The Event

There are a number of distinguishing  features of the Ernie Awards Dinner . We always begin with an Aboriginal Welcome to Country. This is usually performed early in the proceedings so we can get on with having a good time. Each year we celebrate a significiant anniversary for women such as winning the vote or the granting of “no fault” divorce.  We always hold a raffle to raise money for women involved in important struggles…in Timor L’Este, Zimbabwe, or for Aboriginal women’s causes in Redfern.

The two Mistresses of Ceremony, Meredith Burgmann and Yvette Andrews read out the sexist remarks in each category. The judging process is robust and democratic. Nominations are judged by the level of booing and jeering they receive.  Experienced Boo Monitors are appointed to determine the most derided remark in each category. This high pressure job is taken very seriously and to ensure the wishes of the crowd are accurately reflected, the Boo Monitors will often call for a boo-off.

Each woman who  nominates a man who is a winner in their particular category is presented with one of the tasteful Silver Ernies trophies. The nominator of the ultimate winning quote of that year gets the Gold Ernie trophy. Male winners occasionally ask if they can have the trophy and from time to time we agree.

Despite the jaundiced views of our critics, anyone who wants to come is invited. You get onto the Ernies invitation list simply by asking and you get into the Ernies Awards ceremony by wearing a “nice frock”. This fancy dress aspect is themed to the spirit of the times. In latter years, there has been a fiercely competitive “frock-off” which is judged by a celebrity style critic amidst wild cheering and shameless showing off.

Over the years these moments have been captured by photographers – Sue Tracey, Fiona Katauskas, Moya Dodd, Owen Andrews, Rose Tracey, Justine Muller, Helen Leonard, Cristina Cleveland, Maritsa Zacharakis, Maria Pasten, Shabnam Haneed.