- Entry type: Organisation
- Entry ID: AWE0765
Catholic Women’s League of South Australia Inc.
(From 1914 – )- Occupation Social support organisation
Summary
The inaugural meeting of the Catholic Women’s League in Australia took place in Adelaide, South Australia on 25 October 1914. Based on the British model, the aim was to centralise the activities of various Catholic women’s societies and give public expression to Catholic thought on vital questions. Its founder, Miss Betty Leworthy became the first secretary, with Mrs Abigail McMahon Glynn president. Whilst in London in 1916 Glynn received permission to use the British Catholic Women’s League badge. Australian members devised their motto as ‘Charity, Work, Loyalty’ and expressed the intention ‘to unite Catholic women in a bond of common fellowship for the promotion of religious and intellectual interests and social work’. One of its major projects was to establish the St Mary’s Hostel in 1916, which continued until 1972. From 1975 the Catholic Women’s League Child Care Centre operated from the Hostel site at 178 East Terrace.
Archival resources
Published resources
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Book Section
- Daniel Mannix, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, said at a Sydney Conference in 1928 'What Catholic women cannot do, cannot be done!' In South Australia, this statement has been proven by the activities of the Catholic Women's League of South Australia Inc (CWL). This article on the service and social role of the League, by Miss Patricia Mahar, is based on the history of the CWL as recorded by the late Mrs N M (Nell) Kain, who was the S A President in 1968-79, National President CWL Australia 1976-78, and Vice-President of the ACW National Committee in 1974-75, Mahar, Patricia, 1986
- Resource