The Australian Women's Register

The Catholic Women’s League of Western Australia was established on 23 August 1937 with the aim of centralising the activities of various Catholic women’s societies and to ‘give public expression to Catholic thought on vital questions arising from time to time’. It is affiliated with the Catholic Women’s League Australia Inc.

The Country Women’s Association of the Western is a non-sectarian, non-party-political, non-profit lobby group and service association working in the interests of women and children in rural areas. Although ostensibly non-party-political, in practice the group has tended to bolster conservative politics and has supported traditional family roles for women. Historically, it was, however, also a progressive force in many ways, particularly in its encouragement of country women to take an active part in public affairs, and also in its lobby for and provision of services to rural areas.

Given its size and scope, it was arguably the most influential women’s organisation in Western Australia in the twentieth century.

Formed in 1935 in response to the long felt need for an organization that advanced women’s interests and stimulated their creativity, the Western Australian Women’s Society of Fine Arts and Crafts exemplified practical women-centred responses to the exclusion of women in the arts establishment. Three key periods of expansion were: the late 1940s, when work as a teaching society began in earnest; the mid 1960s, when memberships numbered 136; and the late 1970s and early 1980s, when craft had a renaissance and the organisation’s numbers swelled. The Subiaco property, purchased in 1973, still serves as headquarters and continues to host classes in a range of crafts.

Established in 1993 the Centre for Research for Women is a joint initiative between Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia. Based on a model of inter-university collaboration, the centre promotes feminist research across disciplines, universities, the community and the public sector. The Centre for Research for Women maintains an extensive database of expertise aimed at expanding research opportunities and the dissemination of research programmes. Every three years the location of the centre rotates to another of the participating universities.

The formation of the Western Australian Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity in 1958 marked the beginning of a sixteen year long campaign seeking justice for women workers. The effectiveness of the campaign can be attributed to the wide ranging representation of affiliated groups, which included women’s organizations, trade unions and representatives from across the political spectrum. The organization dissolved in 1973 when discriminatory clauses were removed from State legislation and the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission decided in favour of equal pay.

Artemis was established in 1985 as a forum for women artists, art teachers, critics and writers. It sought to foster discussion and interest in the practice and ideas of women’s art, promote community awareness of women’s contribution to the arts, support women working in the arts and set up independent feminist criticism in order to address the perceived inequalities in Western Australia’s arts establishment. Artemis aimed to activate critical appraisal of patriarchal culture and its effects on art history, practice and theory to redefine women’s art practice in her own image. Artemis disbanded in 1990 due to the discontinuation of funding.

After attempts to establish a lending library at the Women’s Centre Action Group and Camp Books failed, Lespar Library of Women’s Liberation moved to purpose built facilities on Karin Hoffmann’s Darlington property. It operated on an open by appointment basis for twelve years. A key objective was to provide resources and facilities for women centred research. The library also acted as a repository, eventually housing the archives of various women’s organizations and individuals on a permanent basis.

Founded 25 March 1909 the Women’s Service Guilds of Western Australia formed a core feminist connection for the exchange of feminist strategies and ideas with international feminism for much of the twentieth century. While typified as conservative, the Guilds anticipated many radical trends and were at the forefront of activism which challenged the political and social boundaries that excluded from participating fully in society. They worked to raise the status of women and improve the welfare of children, primarily through legislative reform and initiated a wide range of campaigns on local, national and international levels.

Wise Women Wednesdays are an informal gathering for those interested in women’s issues, to exchange information, network and plan. There is a lunch (BYO) and a chat between 12.00 and 12.30 pm. A presentation by an invited speaker takes place from 12.30 to 1.15. After the presentation there is time for questions and discussion. These free events are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month and are supported by the Centre for Research for Women, National Council of Women Australia, National Council of Women Western Australia (NCW WA), Women’s Electoral Lobby and Women’s Policy Office, although the latter is no longer involved. Now basically run by the NCW WA a second branch has been established in Mendurah, Western Australia.

The Zonta Club of Perth, a women’s service club, was founded in 1971. It is part of Zonta International, a world-wide organisation of business and professional women working together to advance the legal, political, economic and professional status of women. Zonta clubs support Zonta International service and award programmes, and also provide support for local community projects by fundraising or active involvement, particularly those dealing with women’s issues such as economic self-sufficiency, legal equality, access to education and health, and eradication of violence.

