving
women’s rights and opportunities and about
protecting our environment”.