The Australian Women's Register

Zoe McHenry was the great -grand-daughter of Brunswick, Victoria, pioneers Luisa and Thomas Wilkinson, and the grand-daughter of Victoria’s first woman pharmacist, Sarah George. A pianist and music teacher, Zoe Henry was employed in 1943, its inaugural year, by the ABC’s  Kindergarten of the Air, as a pianist.  Recognising the dearth of appropriate music for children’s activities,  Zoe  began to compose for the program.  She continued to do so after leaving the program in order to care for her father, who was ill.  She published several books of music and songs for kindergarten,  travelling to London in 1962 to record.  Her music is still recorded and used today, including on the ABC’s ‘Play School’.

Elyne Mitchell is an Australian writer who is best known for the Silver Brumby series of children’s books.

Annie Hitchcock, daughter of Wesleyan John Lowe, and wife and mother of Geelong businessmen and philanthropists George and Howard Hitchcock respectively, was a prominent, successful, and influential philanthropist and community worker in her own right.  She was Victoria’s foremost Methodist fundraiser, and led the Geelong and Western District Ladies’ Benevolent Association for forty one years, a period when it  became the leading organisation of its kind in regional Victoria.

Caroline Elizabeth Newcomb ran the early Port Phillip properties Boronggoop, then Coryule, in partnership with Ann Drysdale, from 1840 until after Ann’s death in 1853.  In 1855 she founded and became the inaugural president of the Geelong Ladies Benevolent Society, now Geelong and Western District Ladies Benevolent Society. In 1861 she married the Rev James Dodgson.

Anne Drysdale was a farmer in her own right in Scotland when she migrated to Australia for health reasons. She arrived in Melbourne on the Indus in 1840, and travelled down to Geelong, where she met her future partner Caroline Newcomb at the residence of Dr Alexander Thomson. In October 1840, the two women took up a 10,000 acre lease on the Barwon, known as ‘Boronggoop’, later extending it to Leep Leep. Their sheep run was a success, and in 1843 they obtained the Coryule run at Indented Head, purchasing the freehold in 1848, and subsequently disposing of Boronggoop. Anne Drysdale died at Coryule in 1853, aged 60. The township of Drysdale in Victoria is named for her

In her role as an agricultural scientist with the Department of Primary Industries Victoria, Maria Rose was one of the femocrats whose work was vital in both empowering rural women, and supporting initiatives of the Women in Agriculture Movement, particularly the First International Women in Agriculture Conference, for which she was Program Co-ordinator.

The Geelong and Western District Ladies Benevolent Association is a non-sectarian philanthropic organisation, whose aims on formation were to provide emergency relief to the poor, in particular to women, and homes for ‘aged helpless females’.

The demands on their services rose and fell with economic circumstances such as the collapse of the land boom.  The advent of the aged pension, and later the extension of Government welfare, reduced the call on their services in the early – mid-twentieth century. The Association is still in existence, providing assistance during illness and other misfortunes.

The Geelong District Nursing Society (For Nursing the Sick Poor in their own Homes) was founded on 1 February 1907. An initial meeting was convened by Geelong’s Lady Mayoress, Mrs Bostock, in October 1906, which was presided over by the mayor, and a committee formed of volunteer workers. The first nurse, Miss Edwards, was engaged and began work on 31 January 1907. By the mid –twenties, a car had been purchased for the nurses’ use.  The Society was funded by donations, bequests and subscriptions, grants from the Hospitals and Charities Commission, and collections, and received support from the Geelong Hospital. The Society applied to the Ladies’ Benevolent Society when help was needed for a patient, relieved distress where extra nourishment was needed, and distributed parcels donated by Geelong societies to patients at Christmas. Though they deleted the words ‘poor and needy’ from the description of their work in 1960, by 1980 demand for the Society’s services had risen, because of the aging population, the policy of early discharge from hospital, and the desire to nurse the aged and terminally ill in their own homes.

Ada Laura Goodman was the daughter of Canon George Goodman, of Christ Church Geelong, who was an early member of the Anglican Church in Australia, and, together with his wife Margaret, a philanthropic worker. Miss Goodman was Honorary Secretary of the Geelong District Nursing Society from its inception in 1906 until her death in 1931, and also vice-president of the Geelong & Western District Ladies’ Benevolent Society. In the latter capacity she was superintendent of the Austin Cottages for many years. She was a member of the Geelong Church of England Girls’ Grammar School Council, and was organist and Sunday School teacher at Christ Church, where she was involved with all the clubs and societies. Miss Goodman was also Honorary Secretary of the Baby Health Centre from its establishment in Geelong in 1917.

