Hughes, Agnes (Eva) (c. 1856 - 1940)

Eva Hughes was a prominent figure in women's groups as well as charitable and patriotic organisations in Melbourne from the early 1900s. She became second president of the influential, politically conservative, anti-socialist group the Australian Women's National League (1909-1922), after the death of her sister Janet Lady Clarke.

During the First World War she encouraged war-work and became a member of the Australian League of Honour, the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic Fund and the Friendly Union of Soldiers' Wives and Mothers. She supported the government's conscription campaign, and garner support through her presidency of the Australian Women's National League. On 4 October 1918 Eva Hughes was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) (OBE) for services as president of the League. Following her retirement as president, Hughes continued to act as an adviser, and was made a life patroness and a life member of the League's council.

Chronology

14 April 1904	Chaired first general meeting of the Australian Women's National League, and later organized the St Kilda branch
September 1909 - 1922	State president of the Australian Women's National League
August 1914 - November 1918	Member of the Friendly Union of Soldiers' Wives and Mothers
August 1914 - November 1918	Member of the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic Fund
August 1914 - November 1918	Member of the Australian League of Honour
August 1914 - November 1918	Encouraged league members in war-work
4 December 1916	Formally presented to the minister for defence, (Sir) George Pearce, a ward of 36 beds in Caulfield Military Hospital
4 October 1918	Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Presided

• Australian Women's National League (1904 - )

  [1909 - 1922]

Sibling

• Clarke, Janet Marion, Lady (1851 - 1909)

Book Sections

• Smart, Judith, 'Eva Hughes: Militant Conservative', in Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 years, Penguin, Melbourne, 1985. [ Details... ]
• Smart, Judy, 'Hughes, Agnes Eva (1856-1940)', in Nairn, Bede and Serle, Geoffrey (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 9, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1983, pp. 387-388. [ Details... ]

See also

• History of the Australian Women's National League, The Australian Women's National League, Melbourne, 4 pp. [ Details... ]
• Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre (eds), Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia, Reed Reference Publishing, Port Melbourne (Vic.), 1994, 568 pp. [ Details... ]
• Eidelson, Meyer, Nation builders : great lives and stories from St Kilda General Cemetery, Friends of St Kilda Cemetery Inc., St Kilda, Vic., 2001, 120 pp. [ Details... ]
• Fitzherbert, Margaret, Liberal women : Federation to 1949, Federation Press, Sydney, 2004, 224 pp. [ Details... ]
• Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley (eds), Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood (Vic.), 1985, 476 pp. [ Details... ]
• Smart, Judith, 'Australian Women's National League', in Barbara Caine (ed.), Australian feminism: a companion, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1998, p. 607. [ Details... ]
• Sydenham, Diane, Women of influence: the first fifty years of women in the Liberal Party, Women's Section, Liberal Party of Australia Victorian Division, Melbourne, 1996. [ Details... ]
• The Australian Women's National League (ed.), The Woman, 1907-1934. [ Details... ]