The Australian Women's Register

Lorna Stone was a successful Liberal Party candidate with a long history of community activity. In 1991 she was elected to the Sutherland Shire Council, remaining there until 1995 and then in 1997 she was elected to the seat of Sutherland in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly by-election. In 1999 Lorna ran for the Assembly seat of Heathcote but was not elected. She joined the Liberal Party in 1974 and has held many offices at every level of the Party.

Julie Sutton was a dedicated teacher of modern languages, whose service to local government and the ALP has spanned several decades. She was first elected to the Warringah Council in 1980 and was re-elected several times until 2003, then again in 2008. Julie became the first woman Mayor of Warringah in 1995 and served as Deputy Mayor for five terms. Unfortunately she could not match this success at the state level and failed to gain election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Davidson in 1981, 1984 and 1988.

Kathleen Taperell ran only once for parliament (ALP candidate, New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Nepean, 1973) and went on to become a leading feminist and a senior public servant. From 1990, she has been Senior Adviser to the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Assistant Secretary in the Department. Her papers are deposited in the National Library of Australia.

Jane Timbrell was a Labor candidate in the NSW state election, in Strathfield, in 1995 and again in a by-election in Strathfield in 1996. She was unsuccessful both times.

She enjoyed success at a local government level and was the first Labor woman elected to the Ashfield Municipal Council in 1991-95. She worked as in Industrial Officer for the New South Wales Public Service Association from 1982, serving as the association’s Women’s Officer between 1996-2002.

Christine Townend was a passionate woman whose life and talents were devoted to the cause of animal care and liberation. As an Australian Democrats member she contested the following elections: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Willoughby 1978, 1984; House of Representatives, Grayndler, 1977; Senate, NSW, 1983. In 1988 Christine stood on behalf of the Environment Group in the New South Wales Legislative Council elections.

Joyce Tuckwell was a once only candidate who represented the ALP in the 1984 election for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Eastwood. She joined the ALP in 1974, becoming Secretary of her local branch and a delegate to state and federal electorate councils and the ALP annual conference. She was the ALP campaign director for Bennelong in 1983. Joyce Tuckwell was educated at Cremorne Girls’ High School and worked as a secretary and was a Director of 2 RRR, Regional radio Ryde.

Lynda Voltz was a political staffer who ran for election as an ALP candidate, New South Wales Legislative Assembly, North Shore, in 1995. In that year she was employed as an electoral officer for Senator John Faulkner, and had worked previously for Peter Baldwin M.H.R. In 2007 she was elected to the Legislative Council of the NSW Parliament. She was re-elected in 2015.

Virginia Walker had a life long passion for social justice and worked through many organisations to achieve it. As an Australia Party candidate she contested the elections for the House of Representatives seat of Phillip in 1972 and 1974 and for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Waverley in 1973. She joined the Australian Labor Party in 1976 and stood unsuccessfully for the Woollahra Municipal Council in 1980 and 1983. In May 2000 she was awarded the McKell Inaugural Award for services to the ALP and in 2014 a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Kathleen Anderson was an ALP Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 23/4/1973 – 28/8/1981 (8 years 4 months 6 days). During that time she served as the Government Whip, between 1/10/1976 – 28/8/1981 (4 years 10 months) 28 days) She was first elected in 1973 and then re-elected in 1978.

Catherine Green was an ALP stalwart who served on the New South Wales Legislative Council for less than a year, between 1931 and 1932.

Delcia Kite was a long-time member of the Australian Labor party. She served on the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1976 – 1995. She was a Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 – 1978. Date of Election 27 November 1975.
She was a Member of the directly elected Legislative Council. Dates of Elections 27 November 1975 and 24 March 1984.

Florence Lloyd was a member of the Liberal Party. She was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973-1981. She was a Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 – 1978. Date of Election 5 April 1973. A Member on reconstitution 6 November 1978. Florence Lloyd was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1982.

Mabel Furley was a Liberal Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 14/11/1962 and 22/4/1964 (1 years 5 months 9 days). She was elected to fill a casual vacancy and in 1935 was appointed an OBE.