Alannah MacTiernan was elected to the Thirty-Fourth Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party member for the East Metropolitan Region (Legislative Council) on 6 February 1993 for a term commencing on 22 May 1993. She resigned on 21 November 1996. She was then elected to the Thirty-Fifth Parliament for Armadale on 14 December 1996 in succession to Hon Elsie Kay Hallahan (retired). MacTiernana was re-elected 2001, 2005, and 2008. She served as the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure from 16 February 2001 – 6 September 2008.

Rhonda Parker was elected to the Thirty-fourth Parliament of Western Australia as the Liberal Party member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Helena at a by-election held on 26 September 1994 consequent upon the resignation of Gordon Leslie Hill. The electorate was abolished in a redistribution 1994. She was then elected to the Thirty-Fifth Parliament for Ballajura (new seat) on 14 December 1996. She was defeated at the elections held on 10 February 2001.

The First International Women in Agriculture Conference was held from 1 to 3 July 1994, at the University of Melbourne in Victoria. It attracted over 850 participants from 33 countries, and was the largest agricultural conference held in Australia. It was a pivotal moment in the women in agriculture movement and in the process of securing a voice in decision making for rural women, nationally and internationally.  The conference was organised by women who were active in the movement, from farmers to their supporters and advisors in government departments and non-government rural organisations. Its aims reflected the concerns of women in agriculture: to raise the profile of rural women, to increase awareness of the economic, social legal and cultural factors affecting their status, and to provide learning opportunities to develop new skills and access to information and networks. Its focus reflected women’s concern with the social, environmental and cultural dimensions of agriculture, as well as the economic and production aspects, and their desire to develop and capture opportunities in world markets

In 1924 a committee of middle-class women of Geelong, concerned that girls beginning work at fourteen were not fully prepared for life, met to form the Blue Triangle Community. Their stated aim was ‘to help Girls to find the best in life by offering opportunities to develop all their powers’. Employers provided support, including an annual donation. Industry-based teams played basketball on Saturday afternoons, and  tennis clubs and a swimming club were formed. Club rooms were secured, and educational and social activities were held for Senior girls (those over 20) and  younger ‘Girl Citizens’.  They included sex education. A Friday night ‘At Home’ and Sunday teas were instituted. Volunteers visited workplaces each pay day to collect money to bank on the girls’ behalf, a summer camp was run to provide an annual holiday at a reasonable cost, and opportunities were provided for service to the community. 

May Freeman was born into a privileged Geelong, Victoria, family. Her great and lifelong contribution to her local community was as a committed volunteer leader and member of community organisations. May was a Sunday School teacher, and was involved in the Guides and Brownies from their earliest days in 1925 until her death.  She was a committee member of the Girls Unity Club, which provided education, recreation and support for Geelong’s working girls, and was a member of Rotary, the YWCA, the Red Cross, the Victoria League, The Royal Commonwealth Society Women’s Group and the Trefoil Guild.

The daughter and grand-daughter of Gippsland dairy farmers, Catherine Noy has always been involved in her local community. Based in Gippsland, she was at the geographical epicentre of the Women in Agriculture movement, and worked on the administration of the First International Women in Agriculture Conference, the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women, and the projects of the Gippsland Women’s Network. 

Megan Anwyl was elected to the thirty-fourth Parliament of Western Australia for Kalgoorlie at the by-election on 16 March 1996, representing the Australian Labor Party. The election was held to fill the vacancy consequent upon the resignation of Hon. Ian Frederick Taylor. Anwyl was re-elected in 1996, and defeated on 10 February 2001.

Wilhelmina Scott arrived in Australia with her parents at the age of two, grew up in Carlton and Fitzroy, in Victoria, and attended Presbyterian Ladies’ College. She married Reverend John Mathew on July 6, 1897. After he retired from active church work in 1923, she assisted her husband in the establishment of a home mission station in Moreland, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, in 1925.

Described as ‘the complete minister’s wife’, she raised five children, supported her husband in his calling and was involved in many community based activities. She was president of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union in Victoria from 1924-1935, serving as a branch president of that organisation for forty-four years. She taught at Moreland Sunday School for eighteen years and was the convenor of the Coburg Chinese School for fifteen years.

Dianne Guise was elected to the Thirty-sixth Parliament of Western Australia as the Australian Labor Party Member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Wanneroo. She was re-elected in 2005, but defeated at the general election of 6 September 2008 and succeeded in Wanneroo by Mr Paul Terrence Miles (Liberal).

