Last weekend, Readings was fortunate be involved with the Breakthrough conference, which was hosted by the wonderful Victorian Women’s Trust (VWT) at the Melbourne Town Hall. This gathering’s aim was to bring together voices that support and celebrate gender equality. Over the two-day meet up, more than 100 different speakers shared their stories of working towards a manifesto based on respect and representation to an audience of nearly a thousand women. It was an uplifting experience.

Before I came to work at Readings I managed the Women’s Hospital’s “Absolutely Women’s Health” program. This program was designed to bring women’s political, economic, emotional and physical health to the forefront of public discussion. After my time there, I moved on to the YWCA where I managed their young women’s program. Throughout both these roles, I spent hours at Readings, browsing the shelves for stories by women from here and overseas. The bookshop became one of my primary sources of education and affirmation.

Sometimes listening to others gives you the necessary imperative you need to continue to fight for equality. Other times, you need a quiet place and a good book to assist you in the arduous process. I’ve found what works best is a combination of the two.

Our bestselling books at the conference included (in no particular order):

• Speaking Out by Tara Moss
• Fight like a Girl by Clementine Ford
• Econobabble by Richard Denniss
• Doing it edited by Karen Pickering
• A Mother’s Story by Rosie Batty with Bryce Corbett
• Yassmin’s Story by Yassmin Abdel-Magied
• I am Woman Hear Me Draw by Judy Horacek
• On Doubt by Leigh Sales

Congratulations to the VWT for an inspiring event. And to those that attended: I’m with you.