Parra Leagues Director Joy Cusack, and her husband John attended the Parramatta Female Factory Bicentennial Celebration on 21 February 2021 to commemorate this important milestone both for Parramattta and Australia’s history.

The event was MC’d by Gay Hendriksen (from Parramatta Female Factory Friends – PFFF), Tom Keneally and his daughter Meg Keneally (both PFFF patrons). NSW Arts Minister, Don Harwin attended.

During the event, Cilona and Rosie McDonald performed “Mothers of the Nation”, which they wrote based on the Irish Celtic genre.  The song is part of the 1821-2021 Bicentenary Song Suite (4 songs) which was written and recorded for the celebration.

Joy was grateful she, along with her husband, were able to attend this event. They both highly recommend the song “Mothers of the Nation”. Joy remarked “it is an excellent composition and tells the story of the various women of all colours, shapes, ethnicity that helped form Australia as we know it today.  Very well worth listening to!”