Winifred Piesse became the first woman to represent the Country Party in the Western Australian Parliament when she was elected to the Legislative Council for a six year term, beginning in May 1977. Her extensive experience in nursing ensured that health matters were high on her Parliamentary agenda. She was particularly concerned about issues affecting children and youth, and also urged the government to urgently fund research into breast cancer, especially its high incidence in young mothers.

Joan Innes Reid influenced many lives as a pioneering social worker and the first woman councillor (and deputy mayor) in Townsville, North Queensland. In 1953 she was the only practicing medical social worker in Queensland outside of Brisbane. Joan also actively involved herself in community work, helping to establish medical, humanitarian and cultural institutions in Townsville. In 1976 she joined the staff of the James Cook University and became the first woman to be awarded an honorary degree by the University in 1995. In 1984 Dr Innes Reid was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her community work and in 1989 she received life membership to the Australian Association of Social Work.  The Joan Innes Reid prize in social work awarded by James Cook University is named in her honour

Ruby Hutchison was the first woman elected to the Legislative Council in Western Australia, and the first to take her place in any Australian Council. She was the only female member of the Chamber during this period. Her work enabled the introduction of the first law to enable women to serve on juries, and she founded the West Australian Epilepsy Association to fight discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.

With her husband, clergyman Mervyn Archdall, Martha pushed for the establishment of a deaconess institution at Balmain, New South Wales, in 1885. Bethany was opened in 1891 with Canon Archdall as director. It was Martha who opened a parish school, and by 1900 Bethany had schools at Balmain, Lewisham, Dapto and Bega.

Robin Eagle has been active in the South Australian Women’s Movement since 1976 and a lesbian feminist activist in Victoria before then. Born in Hopetoun, Victoria, she joined the Women’s Liberation Movement in Victoria in 1975. A dedicated community worker, she helped establish and run many community groups. She is on the Board of Management for the Women’s Studies Resource Centre in Adelaide, South Australia 1999-2013. Robin has published a book of poetry.

Florence Potter served as a Typist in the Adjutant-General’s Branch of the Department of Army, Melbourne (1915-1938). From 1938 she served as Typist-in Charge of the Branch, retiring in October 1952. She was awarded the Imperial Service Medal 19 November 1954 in recognition of her work as Typist-in-Charge in the Army Department.

Florence was born Florence Mary (not Florence May, as stated in her honours citation) to William Henry Potter and Mary Markham in Geelong in 1887.

Margaret Stones was one of Australia’s foremost botanical artists. She undertook professional art training at Swinburne Technical College and the National Gallery of Victoria Art School in the 1940s. At the invitation of John Stewart Turner, Stones attended lectures and demonstrations in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne, and joined their summer expeditions to the Bogong High Plains, 1948-1950. In 1951 she left Australia for London to further her botanical knowledge, working independently for the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and other botanical institutions for more than 30 years. From 1958 she was the principal contributing artist to Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, producing more than 400 watercolours. Her most important project during the 1960s and 1970s was the illustrations for The Endemic Flora of Tasmania, and from 1975 her work on the Flora of Louisiana project. Commenting on Margaret Stones’s botanical knowledge and experience, Tasmanian botanist Dr Winifrid Curtis ‘recalled that Stones never needed to be told, but invariably knew, which sections to draw in order to facilitate correct taxonomical classification’. A genus has been named after her, Stonesia and a Tasmanian species, Stonesiella.

Lady Emily Scott was the second wife of historian Sir Ernest Scott. She was a very competent musician and writer who wrote a regular music column for the Triad.

Doris Officer was educated at the School of Medicine for Women, Royal Free Hospital, London, graduating with an MB BS. She was also a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians. She was clinical assistant in children’s outpatients, Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne 1930-1947 and medical officer, Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria from 1941. Other activities included lecturer in infant feeding and management, St George’s Hospital, Melbourne 1941-1946, honorary secretary, Victorian Baby Health Centres Association from 1937, Government nominee to the Board of Management, Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Melbourne from 1941, a committee member for the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Associated Hospitals School of Nursing and chairman of the Hospital and Charities Waste Paper Appeal in 1957. During World War II she served for three years as honorary medical officer to the Red Cross Blood Bank, Melbourne and three years as medical officer to the Australian Women’s Recruiting Depot, Melbourne. She was appointed OBE – Officer of The Order of the British Empire – 13 June 1959 as medical officer, Victoria Free Kindergarten Union.