1970 - 1979

Courtesy: National Archives of Australia (A6180:8/6/76/7)

1972

The Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission endorses the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’

Between 1907 and 1969 the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission had determined that women, unlike men, had no dependents therefore their wage should be only a portion of men’s. This allowed agencies to pay female employees significantly less than males performing the same jobs. In 1969, the concept of ‘equal pay for identical work’ was introduced and, in 1972, was expanded by the Commission to ‘equal pay for equal work’, finally awarding women pay rates equal to that of their male counterparts.

Commonwealth of Australia, 2003, Senate, Historical Perspective Industrial Relations In Australia, viewed 1 December 2008, <http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/economics_ctte/completed_inquiries/1996-99/workplace/report/e04.htm>.

1970s mother and children. Courtesy: Private collection

1973

The Supporting Mothers Benefit was introduced

In 1973, the Supporting Mother’s Benefit was introduced to provide income support to single mothers. In 1977, it was renamed the Supporting Parent’s Benefit when it was made available for single fathers as well. Today, the benefit is issued through Centrelink and is known as the Parenting Payment.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007, History of pensions and other benefits in Australia, viewed 18 December 2008, <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/8e72c4526a94aaedca2569de00296978!OpenDocument>.

Carol Lloyd and Railroad Gin at the Botanic Gardens, Brisbane 1974. Courtesy of the collection of the QPAC Museum

1975

Carol Lloyd

Carol Lloyd was Australia’s first woman – and one of the world’s first - to front a successful rock band. She was the lead singer/songwriter for legendary 1970s rock band, Railroad Gin. Her first recording in 1974, the album A Matter of Time, was the first product of Queensland’s first multi-track recording studio, and was the first song and album by a Queensland act to chart at number one in Queensland. Railroad Gin won the inaugural Queensland University Bands Contest, and scooped the pool at the first Queensland Pop Awards, winning Best Band, Best Song, Best Album, and Best Lead Singer. Her gutsy style, rebellious spirit, wild red mane and distinctive nose became her trademarks, and earned her the title of “Australia’s Wild Woman of Rock”, drawing crowds of around 30,000 people to outdoor shows in Brisbane. In the late 1980s, Carol created the domestic and international ad campaign for World Expo 88 and also went on to write Expo’s official songs, Together we’ll show the World and Come Join the Spirit, which became Queensland’s unofficial anthem during that era. More recently, Carol has applied her experience as a producer to the Brisbane Festival and the Queensland Music Festival, producing major new music works in Charters Towers in 2004, and Innisfail and Mackay in 2007. Today, Carol continues to produce, and performs with the Women In Voice Orchestra at private, corporate and government events staged in major performance venues and resorts around Queensland.

Courtesy: Commonwealth Government Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

1975

The Commonwealth Family Law Act was introduced

Prior to 1975, those seeking divorce had to prove fault or guilt for the relationship breakdown from 14 predefined reasons (including adultery, desertion, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, imprisonment, and insanity). Under the Family Law Act 1975, a ‘no fault’ provision was introduced, whereby a divorce could be sought if the marriage was considered to have irretrievably broken down.

Courtesy: D Cilento, Personal collection

1975

Diane Cilento (1933 - )

Diane Cilento is the daughter of Sir Raphael & Lady Cilento, two of Queensland's most famous doctors. Her father worked for the United Nations and was instrumental in establishing the World Health Organisation. She left Mooloolaba in her teens to join her father and attended school in New York. She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy in London before securing a film contract with British Lion. Over the next 15 years she starred in more than 30 films, including Hombre (1967) with Paul Newman, and The Agony and the Ecstacy (1965) with Charlton Heston. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Tom Jones (1963) with Albert Finney. She appeared as a body-double for the female lead in the James Bond classic, You Only Live Twice (1967) with her husband, Sean Connery, performing all of the underwater stunts. Diane was awarded Best Newcomer from the Variety Club of Great Britain, and won the Critic’s Choice Award for her portrayal of Helen of Troy in Tiger at the Gates on Broadway. In 1975, she returned to Queensland to star as Kate in the Queensland Theatre Company's iconic production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. The same year she also directed a documentary in Port Douglas and bought 200 acres of rainforest; naming the property Karnak. She and her then husband, the late playwright Anthony Shaffer, built the Karnak Playhouse (seating 500) in 1992. Since then, the Playhouse has hosted performances by some of the world's greats including David Helfgott, Jane Rutter, Lorna Luft, and Oz Opera. In 2001, Diane received a Queensland Greats Award in recognition of her status as a national treasure. In 2007, her autobiography, My Nine Lives, sold out in hardback and was re-printed in paperback. She is currently writing a book of short stories for Penguin books.

Courtesy: M O'Brien, Personal collection

1975

The Pink Twins

Dorothy and Moyia O'Brien were born in Toowoomba, Queensland in 1923 and as teenagers studied Occupational Therapy. They then began working with disabled people in Brisbane, Dorothy at the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Centre, Moyia at the Mater Hospital.

In 1975 they decided to establish a centre where multi diagnostic clients not catered for by other agencies could find stimulation, motivation, companionship, a sense of pride, self respect and an opportunity to contribute to society.

On the first day, Dorothy arrived with four severely brain-damaged people who could hardly walk or even talk. Thus from such humble beginnings the Sunshine Welfare and Remedial Association (SWARA) began.

