International Women’s Day spirit alive and well at Ceres Fair : Melbourne Indymedia

Dipty Saravannamutu and Jacinta Le Plastrier read poetry. I particularly enjoyed Jocelyn Scutt’s piece, I guess it was a sort of prose poem whose basic message was that what we love we can save. What we love we cannot allow to disappear. The power and urgency of her message made their impact on me and on the others too.

Lucie Thorne sang us her own songs with simplicity and vigour. She is so direct and unassuming yet has quite an imposing presence on the stage.

Kathleen Maltzahn spoke for Project Respect which acts to oppose trafficking in women for sex. How can it be that such horrors are perpetrated on women even here in Australia? Surely we are all obliged to make sure that every woman is treated with respect.

How refreshing to see the two acrobats from the Women’s Circus. Their bodies were so fit and lithe and, well, female. Not for them the depilatory knives and jellies offered up in every women’s magazine. And aren’t we beautiful enough just as we are? Or do we have to attain some ideal of perfection so that we can be perfect commodities for those who wish to consume us?

I’m not doing justice to all the entertainers who so generously performed for us today. Vardos and Erica Pringle were there, and more. The Sudanese Dance Groups showed us their joyful dance rhythms. They all made our afternoon memorable.

As fitting a celebration of women, the events included and honoured children. The Chaos Fairies gathered up little tribes of children for fun and face-painting. And the children were there at the front too, dancing with the musicians and bringing their magic and spontaneity to the stage.

A great afternoon. It’s wonderful to know that the spirit of International Women’s Day is alive and well at Ceres.