The Australian Women's Register

Raised in a small farming community at Moulyinning, the Pearce sisters – May, Jean, Morna and Caroline – came to prominence in women’s hockey in that State from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s. May, Jean and Morna Pearce all went on to captain both State and national teams. Caroline ‘Tib’ Pearce played at State and national levels.

In 1982, Vivien Payne, Antoinette (Toni) Kennedy, Diana Bryant, Anne Payne, Christine Wheeler, Rhonda Griffiths, Becky Vidler and Kim Rooney established the Women Lawyers’ Association of Western Australia (WLWA). Vivian Payne was its first president.

Since formation WLWA has actively lobbied for and achieved a number of changes in the legal profession, such as the introduction of flexible work practices, the inclusion of sexual harassment as a breach of the professional conduct rules, consultations with the State Government and the Chief Justice concerning appointments of Judges and Senior Counsel and the introduction of a model briefing policy to promote equal opportunities in briefing practices.

Established in 1861, the Supreme Court is the highest court in Western Australia, with responsibility for both criminal and civil matters. Additionally, it is the State’s main appeal court. The Supreme Court is divided into two divisions – the General Division and the Court of Appeal. The Court comprises the Chief Justice, 20 Judges, one Master, the Principal Registrar and eight Registrars.

The Court of Appeal Division of the Supreme Court was established on 1 February 2005 following the proclamation of the Acts Amendment (Court of Appeal) Act 2004. The Court hears appeals from decisions of a single judge of the Supreme Court and from judges of the District Court as well as various other courts and tribunals. It also hears criminal appeals against sentences, such as the length of imprisonment, and appeals against conviction.

The Children’s Court of Western Australia deals with offences alleged to have been committed by young people aged 10 to 17 years. The Court began as the Perth Children’s Court under the State Children’s Act 1907 and operated within the City of Perth. Following amendments to the Act, the Court was permitted to sit in the metropolitan area. With the passing of the Children’s Court of WA Act 1988, it became known as the Children’s Court of WA.

The Women’s Electoral Lobby, Western Australia (WEL WA), was established in 1972 and become an official organisation the following year. A constitution was drawn up in 1974 and amended in 1980 when WEL became an incorporated body. WEL WA was officially shut down in 2008.

The West Australian Association of Polish Women was established in 1969 and incorporated in 1973. Since their inception, the Association has provided services for people from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

The foundation stone for the Methodist Ladies’ College in Claremont, Western Australia, was laid by His Excellency the Governor on Friday 8 November 1907. A year later the school was opened with 54 students enrolled under headmistress Miss Edith James.

The Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association (W.A. Branch) and the Australian Trained Nurses Association (W.A. Branch) amalgamated in 1924 to form the Australian Nursing Federation (Western Australian Branch). The prefix ‘Royal’ was obtained in 1956, but was removed again in 1987.

The Zonta Club of Perth Nothern Suburbs was established on 22 June 1981.

Author Monica Starke writes in the publication The Alexandra Club:

“The honour of being the first women’s club in Australia belongs to the Karrakatta Club, founded in Perth in 1894… The inspiration for the club came from Dr Emily Ryder, a visiting American who was so impressed by the standard of the books studied by the St George’s Reading Circle and the members’ ability in debate that she suggested the formation of a club modelled on the Education Clubs that were popular with American women. A well-attended meeting, convened by two distinguished members of the teaching profession, unanimously voted to form a club on the lines explained to them by Dr Ryder. Sociability would not have been ruled out as an aim but Dr Ryder obviously envisaged an active role in public affairs for the new club since she warned that ‘ridicule would be cast on the club but they must make up their minds to live down opposition and ignore ridicule’. With this attractive future predicted for it the Karrakatta Club set off bravely with thirty-eight foundation members and four departments: hygiene, literature, arts and, as an afterthought, because of the continuing battle for the enfranchisement of women, legal and educational.”