Dr Johnston in Tasmania?

The 18th century scholar Dr Johnston once remarked “a woman's preaching is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.”  We have come a long way since then, to the point where in Tasmania a group from State and Federal Governments, the Local Government Association, and the Australian Local Government Women’s Association says there are now more women in councils across Tasmania.

Women’s Association president Cheryl Fuller has told ABC Local Radio that in 2007 there were 66 female councillors out of a total of 281.  Today there are 77 and she says many more are interested in nominating.  "We had 130 ladies that came along to five functions that were held around the state including King Island so out of those 130 people they were at a range of stages as far as their nominations were concerned," she said.  "There was a group of women that had already decided to stand, some were perhaps toying with the idea because they'd come in to contact with council recently, they were at a range of stages."

Ah yes – women are ladies but men are men.  The old shibboleths die hard.