DAVID ROOD
October 21, 2009
A SENIOR WorkSafe executive has been forced to apologise for an ''offensive'' speech in which he wore a blonde wig and made disparaging comments about the need for women's policy.
WorkSafe Victoria general manager Eric Windholz is believed to have put on the wig in a female parody as part of his farewell address to one of his employees, Jill McCabe. During the speech, delivered in front of up to 40 people, Mr Windholz is also believed to have questioned the need for women's policy.
Ms McCabe was leaving to take up a job with the State Government's Office of Women's Policy.
It is believed several people at the farewell gathering found the speech, one of several made at the afternoon tea, to be inappropriate and humiliating for Ms McCabe.
After complaints from WorkSafe staff, Mr Windholz sent a group email to his work team last Friday apologising for the incident, saying his farewell had offended some people.
''My intention was to celebrate Jill and her achievements and to express my confidence in her future success in a light-hearted and good-humoured manner,'' he said in the email, obtained by The Age.
''It is now clear to me that this is not how it was received by some people.
''For those people whom I offended, I am sorry.''
Ms McCabe and Mr Windholz declined to comment last night.
WorkSafe's executive director, John Merritt, who is married to the state Minister for Women's Affairs, Maxine Morand, was present at the farewell, which took place earlier this month. Ms Morand said the fact that some people were offended was an important reminder that what one person found funny might not be seen that way by others.
The Office of Women's Policy website says it works to ''create a community where women contribute, have their voices heard, are represented equally, and are respected and valued as citizens''.
WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt said the skit and comments were intended to be taken in a humorous vein and were taken as such by most people who were there. He said the apology was given to Ms McCabe and Mr Windholz's team after concerns were raised.
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