FORD Dr Carole

FORD Dr Carole TITC; Cert A; BA (Hons); MEd (Hons); PhD

After an extensive and outstanding career as an early childhood teacher in Victoria, Dr Carole Ford was awarded a Pro Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship to complete a PhD in Women's Studies, and subsequently lectured in Women’s Studies at Deakin University.

Her personal success in a number of sports – netball, cricket, athletics and distance running – evolved into community commitment to sports coaching and administration at both the junior and senior level.

As well as teaching, marriage, motherhood and sport, Carole’s interest in issues related to social justice and, more particularly equity for woman, provided many challenges. She was Deputy Chairperson of the Mornington Peninsula Community Health Service; Chair of the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Residents Association; presented an hour-long feminist program on community radio; stood as a candidate for State Parliament; trained and presented as a state-wide volunteer speaker for Amnesty International; and was a foundation member of the very successful and high-profile Southern Women’s Action Network.

Seeking a warmer climate, the family relocated to Cairns from the Mornington Peninsula for what her children laughingly described as their mother’s semi-retirement. Carole was appointed as the Equity and Disability Officer at TNQ TAFE and was innovative in developing programs and services to ensure access and equity for a diversity of students and their families. At TAFE, she initiated the perpetual Joan Trewern Award in partnership with Ruth's Women's Shelter, to recognise a female student who has overcome adversity to achieve their goal.

Carole was also involved in the original project to establish Girls with Spark (a training program for female electricians), which was one of the first programs in Australia designed to encourage women to gain entry into male dominated trades.

Far from retirement, Carole has recently completed a MEd (Hons) research degree and is enrolled in a Post Graduate Diploma in Law (for non-Law graduates). She is a former secretary of the Peninsula Branch of the Association of Women Educators and continues to contribute to their conferences and journal. Her involvement as developer and convenor of the Cairns Women's Network provided an excellent opportunity to engage with a diversity of wonderful women in the region and resulted in the establishment of ProChoice Cairns with Carla Gorton. This advocacy and action group continues in its endeavour to remove abortion from the criminal code in Queensland, to bring our health system into line with the rest of Australia.

Carole has written a number of occasional articles for print media, and from personal experience, recognised the incredible increase in violent and sexist language directed towards women in newspapers, on television ,and though electronic means. Relishing another challenge, she has made a commitment to action, through a range of initiatives including an awareness raising project with women from the Cairns Women’s Network, and also an open letter format in conjunction with a number of other women’s networks and organisations. Each year since arriving in Cairns, Carole has been a very active member – and more recently coordinator - of the organising committee for the International Women’s Day Dinner, which raises funds for Ruth’s Shelter. Encouraged by an enthusiastic response to create a women’s performing arts group, Carole provided a guiding hand in the establishment of Red Pavilion, which successfully staged performances of “The Vagina Monologues” as a fund-raiser for Ruth’s Shelter, and the group is planning further forays into the world of theatre.

To fill in any spare moments, Carole trained as a mentor for the Cape York Institute, and completed the preparation program with The Pyjama Foundation. As a Pyjama Angel she is involved as a volunteer in developing a love of literacy (and some literacy skills) by working one-on-one with children in foster care. Her hobbies include reading, thread and textile handcrafts, sewing clothes and soft toys for an increasing number of young grandchildren, politics and flying (she has 20 hours flying training logged). Carole has been married to John for 43 years, and they have three adult children.

Reference: Email from Carole Ford to Juanita Van Dam May 13, 2012 2:25:16 AM GMT+10:00

(c)Marjorie Earl photograph.