Wentworth Falls resident Jude Finch recently received an Edna Ryan Award for feminist community activism, recognising her work with women in Timor-Leste.
Ms Finch is a founding member of the Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters which works to improve the lives and opportunities of women and girls in Timor-Leste.
The group has raised nearly $1 million to support women's projects since it formed in 2004.
Most recently Ms Finch spent 18 months as a volunteer with the Alola Foundation, a women's non-government organisation in Timor-Leste, providing programs to assist women and children.
She worked with community groups and individuals to improve organisational structures, maternal and child health, create employment, promote women's human rights, strengthen community development, and improve the status of women.
Ms Finch’s work has also bought many Timorese women to the Blue Mountains, including activist Elsa Pinto in October, who talked about young women's leadership and the development of communities of support and empowerment.
The Edna Awards celebrate the work of Edna Ryan 1904 - 1997, who initiated early work on equal pay for women and established the Women's Electoral Lobby and the Women's Trade Union Commission.
“The Edna Award celebrates Jude's passion for social justice and that her work has led to strong community and leadership development as well as friendship links between women across cultures,” a Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters member said.
The Edna Award celebrates Jude's passion for social justice...