Judith Walker, a member of the Australian Labor Party, was a Member of the directly elected Legislative Council. Date of Election 5 December 1984. She was a member from 1984-1995. Elected for balance of term of service of Hon. J.J Morris, resigned. Granted retention of title of “Honourable” for life.

Judy Jakins was a member of the National Party. She was a Member of the directly elected Legislative Council from 24 March 1984 until 1991. She was the first woman elected to represent the National Party in New South Wales when she entered Parliament in 1984. She was an Alderman of Dubbo City Council 1991 – 1995.

Marie Bignold was a member of the Call To Australia Group (CTA). She was a member of the directly elected Legislative Council from 1984-1991; she was elected on 5 December 1984. Bignold was the first woman lawyer to take a seat in the Legislative Council.

Marie Fisher was a member of the Australian Labor Party. She was a Member of the directly elected New South Wales Legislative Council from 1978-1988. Date of Election 7 October 1978.

Anne Press had a parliamentary career that spanned two decades and the opposite ends of the political spectrum. Initially elected in 1959 as an ALP councillor, Press was soon expelled (in 1959) from the party following her vote against party lines when she voted against the Legislative Council Abolition Bill. She then became a member of the Independent Labour Group, to which she belonged for eight years. She joined the liberal party in 1967, and was successfully re-elected to the council as their candidate in 1970. She retired from parliament in 1978.

Edna Roper was an ALP member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for over twenty years. She was elected in 1957 and then re-elected in 1970. She served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition between 3/12/1973 -13/5/1976 (2 years 5 months 11 days) and was Deputy Leader of Government between 14/5/1976 – 17/10/1978 (2 years 5 months 4 days). She was a delegate to the International Women’s Year conference in Mexico in 1975.

Amelia Rygate was an ALP Member of the New South Wales (NSW) Legislative Council between 7/9/1961 – 5/11/1978 (17 years 1 months 30 days). She was elected in 1961 and then re-elected in 1966. She retired from Parliament in 1978.

Virginia Chadwick was a member of the Liberal Party. She was a member of the directly elected Legislative Council. Dates of Election 7 October 1978 and 19 March 1988.
Parliamentary career highlights:
Minister for Family and Community Services, 1988-1990
Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs, 1990-1992
Minister for Education and Youth Affairs and Minister for Employment and Training, 1992-93
Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Minister for Tourism and Minister Assisting the Premier, 1993-1995
Opposition Whip, 1984-1988

Virginia Chadwick was the President of the Legislative Council 1998-1999. She was the first woman Opposition Whip and woman to gain ministerial appointment in a Liberal Government. She retired from politics on 5 March 1999 and was later granted the retention of title of “Honourable” for life.

On 1 July 1999 the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Heritage, Robert Hill, appointed Ms Chadwick to a five-year term (later extended) as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, a position she held until November 2007.

Ellen Webster was an ALP Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 26/11/1931 – 22/4/1934 (2 years 4 months 28 days), She was appointed by Premier Jack Lang.

Kayee Griffin was elected to the NSW Legislative Council on 22 March 2003 representing the Australian Labor Party. Before her election to the State Parliament, she served as a Canterbury Municipal Councillor from 1991-2003 and was mayor in 1995.

Amanda Fazio was elected to the NSW Legislative Council on 30 August 2000 and served until 2015. She was president of the Legislative Council from 2009-2011, and was an active member of the Australian Labor Party from 1977.

Lee Rhiannon was elected to the NSW Legislative Council on 27 March 1999 and served in that capacity until 2010, when she was elected to the Senate in the Parliament of Australia representing the state of new South Wales. She is a member of the Greens.

Meredith Burgmann was elected to the NSW Legislative Council on 25 May 1991. She was President of the NSW Legislative Council from 1999-2007 and a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Elaine Nile was a Member of the NSW Legislative Council from 19 March 1988 to 27 August 2002. She was a member of the Call to Australia Group.