• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0170

Longman, Irene Maud

(1877 – 1964)
  • Born 24 April 1877, Franklin, Tasmania, Australia
  • Died 29 July 1964, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  • Occupation Parliamentarian

Summary

Irene Longman was the first woman to both stand for and be elected to the Queensland Parliament. She was a member of the Country and Progressive National Party for the electorate of Bulimba from 11 May 1929 to 11 June 1932. Longman moved Address-in-Reply to the Governor’s Opening of Parliament Speech on 21 August 1929.

Details

Irene Longman was educated at Sydney Girls’ High School and Redlands (SCEGS) North Sydney. After obtaining a Kindergarten Teaching Diploma she taught at Normanhurst, Sydney Girls’ Grammar School and Rockhampton Girls’ Grammar School.

An activist in many women’s organisation Longman was President of the National Council of Women of Queensland from 1920 to 1924; Honorary President Queensland Citizenship League; Honorary President Queensland Association for the Welfare of the Mentally Deficient; Vice-President of the Queensland Branch Lyceum Club; Vice-President of the Queensland Womens’ Peace Movement and Officer of the Creche and Kindergarten Association.

Also Longman is responsible for the first Queensland women police officer and for changing the meeting place of the Children’s Court from its meeting place in the precinct of the Police Court.

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Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia
    • [Biographical cuttings on Irene Longman, politician, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
  • John Oxley Library, Manuscripts and Business Records Collection
    • OM92-82 Country and Progressive Party Elections Clippings 1926-1935
    • OM83-01 Ogg, Margaret Ann Manuscript 1824-1962
    • M 1065 Mamie O'Keeffe Papers 1970s-1980s

Published resources

Related entries


  • Presided
    • National Council of Women of Queensland (1905 - )
  • Related Organisations
    • Queensland Women's Electoral League (1903 - )
    • Sydney Girls High School (1883 - )
  • Friend
    • Moore, Winifred
  • Related Concepts
    • Women in Politics: Minor Parties
    • Environment Movement
  • Vice President
    • Lyceum Club Brisbane Incorporated (1919 - )