• Entry type: Resource
  • Entry ID: AWH002767

Eve Mahlab interviewed by Kim Rubenstein in the Trailblazing women and the law pilot oral history project [sound recording]

  • Repository National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore Collection
  • Reference ORAL TRC 6230/2
  • Date Range 30-Aug-10 - 31-Aug-10
  • Description

    3 sound files (ca. 325 min.) Eve Mahlab, born in Vienna, Austria (1937) discusses her family background; emigration to Melbourne (1939); her childhood; schooling; the development of her Jewish identity and feminism; law school (1954) and articles; marriage and children; working for the N.S.W. Public Solicitor; balancing motherhood and work; working in family law and business law; starting a recruitment agency; expanding her business into costing and publishing; joining the Women’s Electoral Lobby (1972); the Women Lawyers Association; discrimination against women in the workplace and hiring practices; the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth); the Victorian Inquiry into the Status of Women (1975); joining Monash University Council; working with the Liberal Party of Australia; the YMCA; being featured in a book; the Australian Plan of Action Conference; the UN Decade for Women; being awarded Australian Businesswoman of the Year (1982); Femmes Chefs D’Entreprises; founding Sydney Carols in the Domain; founding the ‘Know Biz’ business education project; joining the Victorian State Training Board (1988). Mahlab discusses being awarded the Order of Australia (1988); the 1988 Constitutional Convention; the sale of her recruitment and costing businesses (1989); work in television; joining the Board of Westpac Banking Corporation (1993-2002); the Jewish Commission for the Future (1991); the 4th UN World Conference on Women (1995); working with Victorian Women Lawyers (1996); receiving a Monash University Honorary Doctorate (1997); working as Deputy Chair of Film Australia (1998); anti-discrimination and equal opportunity law; the Victorian Women’s Trust; the Victorian Land and Environment Court; consultancy; a potential nomination to the position of Governor-General (2001); the Centenary medal for Business and Commerce; joining the Office for the Status of Women (2002); the appointment of Justice Susan Crennan to the High Court of Australia (2005); founding the Australian Women Donors Network (2007); reflections on her contributions to public life; reflections on law and being a lawyer; Jewish identity, immigration, belonging and self-worth; influences and role models; her plans for the future.

  • Access Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
  • Finding Aid Timed summary (10 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 162 leaves) available.

Related entries


  • Primary Creator
    • Mahlab, Eve (1937 - )