In the time since those beginnings, SWARA has grown in size, under the loving direction of Dorothy and Moyia, often struggling both logistically and financially.

Over the years, the twins have received many awards and public recognition, however Moyia says the true reward for the twins was the love, joy and hope they were able to spread through SWARA. Over the years, the twins love of the colour pink became more and more noticeable and eventually Dorothy and Moyia have become known affectionately to both friends and the public as the 'Pink Twins'.

Dorothy passed away in early 2004 while Moyia continues as the figurehead (still having an active role) of SWARA the 'Pink Twins' continue as the inspiration for all involved with the organisation.

Source: O'Brien M, 2009, personal biography, 8 April.

Courtesy: E Woods, Personal collection

1977

Professor Elizabeth Jean (Beth) Woods OAM (1955 - )

Beth Woods attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School and went on to study agricultural science at the University of Queensland (UQ) where she won the University Medal. In 1977, she became the first female recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. She has dedicated her career to agricultural management, serving with the CSIRO Board, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. In 1991, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to primary industries. She was the inaugural director of the Rural Extension Centre (UQ), and became the foundation Professor of Agribusiness at UQ’s Gatton campus in late 1997. In January 2008, Beth was elected Chair of the Board of the International Rice Research Institute, aiming to reduce world hunger and poverty.

Courtesy: Queensland Police Museum (PM1989)

1977

Margaret Ellen Little

On 24 April 1977 Const 1/c Margaret Ellen Little arrived at the scene of a domestic dispute in Nambour, with a man leaning across the hood of his car, sighting down the barrel of the rifle and pointing it at her. Little walked towards the man saying "Look we're not armed – put the rifle down". While he was distracted the man’s defacto grabbed the rifle barrel and the man was apprehended. Little was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal at Government House in September 1978, becoming the highest decorated police woman in Australia.

Source: Queensland Police Museum, 2009.

Copyright: Newspix / Library

1978

200 people marched in protest of Premier Bjelke-Petersen's ban on street marches at annual IWD celebration

Brisbane's International Women's Day celebration in 1978 began peacefully in Roma Street Forum where speeches on women's rights were delivered to over 100 gatherers. Just after midday, a spokesperson from one women's organisation took the microphone and announced, "It's our day to show the Premier what we think of his legislation on the right to march". Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen had previously banned all street protests in response to a rash of anti-uranium demonstrations, and in attempt to stifle union action. Demonstrators spilled onto the streets and police began arresting people for offences such as using obscene language and assaulting police. By late afternoon, all had been bailed out of jail on bonds ranging from $25 to $100.

The Sunday Mail, ‘49 arrests as women march’, 12 March 1978, pg. 3

Portrait of Wilhelmina Smith painted by the nurse that cared for her in Herberton Hospital in her dying days.
Courtesy Cairns Post.

1979

Christian Wilhelmina (Bill) Smith (1886 – 1975)

Until 1979, female jockeys were not officially recognised by the Australian Jockey Club. However, in 1975 upon ‘his’ death, it was discovered that successful jockey ‘Bill’ Smith was actually a woman. ‘Bill’ established ‘himself’ in North Queensland with two racehorses and soon became a regular at country races meets. ‘He’ went on to win the St Leger Quest in 1902, the Jockey Club Derby in 1903, and the prestigious Victorian Oaks in 1909-10. Acquaintances are said to have remembered ‘Bill’ as a small but roughly-spoken figure with an air of eccentricity spurred on by his refusal to change with the other jockeys. ‘Bill’ was buried in Cairns Cemetery as Miss Wilhelmina Smith.

Radi, H (ed.) 1988, 200 Australian women: a Redress anthology, Women's Redress Press Inc, Australia.

Copyright: Newspix / Craig Hughes

1979

Pam O’Neill (1946 - )

Prior to 1979, the Australian Jockey Club only permitted women to ride in all-female competitions in one annual race at clubs across Australia, until Pam O’Neill changed horse racing history. She successfully lobbied the Queensland Turf Club to allow women to participate as jockeys, winning her license in 1979 and becoming Australia’s first female jockey. At her first co-ed competition at Southport on the Gold Coast in May 1979, Pam scored a treble, riding three winners against an all-male field of competition, yet she was never given an allowance. To this day, Pam’s historic achievement of winning three races on a first day of racing continues to be regarded as a world record by a man or woman.

Courtesy: S Russo, Personal collection

1979

Sarina Russo (1951 - )

As the youngest daughter of a hard-working Sicilian traditionalist father, all Sarina Russo wanted was freedom, a career and financial independence. In 1979, Sarina rented a room and started a typing school with nine students. She promised she would get them jobs … and she did, and so began Sarina’s education, training and recruitment empire. Today, the Sarina Russo Group continues to grow both nationally and globally employing nearly 800 staff with an annual turnover of $100 million. Sarina is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board (JFK School of Government, Harvard Business School) and a member of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World. Personal development and fitness has always played a major role in Sarina’s success and her slogan, “I’ll see you at the top”, continues to provide inspiration for thousands of students and job seekers.

Source: Dillon, J 2008 ‘Our female Donald Trump’, The Sunday Telegraph, 28 September, viewed 5 January 2009, <http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24414214-5014101,00.html>.