The Australian Women's Register

Summary

In 1970, Jean Mitchell became the first woman elected to the Uralla Shire Council. The following year she unsuccessfully stood as an Independent candidate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Armidale. She was nominated by a group of independents to stand again the sitting MLA, Davis Hughes, when the ALP failed to stand a candidate. Her campaign was directed by Peter Wright, who was then the President of the New State Movement. She said her candidature was a result of an economic crisis brought about by the instability of the coalition government.

Jean was a qualified nursing sister and had been an acting Hospital Matron. She had been a member of the Council of the Armidale Presbyterian Ladies’ College and was well known in the area for community and welfare work and for her service as a show judge. She was married to Wendell James Mitchell, with whom she had one son Hugh.