The Australian Women's Register

Summary

The Temperance Alliance of South Australia was inaugurated on 15th August 1884 as a result of the failure of existing temperance organizations to accommodate moderate drinkers who were nevertheless interested in the reform of the liquor trade. The general aim of the Alliance was to educate the public on the dangers of excessive drinking. Emphasis was placed on educating the young and the South Australian Band of Hope Union was formed in 1916 to address this. The Alliance was a strong organization and provided valuable support for other temperance organizations such as the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in joint projects such as the fight for women’s suffrage. For instance the Alliance was part of a Temperance Electoral Committee that sent out copies of a pamphlet entitled ‘How to vote’. Matthew Wood Green, pastor of the Grote Street Christian Church, became general secretary of the Alliance in 1888 and edited the Alliance and Temperance News, a publication that supported women’s suffrage and opened the subject to men as well. Although this organization was not a women’s organization per se, women played an active role via the Women’s Committee.