Campaign for statue to celebrate Jersey women

Campaign for statue to celebrate Jersey women

And, in a modern twist to a traditional practice of erecting statues to honour people and occasions, a crowd-funding campaign asking Islanders to donate towards the total cost could be launched.

A working group is developing plans to commemorate the centenary in 2019 with events including art exhibitions, talks from prominent women and a public march on the agenda.

As part of those activities, the group says it would like to see a statue erected in a prominent location. People who could be immortalilsed in the statue include the Island’s first female States Member, Ivy Forster, her sister Louisa Gould – famed for helping to hide a Russian prisoner of war during the Occupation – and the first woman to stand for election, Caroline Tracy.

Senator Kirstina Moore, who herself made history at the May election when she and poll-topper Senator Tracey Vallois became the first women to take the top two places in a Senatorial ballot, revealed plans for the statue at a breakfast event organised by Jersey Heritage, which focused on prominent women in Jersey in the past, present and future.

It was the first such event organised by the charity, with the aim of engaging the corporate market.

Senator Moore also said that the group organising the centenary celebrations were keen to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in supporting the events, as well as those interested in sponsoring them.

‘This is a very new decision taken by our working group for the 100 years celebrations,’ she told the JEP after the event. ‘The statue concept is in the early stages but perhaps if the States Assembly agrees to merge Liberation Square with the Weighbridge [as proposed in the Budget] it could go there? Or the Royal Square? The location is something to consider.

‘Firstly we would have to raise the money for the statue. I hope that this idea will inspire people and organisations to contribute. It would be great if it could be something that many people feel they have a connection with, so perhaps a crowd-funding site would be the most appropriate channel.

‘Then we will have to commission an artist to create it. When we consider the contributions of significant women to our Island’s history, there are so many who deserve recognition, and this is something that will need consideration and discussion with an artist.’

She added: ‘It is time that we celebrate these achievements and next year provides the perfect opportunity to do so.’

A special States sitting was held on 12 July 1919 which granted rate-paying women over the age of 30 the right to vote for the first time.

The decision came a year after women in England were given the vote.

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