Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia
was formed in August 1945 at the inaugural meeting of the party's Federal Council. That year the influenctial lobby group The Australian Women's National League
merged with the Liberal Party, and as a result the Federal Constitution for the Party made specific provisions for the roles women would play in the party. In October 1946, the constitution established the Federal Women's Committee as a structural feature of the Party.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
was formed in August 1945 at the inaugural meeting of the party's Federal Council. That year the influenctial lobby group The Australian Women's National League
Australian Women's National League
The Australian Women’s National League was an Australian political lobby group federation first established in 1904. It acted in many ways like a political party, with an extensive branch network and the capability to run its own candidates...
merged with the Liberal Party, and as a result the Federal Constitution for the Party made specific provisions for the roles women would play in the party. In October 1946, the constitution established the Federal Women's Committee as a structural feature of the Party.
Chairmen / Presidents
- 1945-46: Miss Margaret BattyeMargaret BattyeMargaret Battye was a Western Australian lawyer who became influential in politics, business, and the legal advancement of women...
WA - 1947: Miss Roberta Gallagher NSW
- 1948: Mrs W. S. Lettice QLD
- 1949: Mrs M. Hodgson VIC
- 1950: Miss Millie BestAmelia BestAmelia Martha Best MBE was one of the first two women elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly.Best was born in Lower Barrington, Tasmania, Australia...
MBE TAS - 1951: Mrs (later Lady) Kathleen Sandover OBE JP WA
- 1952: Mrs (later Dame) Marie BreenMarie BreenDame Marie Breen, DBE was an Australian Senator representing the Liberal Party of Australia in the state of Victoria.-Biography:She was born in St Kilda, Melbourne. and christened Marie Freda Chamberlin...
VIC - 1953: Mrs (later Lady) Kathleen Sandover OBE JP WA
- 1954: Hon Eileen FurleyEileen FurleyMabel Eileen Furley OBE, née Llewelyn was the first woman to represent the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council....
OBE NSW - 1955: Mrs (later Lady) Elizabeth WilsonElizabeth WilsonElizabeth Welter Wilson is an American actress. She was elected to the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2007.-Life and career:Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Marie Ethel and Henry Dunning Wilson, who was an insurance agent...
CBE SA - 1956: Miss Millie BestAmelia BestAmelia Martha Best MBE was one of the first two women elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly.Best was born in Lower Barrington, Tasmania, Australia...
MBE TAS - 1957: Mrs (later Dame) Audrey ReaderAudrey ReaderDame Audrey Reader DBE was an Australian charity worker, who worked primarily in promoting the interests of women and of immigrants to Australia.-Early years:...
VIC - 1958: Mrs M. Gordon OBE QLD
- 1959: Mrs (later Hon) Eileen FurleyEileen FurleyMabel Eileen Furley OBE, née Llewelyn was the first woman to represent the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council....
OBE NSW - 1960: Mrs (later Dame) Mabel MillerMabel MillerDame Mabel Flora Miller, DBE was an Australian lawyer and politician. She was the first woman elected to the Hobart City Council and one of the first two women to be elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly....
TAS - 1961: Mrs (later Lady) Elizabeth WilsonElizabeth WilsonElizabeth Welter Wilson is an American actress. She was elected to the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2007.-Life and career:Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Marie Ethel and Henry Dunning Wilson, who was an insurance agent...
CBE SA - 1963-64: Miss Iris Hyde NSW
- 1965: Mrs (later Dame) Mabel MillerMabel MillerDame Mabel Flora Miller, DBE was an Australian lawyer and politician. She was the first woman elected to the Hobart City Council and one of the first two women to be elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly....
TAS - 1966-67: Mrs V Blogg MBE
- 1967-70: Mrs Noelene Wheeler QLD
- 1970-71: Mrs Margaret Daniel SA
- 1971-72: Mrs Eileen Parr TAS
- 1972-73: Mrs Audrey McKenna WA
- 1973-74: Mrs Yvonne McComb QLD
- 1974-76: Mrs (later Dame) Beryl BeaurepaireBeryl BeaurepaireDame Beryl Beaurepaire, AC, DBE is an Australian activist and politician.She was born as Beryl Edith Bedggood in Camberwell, Victoria and educated at Fintona Girls' School. She served as a meteorological officer in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force from early 1942 to late 1945...
VIC - 1976-77: Mrs Althea McTaggart WA
- 1977-80: Mrs Maureen Giddings NSW
- 1980-85: Mrs Elizabeth GrantElizabeth GrantElizabeth Grant was a song-writer.Grant was from Carron. She is known as the writer of one song, 'Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch.' She was the daughter of 'Lieutenant Joseph Grant, late of Colonel Montgomerie's regiment of highlanders,' and was probably born about 1745, near Aberlour, on the Spey,...
AM ACT - 1985-86: Mrs Cassie Solomon QLD
- 1986-88: Ms (later Hon) Trish WorthTrish WorthPatricia Mary "Trish" Worth , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Adelaide, South Australia...
(MHR) SA - 1988-90: Ms Nia Stavropoulos Tilley ACT
- 1990-94: Mrs (later Hon) Joan HallJoan HallJoan Lynette Hall is a former member of the South Australian House of Assembly, serving in the electoral district of Coles from 1993 to 2002 and the renamed electoral district of Morialta from 2002 to 2006....
(MHA) SA - 1994-97: Mrs Chris McDivenChris McDivenChristine Ann McDiven is an Australian businesswoman. In 2005 she was elected the first female president of the Liberal Party of Australia. In February 2008 she was replaced as president by Alan Stockdale....
NSW - 1997-99: Ms Penny Reader Harris SA
- 1999: Mrs Deirdre Flint TAS