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Mrs Jan de Kretser - Wife of the Governor of Victoria
Chief Patron of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition Inc. since September 2006
Mrs de Kretser (nee Warren) was born and educated in Melbourne and has continued to live in this city most of her life. She was educated at Glenhuntly State Primary School and Methodist Ladies College (at the Cato branch and the main Kew campus) and trained as an Occupational Therapist, initially working in psychiatric hospitals. Married to David de Kretser in 1962, they and their children lived in Seattle (1969 – 71) and Edinburgh (1975) while David gained post-graduate medical training and experience.
After upgrading her Occupational Therapy qualifications, Mrs de Kretser joined the staff of the Occupational Therapy School at the (then) Lincoln School of Health Sciences (later part of La Trobe University), teaching in the undergraduate program and co-ordinating various continuing education courses and workshops for graduates until leaving the School in 1997. Professor and Mrs de Kretser have four adult sons (two living in Melbourne, one in Auckland and one in Edinburgh) and three grandchildren. 
Joan Kirner . First woman Premier for the State of Victoria in 1990
. Co-convenor of Emily's List
. Co-authored with Moira Rayner the best selling Women's Power Handbook
. Organised the Women Shaping the Nation event and presentation of the Victorian Honour Roll of women in the Victorian Parliament with 756 women present, May 2001
. Became the leader of the Opposition in 1992
. Member of the Victorian Parliament in 1982 as a MLC (ALP) for the Province of Melbourne West
. Moved to the lower house as the member for Williamstown in 1988, was later appointed Minister for Education (1988-1990) and Minister for Ethnic Affairs (1990-1991)
Dur-e Dara . Born Ipoh, Malaysia of Indian ancestry in 1945 and settled in Australia in 1962
. President of the Restaurant and Catering Association of Victoria
. Convenor of the Victorian Women's Trust
. Vice-president of Philanthropy Australia
. Board member of Victorian Wineries Tourism Council and Business Matrix Victoria
. Director of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition
. Set up a consortium of small investors for EQ Cafebar (Southbank) 
Joy Murphy Wandin . Joy Murphy Wandin is an Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people
. Has been involved with Aboriginal issues for 30 years and is Chairperson of the Australian Indigenous Consultative Assembly
. She has held executive positions across the sectors of Government
. Honorary Professor of Swinburne University
. A Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria
. Member of the Victoria Police Ethical Standards Consultative Committee
. Operates her own business Jarlo Visions 
Fiona Smith . Chairperson of the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria http://www.eoc.vic.gov.au since December 2003
. Brings more than 20 years legal and governance experience across Federal and State tribunals, government agencies and the not-for-profit sector to her role as Chairperson
. With extensive experience in social justice and disability issues and has been an accredited mediator since 1997
. Advocate for social justice and human rights issues in paid and voluntary roles, previously working with organisations such as Australian Council of Social Services and the Brotherhood of St Laurence where she managed an equal opportunity unit in the 1980's. The major focus of the unit was women in the social and community industry
. In 2003 Fiona was awarded a Centenary Medal for contribution to the Victorian Justice system
The VIRWC would like to sincerely thank these esteemed Matrons/Patrons for their invaluable support and assistance. All of the above Matrons/Patrons were officially announced at our Inaugural Multicultural Fundraising Dinner at the Box Hill Town Hall on Friday 3 December 2004.
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