Oral History of Women's Political Activity

Mavis Cooper, nee Price, was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria and grew up in Melbourne. She trained as a nurse and moved to Jamestown, South Australia after she met her future husband, a farmer, on holiday there. After joining the Country Women's Association's choir in 1957, she was soon an office holder in the local branch. Mavis outlines the CWA's aims and organisation in explaining her progression from Branch President to State President in 1974 and National President in 1977. She describes her efforts in travelling to meet and speaks with women so that she could correctly represent their views, and emphasises that many social issues concerning members are far from conservative and can be closely related to the women's and environmental movements. She speaks of the growing consciousness amongst members of the CWA as a powerful lobby group. She also speaks of the organisation's Women's Suffrage Centenary activities and her hopes for the future.

Recorded on 9 March 1994. 1 hour 26 minutes, 1 photograph.