1920 - 1929

Courtesy: The Queensland Country Women’s Association

1922

Ruth Beatrice Fairfax OBE (1880 - 1948)

Ruth Fairfax was the founding president of The Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). Ruth herself was the quintessential countrywoman, raised on the land at Lue, north-east of Orange in New South Wales. She moved to the Longreach region of Queensland after marrying in 1899, where she lived for nearly 10 years. In 1908, the Fairfax family moved to the Darling Downs where Ruth established a Sunday School and lobbied for Bible-study in State Schools. In 1922, Ruth was appointed President of the newly established QCWA and, by 1928, there were 283 branches state-wide with 13,000 members. Ruth travelled extensively to keep in touch with regional members, enabling country women to come together for friendship and to share and learn life skills. In 1929, Ruth travelled overseas where she studied at the Women’s Institutes in England and Scotland, sharing experiences of her work of the QCWA. She received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1935 in recognition of her community work. In 1944, the QCWA established the Ruth Fairfax Bursary to assist a young person in pursuing agricultural studies. Ruth died in Sydney on 1 February 1948. One week later, the relocated QCWA state headquarters in Brisbane was officially opened – called Ruth Fairfax House.

Source: Grant, H 2005, Great Queensland Women, State of Queensland (Office for Women), Brisbane.

Queensland Maternity Act (PDF 227 KB)

1922

Introduction of the Queensland Maternity Act

The Maternity Act, introduced in 1922, provided for the establishment of maternity services including hospitals, clinics and other pre- and post-natal care services in Queensland. In addition to the provision of these maternity services, the Maternity Act also established specialised training for midwives and nursing staff. The Act also extended the focus of these services to encompass the treatment of diseases specific to women.

Source: Queensland University of Technology Library, 2008, OzCase: Queensland Acts 1828 – 1936: The Maternity Act of 1922, viewed 5 February 2009, <http://ozcase.library.qut.edu.au/qhlc/documents/qr_hosp_maternity_1922_13_GeoV_No22.pdf (PDF 227 KB)>.

Jury Act Amendment Bill Notice (extracted from the Argus newspaper, Thursday 20 September 1923, p. 6). Courtesy: National Library of Australia.

1923

Introduction of jury service for women

As a result of amendments to the Queensland Jury Act, the state initiated the introduction of jury service for women in 1923, becoming the first Australian state to do so. The relevant provisions entitled women to serve on a jury but required that they provide notification of their desire to participate. The amendment bill was introduced in 1923 and passed in 1924. The Argus newspaper reported on the amendment bill, declaring the amendments to be “drastic changes”.

Courtesy: Board of Architects of Queensland

1924

Elina Mottram (1903 - 1996)

Elina Mottram, the only child of building contractor Arthur Mottram, was the first woman in Brisbane to open her own architectural practice in 1924. Some of her major works include Longreach Hospital and the redevelopment of the new railway station at Eagle Junction. A residence in Corinda and the Scott Street Flats are the only known remaining intact examples of her work in Brisbane.

Source: The State of Queensland (Environmental Protection Agency), 2006, Scott Street Flats, viewed 3 December 2008, <http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/chims/placeDetail.html?siteId=15936>.

Courtesy: State Library of Queensland (191982)

1925

Anna Fredrika (Freda) Bage (1883 - 1970)

In 1907, Anna ‘Freda’ Bage graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Masters of Science. After working for several years as a demonstrator in biology and undertaking research scholarships in Victoria and England, Freda moved to Queensland and was appointed Lecturer in charge of biology at the University of Queensland. On 8 February 1914, she became the first Principal of the university’s recently established Women’s College – the first college of its type in Queensland. As part of this position, Freda frequently travelled throughout Queensland to encourage women to enroll in the university and gain rural support for the college. She even drove and serviced a car, despite the fact this was considered quite ‘unladylike’ at the time. In 1925, Freda became the first woman to be elected to the University of Queensland Senate and was a member for the next 25 years.

Freda also had a keen interest in women's organisations and activities, having held the positions of honorary Secretary of the National Council of Women Queensland and President of the Women’s Club. She was pivotal in the formation of the Queensland Women Graduates' Association (later the Queensland Association of University Women), and held the presidency of the Australian Federation of University Women for two years. Freda was also a hockey enthusiast and spent six years as President of the Queensland Women’s Hockey Association.

Source: Jacqueline Bell, ‘Bage, Anna Frederika (Freda) (1883 - 1970)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, 2006, accessed 11 January 2009, <http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070136b.htm>.

Courtesy: Fryer Library, University of Queensland (UQFL256 Image 28)

1926

Zina Cumbrae-Stewart (1868 - 1956)

Zina Cumbrae-Stewart was a committed community worker who dedicated her life to assisting more than 20 different charitable societies. She was an executive member of the Australian Red Cross in Queensland for 22 years and was awarded a long-service medal. Zina was an original member of the Mother’s Union and served as the organisation’s President for nine years. She was also President of the National Council of Women in Queensland from 1926 to 1935, leading campaigns against domestic violence.

Source: Nancy Bonnin, ‘Cumbrae-Stewart, Zina Beatrice Selwyn (1868 - 1956)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, 2006, accessed 16 December 2008, <http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080191b.htm?hilite=Cumbrae>.

Courtesy: State Library of Queensland (187888)

1929

Irene Longman (1877 - 1964)

In 1929, Irene Longman was the first woman to run for, and be elected into the Queensland Parliament. As Member for Bulimba and a representative of the National Progressive Party, Irene served one term in Parliament from 1929 to 1932. During her term, she advocated the rights of women and children, including accessing education for girls and championing the participation of women in professional arenas from the police force to the Children’s Court.

Source: McCulloch, J 2005, The Legislators: Women in State and Federal Parliaments, Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton.

Courtesy: State Library of Queensland (167267)

1929

Dr Amy Christine Rivett (1891 - 1962)

Dr Christine Rivett came to Brisbane in 1915, accepting a post at the Hospital for Sick Children. Christine was dedicated to her profession and particularly to improving the health of women, helping young women to understand birth control and family planning. She also specialised in gynaecology and, as the Municipal Medical Officer of licensed prostitutes, it was her job to inspect the brothels of Brisbane. Christine was a founding member of the Queensland Medical Women's Society in 1929 and was the first Queensland woman to gain an A-class pilot’s certificate. She was literally Queensland’s first flying doctor!

Source: Williams, L 2006, No Better Profession – Medical Women in Queensland 1891 – 1999, Lesley M. Williams, North Tamborine.