North Sydney Council Calls for Stories of Notable Women

From Australia’s first Catholic saint, to renowned artists, environmental campaigners, life-long volunteers and pioneers of women’s sport, women from North Sydney are famous for changing the world we live in.  

North Sydney Council has launched the Notable Women of North Sydney project to recognise significant women and their contributions to North Sydney and beyond.  

As part of the project, launched on International Women’s Day (8 March), the community is invited to share stories of local women, past or present. Council will use these stories to educate the area about women’s important contributions and highlight significant stories that might have been overlooked. 

Council is seeking stories about any woman with a connection to the North Sydney area - living or deceased. They could have:   

• made a significant impact on the community, state, nation or globe  

• advanced important causes such as education, health, arts, social justice, business, environment or leadership  

• received awards, honours or formal recognition at a local, national, or international level 

• been a trailblazer or pioneer – maybe they were the first in their field to make an achievement, or maybe they dismantled barriers for women or underrepresented groups 

• had an enduring influence beyond their lifetime or career  

Mayor Zoe Baker said:  

“There is a long history of women from North Sydney making a significant contribution to the local area and beyond. This started with Cammeraygal women of the Eora nation, continues through the leadership and wisdom of current First Nations women and has as grown to include women of all cultures and backgrounds.  

“North Sydney is a community that finds power in its diversity and values care, kindness and respect. International Women’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate this and to launch a project that helps us recognise more Notable Women of North Sydney.” 

In 2026, Council is recognising 12 women to kick-off the project, including Australia’s first Catholic saint, St. Mary MacKillop, renowned painter Catherine McGuinness and youth changemaker and environmental campaigner Sophia Skarparis. You'll see displays of the women along Miller Street between Marist College and Victoria Cross.  

The Notable Women of North Sydney initiative was launched at Daughters of Country, a panel talk event held on International Women’s Day at Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli. The talk featured First Nations women Aunty Lois Birk, Aunty Jeanie Moran and Maree Walford who reflected on the power of matrilineal and intergenerational connection, the role of culture in education and building resilience and what it means to connect with and learn from Country.  

See the full list of Notable Women recognised in 2026: https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/NotableWomen  

Nominate a woman: https://yoursay.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/notable-north-sydney-women/userinfo/notable-north-sydney-women  

Note to Editors 

Please credit images of the Notable Women of North Sydney correctly. All image credits can be found the zip file below.

Media Kit

Images of the Notable Women and image credits: NotableWomenImages.zip