The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Louisa Dunkley co-founded the Victorian Women’s Post and Telegraph Association in 1900. A campaigner for equal pay for women, she joined the Postmaster-General’s Department in 1882. By 1890 Dunkley had passed the proficiency tests and transferred to the Chief Telegraph Office as a telegraphist. In the 1890s she helped to establish a committee of women telegraphists and postmistresses to present a case for equal pay, with their male colleagues in the Post and Telegraph Department of Victoria. They received increases in salary, though not equality with men telegraphists. Because the male union discourages female members the Victorian Women’s Post and Telegraph Association was established in 1900 with Dunkley as vice-president. She represented the association at the telegraphists’ conference in October 1900 at Sydney, where she met her future husband, Edward Charles Kraegen, secretary of the New South Wales and Commonwealth Post and Telegraph associations from 1885 to 1904.

Events

• 1970

  Worked in Melbourne metropolitan post and telegraph offices.

• 1970

  Passed proficiency test and transferred to the Chief Telegraph Office as a telegraphist.

• 1970

  Became interested in unionism from her experience of unfair conditions in pay and status of women workers in the Victorian public service. With colleagues presented a case for equal pay. They received an increase in salary, though not equality with men.

• 1900

  One of the founders of the Victorian Women’s Post and Telegraph Association.

• 2000

  Elected a delegate to attend all-colonies telegraphists conference held in Sydney. Her advocacy of equal pay and status under new Commonwealth conditions was endorsed.

• 2003

  Following her marriage to Edward Charles Kraegen, they had two children, she resigned from the Postmaster-General’s Department.

• 1984

  Federal electorate seat of Dunkley was created.

• 1900 - 1904

  Vice-President of the Victorian Women’s Post and Telegraph Association

• 1970

  Joined the Postmaster-General’s Department as a junior assistant.

• 1970

  Studied telegraphy and qualified as an operator.