Oke, Marjorie (Marj) Elizabeth (1911 - 2003)

Marj Oke’s first job was as a teacher in a one-room school. Upon her marriage in 1942, as was the policy of the time, she was suspended from teaching. Working at the Australian Jam Company, she encountered very poor working conditions. This experience propelled her to join the Food Preservers’ Union and become active in the Australian Labor Party. In 1950, Oke became a founding and lifelong member of the Union of Australian Women. After returning to teaching in Moe, she campaigned for equal pay for women teachers, the abolition of the marriage bar and access to superannuation. Additionally, Oke formed a branch of the Aboriginal Advancement League and became, in 1992, a founding member of the Network for Older Women. On 10 June 1991 she was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for service to aged people, particularly women. Oke was included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in March 2002.

Membership

• Union of Australian Women (1950 - )

Related Corporate Bodies

• National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )

  In 1991 she was one of three women honoured at the 90th Anniversay dinner

Journal Articles

• 'Marj Oke - Tribute to a foundation member', Union of Australian Women, Newsltter, September, 2003, 2003, p. 1. [ Details... ]

Newspaper Articles

• Owen, Mary R and Graham, Janet, 'A life swimming hard for political equality', The Age, Obituaries, 20 November 2003, p. 9. [ Details... ]

See also

• [Waterfield, Dorothy edited by ], A decade of Mary Owen dinners, Mary Owen Dinner Committee, Sandingham, Vic., 1995, 178 pp. [ Details... ]