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An initiative of The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) in conjunction with The University of Melbourne

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BPW Sydney Club (1939 - )

From
1939
Occupations
Lobby group, Professional Association and Women's Rights Organisation
Alternative Names
  • Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney
Website
http://www.bpwsydney.org

Summary

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney (later BPW Sydney Club) was founded in 1939 with Dr Constance D'Arcy as its first president. Its general aims were to promote the interests of business and professional women; to alert them to their responsibilities in their own country and in world affairs; and to raise or maintain standards of education for women.

Like other such clubs, it was explicitly founded to provide a space for (largely elite) women's networking, and to work for their professional interests. It has also worked for equal pay and employment opportunities for women. The club continues to work to elevate the status of women generally, remove discrimination and to present the views of business and professional women to government. It still also operates to provide a space for women's networking.

Details

At its foundation, the Club had 102 members, and, while early activities were devoted to war work, particularly fundraising, meetings were still held regularly. The issue of equal pay was a key concern in the postwar years, and the Club also made representations to government concerning sex discrimination the appointment of women to public boards and other bodies. It also formed an Advisory panel to give advice careers advice to girls and encouraged women to nominate for public office. They also established a scholarship fund for 'Aboriginal girls'.

Sources used to compile this entry: Thoms, Patience R, comp, The first 25 years, B.P.W. Australia: The History of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Melbourne, 1972, 123 pp; Endeavour: Women's organisations in New South Wales, 1896-1978.

Related entries

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

  • Jean Fleming Arnot - personal and professional papers, 1890-1995, 1890 - 1995, MLMSS 3147 ADD-ON 2070/1-15; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

Noel Butlin Archives Centre

  • Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women Records, 1947 - 1993, Z517; Noel Butlin Archives Centre. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Thoms, Patience R, comp, The first 25 years, B.P.W. Australia: The History of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Melbourne, 1972, 123 pp. Details

Edited Books

  • Eagle, Vera J. (ed.), A history of the clubs of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, The Federation, 1976, 107 pp. Details

Newsletters

Online Resources

Jane Carey

Created: 10 September 2004, Last modified: 20 April 2011

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http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE1059b.htm

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