Kumm, Frances Gertrude

Frances Gertrude Kumm (nee Cato), influenced by her mother F.J. Cato and sister Una Porter (nee Cato) – both ardent Young Women’s Christian Association supporters - joined the Young Women’s Christian Association’s National World Fellowship Committee in 1931 and was made president of the Young Women’s Christian Association of Melbourne (1943 – 1945).

Kumm held the office of National president from 1945 – 1951, visiting ‘all local associations’ throughout Australia during this time. She attended the World Young Women’s Christian Association Council meetings in China (1947) and Lebanon (1951) and was ‘for some time’ Vice President of the World Young Women’s Christian Association Council.

Instrumental in early Young Women’s Christian Association immigration committees, Kumm was elected to the Commonwealth Immigration Advisory Council in 1949 and was President of the Victoria National Council of Women. She received an OBE in 1948 and made the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Membership

• Melbourne Young Women’s Christian Association (Melbourne Y.W.C.A.), World Young Women’s Christian Association (World Y.W.C.A .1855 –) (1882 - 1999)

Presided

• National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )

See also

• Dunn, Margaret, The dauntless bunch : the story of the YWCA in Australia, YWCA,, Clifton Hill, Vic., 1991, 264 pp. [ Details... ]
• Warne, Ellen Mary, 'The Mother's anxious future : Australian Christian Women's Organisations meet the modern world, 1890s-1930s', PhD thesis, University of Melbourne, Department of History, 2000, 313 pp. [ Details... ]