Maria Tanos is just one of several women featured on the tribute gallery for her achievements and contribution to the Greek Australian community of south-eastern Brisbane.

You could describe Maria’s contribution as ’simply delicious’. She has spent many years preparing culinary delights for fundraising events including those for people in need.

As well as being known for her cooking skills, Maria has served in honorary positions in various philanthropic organisations.

Her longest standing voluntary contribution has been to the Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society of St George, which she joined as a founding member in 1959. Maria has been an executive committee member for the past 14 years, a role which involves cooking for the organisation’s various fundraising lunches.

Maria also wears the hat of executive committee member of the Greek Welfare Trust of the Community of St George, the organisation that raises funds for the Greek Orthodox Community Welfare Centre. Maria helps prepare morning tea for parishioners, cooking meals and sweets for the annual Christmas dinner and assisting with aged care respite activities.

Maria has also volunteered for the Cypriot Community of Queensland, including two years as vice president of the Hellenic RSL Women’s Committee at St Nicholas Hostel for the Aged, and at World Expo ‘88.

In response to the recent floods, Maria assisted the community by preparing sandwiches for the many victims and volunteers assisting in the recovery.

Maria is a hard-working, warm and caring person, who is always willing to help out, and is admired by all she comes into contact with.

Margaret Baison is just one of several women featured on the tribute gallery for her extraordinary efforts in fostering cultural understanding throughout her many years volunteering in the Townsville area.

Originally from Papua New Guinea, Margaret established the Townsville Papua Nuigini Logohou Association in 1980 to provide support for visitors and immigrants from PNG..

Margaret played an instrumental role in forging Townsville’s sister-city relationship with Port Moresby in 1983 and in making Papua New Guinean cultural events, such as Independence Day celebrations, important dates on Townsville’s community calendar.

Margaret was a Townsville Migrant Resource Centre committee member for 11 years and is still involved with the centre as a member of the International Women’s Group. Through this group she has helped women who have migrated from different parts of the world to settle more easily into the Townsville community.

Margaret accommodates people who have to travel for treatment at Townsville Hospital. She also works to promote Papua New Guinean culture through dance performances and art and craft displays at the annual Townville Cultural Festival. Margaret’s Hiri Dancers perform along with her granddaughter’s group, the Pacific Tamure Dances, at many community celebrations.

By volunteering her time and boundless energy, Margaret has been successful in passing on traditional knowledge to the younger generation of the local Papua New Guinean population, as well as the wider Townsville community.

Visit the Everyday women, extraordinary lives tribute gallery now at www.women.qld.gov.au, where you’ll find full details of the eligibility criteria and how to nominate.

If you know a Queensland woman or girl, aged 12 years or over, who is making a difference in your life or in your community, nominate her now to appear in the Queensland Government’s Everyday women, extraordinary lives online tribute gallery.

The gallery is an opportunity for Queenslanders to recognise the extraordinary efforts of women in our communities, in celebration of the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2011.

Each woman whose story appears in the gallery will receive a centennial International Women’s Day certificate and lapel pin. Ten nominated women will be invited to attend an International Women’s Day function in Brisbane on 8 March 2011. 

There are many women and girls across Queensland who are from multicultural backgrounds and are making positive contributions to their communities and the lives of others. Give them the recognition they deserve!

Radmila Desic is just one of several women featured in the tribute gallery for her extraordinary achievements and contribution to changing attitudes towards women in non-traditional careers.

A mum, a friend, a carpenter, a role model, Radmila is an inspiration to many young Queensland women, particularly to girls wanting to start an apprenticeship or traineeship.

A former Yugoslavian born native who immigrated to Brisbane in 1980, Rad has been in the construction industry for over 18 years and has worked tirelessly and passionately to enhance and promote the profile of women working in the industry, at the same time as juggling a busy home life.

Through her work with Construction Skills Queensland and as President of the Queensland Chapter of the National Association for Women in Construction in a volunteer capacity, she has achieved success in exposing the sector to the positive contribution women can make in building and construction.

Rad is a very special everyday woman who freely gives her time to help young women in the construction industry.

Salmeen Al Haider is just one of several women featured in the tribute gallery for her extraordinary achievements and contribution to improving women’s lives.

Salmeen is currently studying a Masters of Social Work at Queensland University of Technology but says her social work started when she was released from an immigration detention centre when she was 11 years old.

Salmeen’s personal experiences as a female Middle Eastern refugee have made her passionate about helping women and children. She has worked with Amnesty International and the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma.

She has spent the last two years assisting a group of Mandaean women from Iraq, Iran and neighbouring countries establish a community organisation. Salmeen took the group to Canberra to meet parliamentarians and talk about human rights issues and wrote a confronting account of these women’s experiences.

Salmeen says she is not afraid to share the perspectives on behalf of women who have no voice. She knows women have suffered because they haven’t had the opportunity to stand up for their rights.

Salmeen loves her work, although it can be tough. She says she will never stop helping women from her community because ‘if we give up, all our hard work will go to waste’.

Visit the Everyday women, extraordinary lives tribute gallery now at www.women.qld.gov.au, where you’ll find full details of the eligibility criteria and how to nominate.

The latest issue of UNEEK magazine is now out, with Australian fashion designer Kanchi on the cover.