The Zonta Club of Sydney was chartered in 1966. Originally part of District 16, the Zonta Club of Sydney now belongs to District 24.

The West Australian Housewives’ Association was formed in 1920 for the purpose of protecting the interests of housewives. The final meeting of the Executive was held 3 April, 1984.

The Catholic Migrant Centre has been crucial to the provision of support services to immigrants to Perth for over twenty years.

Raised in a small farming community at Moulyinning, the Pearce sisters – May, Jean, Morna and Caroline – came to prominence in women’s hockey in that State from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s. May, Jean and Morna Pearce all went on to captain both State and national teams. Caroline ‘Tib’ Pearce played at State and national levels.

In 1982, Vivien Payne, Antoinette (Toni) Kennedy, Diana Bryant, Anne Payne, Christine Wheeler, Rhonda Griffiths, Becky Vidler and Kim Rooney established the Women Lawyers’ Association of Western Australia (WLWA). Vivian Payne was its first president.

Since formation WLWA has actively lobbied for and achieved a number of changes in the legal profession, such as the introduction of flexible work practices, the inclusion of sexual harassment as a breach of the professional conduct rules, consultations with the State Government and the Chief Justice concerning appointments of Judges and Senior Counsel and the introduction of a model briefing policy to promote equal opportunities in briefing practices.

Established in 1861, the Supreme Court is the highest court in Western Australia, with responsibility for both criminal and civil matters. Additionally, it is the State’s main appeal court. The Supreme Court is divided into two divisions – the General Division and the Court of Appeal. The Court comprises the Chief Justice, 20 Judges, one Master, the Principal Registrar and eight Registrars.

The Court of Appeal Division of the Supreme Court was established on 1 February 2005 following the proclamation of the Acts Amendment (Court of Appeal) Act 2004. The Court hears appeals from decisions of a single judge of the Supreme Court and from judges of the District Court as well as various other courts and tribunals. It also hears criminal appeals against sentences, such as the length of imprisonment, and appeals against conviction.

The Children’s Court of Western Australia deals with offences alleged to have been committed by young people aged 10 to 17 years. The Court began as the Perth Children’s Court under the State Children’s Act 1907 and operated within the City of Perth. Following amendments to the Act, the Court was permitted to sit in the metropolitan area. With the passing of the Children’s Court of WA Act 1988, it became known as the Children’s Court of WA.

The Women’s Electoral Lobby, Western Australia (WEL WA), was established in 1972 and become an official organisation the following year. A constitution was drawn up in 1974 and amended in 1980 when WEL became an incorporated body. WEL WA was officially shut down in 2008.

The West Australian Association of Polish Women was established in 1969 and incorporated in 1973. Since their inception, the Association has provided services for people from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

The foundation stone for the Methodist Ladies’ College in Claremont, Western Australia, was laid by His Excellency the Governor on Friday 8 November 1907. A year later the school was opened with 54 students enrolled under headmistress Miss Edith James.

The Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association (W.A. Branch) and the Australian Trained Nurses Association (W.A. Branch) amalgamated in 1924 to form the Australian Nursing Federation (Western Australian Branch). The prefix ‘Royal’ was obtained in 1956, but was removed again in 1987.

The Zonta Club of Perth Nothern Suburbs was established on 22 June 1981.

Author Monica Starke writes in the publication The Alexandra Club:

“The honour of being the first women’s club in Australia belongs to the Karrakatta Club, founded in Perth in 1894… The inspiration for the club came from Dr Emily Ryder, a visiting American who was so impressed by the standard of the books studied by the St George’s Reading Circle and the members’ ability in debate that she suggested the formation of a club modelled on the Education Clubs that were popular with American women. A well-attended meeting, convened by two distinguished members of the teaching profession, unanimously voted to form a club on the lines explained to them by Dr Ryder. Sociability would not have been ruled out as an aim but Dr Ryder obviously envisaged an active role in public affairs for the new club since she warned that ‘ridicule would be cast on the club but they must make up their minds to live down opposition and ignore ridicule’. With this attractive future predicted for it the Karrakatta Club set off bravely with thirty-eight foundation members and four departments: hygiene, literature, arts and, as an afterthought, because of the continuing battle for the enfranchisement of women, legal and educational.”