Suzanne Bellamy and the Australian Women’s Liberation | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Suzanne Bellamy and the Australian Women’s Liberation

Catherine Dwyer presents her recent Fellowship into the life of women’s liberationist, artist and scholar Suzanne Bellamy.

Suzanne Bellamy (1948 - 2022) was an Australian feminist, artist, writer and teacher whose work advanced women's rights and inspired social change. Before her death, Suzanne expressed the wish that:

...the filmmaker/historian Catherine Dwyer undertake a creative, possibly multi-media project using my archives...to continue my work in documenting the story of our women’s movement.

Suzanne Bellamy

This research continues that vision and reflects Suzanne's commitment to documenting the women's movement. Reflecting on the importance of this work, Catherine states:

As we grapple with the unfinished business of those turbulent years, this project will help to understand the cultural moment we are in today and show how everyday people do in fact change the world.

Catherine Dwyer

Catherine Dwyer is a 2026 National Library Fellow, supported by the Stokes Family.

Learn more about National Library Fellowships

A woman with dark hair pulled back smiles at the camera while leaning on a wooden table. She wears a grey blazer over a patterned blouse. Several books and open notebooks are spread across the table in front of her.

Catherine Dwyer

Catherine Dwyer

Attend in person

Entry to this event is free but bookings are essential.

Watch online

The presentation will also be available online. Please make a booking and we will send you a direct link to the livestream event via email. Or you can join anytime through the Library's YouTube channel.

About Catherine Dwyer

Catherine Dwyer is a filmmaker and researcher. She is best known for writing and directing the widely acclaimed documentary Brazen Hussies (2020), an entertaining and detailed investigation of the Australian women’s liberation movement in the 1970s.

Catherine is also an archive producer and has recently worked on Trailblazers (2024), Her Name is Nanny Nellie (SBS/NITV, 2024), Queerstralia (ABC, 2023), Who The Bloody Hell Are We? (SBS, 2023), and The People’s Republic of Mallacoota (ABC, 2022).

Event details
29 Oct 2026
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Free
Online, Theatre
Accessibility
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon Wheelchair accessible

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