International Womens Day Sydney 11 March 2017: The Hens hit the streets with vim, spit and pink knitted hats

This were another grand turn out bursting' with colour and fresh ideas, for all ages and a cross section of unions, community groups an' cultures. If you ever needed to hear the message-this was the place to be. The speakers reflected over and over-that is women bearing the costs of austerity, that the funding cuts for 'inessential services' cut the marrow out of the groups set up to help and support those most disadvantaged. What was particularly galling was the message of MediBank making profits from domestic violence-the twisted ways the neo libs give a paltry amount and lip service to something well busily taking real funding away. This rally demonstrated women at the forefront of many grass root organisations making positive change. Not getting the resources or recognition deserved for rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it. Overall, a fight back rally showing optimism that the spirit of what makes people decent has not been ground down. We are not beaten! Not silent or ready to be silenced. Small gripe, it would have been good to see the construction workers who were at the Thursday rally come and support this one...as for the politicians...we miss the likes of Tom Uren!

The pictures speak for themself:

Many conversations... 

MUA women here to stay

Trumble? Surely Socialist Alliance don't mean Bumble, our prime miser?

This woman came off the street to join the rally because she was overjoyed to see so many women on the march

Eee oop lad! Girl power is a mighty and good thing

They're all in it together if you ask me...

A policeman on a bicycle stopping us from going onto bridge. Right or left? MUA went left! Typical bloody union!

Pay them what they are worth! They are educating the future

MUA walk the walk of strong unions need women

I remember the Star Trek episode with the gold thingey in it

More conversations

Justice still waiting for the first people

More conversation, more chat than on Thursday's rally with the building blokes

Dont mess with the pink bonnets Trump Trumble

This is what generations of feminists look like

Notice how well everyone was getting along

Take heed Mr Tranbrill and Mr Rubble you can't keep robbing the poor-we fight back

So SBS did a reasonable bit of coverage but elsewhere this march seems to have been ignored. Because it was so full of positive women? Because many of the issues raised were to do with helping make a more decent society. Because if we had the public discussion about how thread bare are our priorities. Fund domestic violence education and refuges vs Snowy River dam or a sports stadium or Bangaroo...This were strong women on the march. Mostly unionists and that is encouraging as they were also young and representing new migrants, the most poorly paid and likely to be exploited. Penalty rates? The discussion we should be having is paying a living wage-not creating yet more opportunities for redundancy and the darling of flexible work arrangements-zero hours contracts by stealth. I think if Michaela Cash had stumbled out into this crowd they might of knitted her into a pink tea cosy and given she is Minister for Women-where was she? Probably at home knitting her pink bonnet?

And:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/11/pussy-riot-revolution-donald-trump-vladimir-putin