You have to laugh. Or you’ll cry.
A strong, clear media release goes out: factual, future-focused, and full of integrity. It speaks to leadership, collaboration, and the kind of good governance our communities are crying out for.
And somehow, somewhere between inbox and interpretation, it becomes… “she said they had a lovely morning tea.”
Of course she did.
She didn’t speak – but she still got quoted
You can’t make this stuff up.
The Mayor hosted the event.
He spoke with clarity and warmth.
He was the only male councillor in attendance.
He honoured the seven women being recognised for their extraordinary contributions.
And he said this:
“Volunteers are the bedrock of our community. We’re proud to recognise these remarkable women and grateful for the legacy they continue to build.”
– Mayor Cameron McDonald
That quote was in the official media release.
It did not appear in the published article.
Instead, the only quote included was from the Deputy Mayor, a woman who did not speak at the event, and it was about morning tea.
So let’s be clear:
The man who did speak, and said something meaningful , was erased.
The woman who didn’t speak was given a flippant quote about catering.
This isn’t inclusive storytelling. This is careless distortion.
It undermines everyone involved. The Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, and most of all, the women being honoured. It suggests that what mattered most wasn’t the decades of service, or the formal recognition, or the collective legacy of women shaping community life – but the muffins.
That’s why it makes you cringe.
Because we know this move. We’ve seen it before.
A woman is made visible, but only in ways that soften and shrink her.
The men who show up with leadership? Erased.
The women who deserve to be quoted for courage? Rewritten.
And what makes it worse is this:
You had the facts.
You had the quotes.
You had the truth.
And you still chose the scones.
You can read the article in The Bugle here. Then ask yourself: why did the only quote we see reduce this important event to something twee?
Women don’t need front pages if all they get are crumbs.
We need stories that reflect who we are and what we bring – not the leftovers from someone else’s narrative.
So next time, tell the truth. All of it. And read past the biscuits.
She’s not here to decorate the room. She’s here to help lead it.
#SheLeads #HiddenTreasures #RespectHerVoice #WomenInLeadership #Kiama #TheBugle #TheBugleNewspaper #TheBugleApp #CommunityChampions #ChangeTheNarrative #EqualityMatters #VolunteerVoices