The Australian Women's Register

The Association of Women’s Forum Club of Australia was established in 1941 with the aim fostering public speaking abilities in women. By 1988, some eighty clubs had been established although only thirty seven were currently active. In 1997 the Association, by now limited entirely to the Association of Queensland Women’s Forum Clubs, was renamed the Forum Communicators Association and was no longer exclusively a women’s association. The Association produces constitutions, syllabuses, newsletters and holds biennial conferences.

The United Associations of Women (U.A.) was one of the most radical feminist groups of the mid twentieth century. It was formed in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1929 by women who perceived a need for a more politically forceful alternative to the range of Australian women’s organisations already in existence. Concerned that groups like the National Council of Women and the Feminist Club had become, by the late 1920s, social clubs rather than political lobby groups, Jessie Street, who had been an office-bearer of both the aforementioned organisations, but had become increasingly frustrated by their conservativism, took action. A series of meetings late in 1929 involving Street and other like-minded women such as Linda Littlejohn, Ruby Rich and Adela Pankhurst Walsh culminated in the establishment of the United Associations on 18 December 1929. The UA was extremely active throughout the 1930s and 40s, and played a major role in organising the Australian Women’s Charter Conference in 1943.

The Community of the Holy Name was founded within the Diocese of Melbourne and was the first Anglican Order in Australia. Emma Caroline Silcock ( Sister Esther) established the community, which was one of only four such communities in Australia. The Melbourne Diocese did not recognise it until 1912 when it was given its charter. The Sisters continue to work in parishes, as Chaplains in hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in spiritual direction and leading retreats.

The Save Our Sons Movement was formed in 1965 to seek the reappeal of the National Service act and disbanded in 1975. In an effort to bring back servicemen stationed in Vietnam, the Save Our Sons movement made public protests against the conduct of the war in Vietnam, aided those who had been jailed after refusing to be conscripted, spoke on behalf of conscientious objectors at rallies, passed out leaflets, attended vigils and supported in court those who were charged with resisting conscription.
The Save Our Sons movement was just one of the many groups opposed to Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam war. Although there were male members, women held all office-holder positions.

The Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL.) first formed in Victoria, 1972. Conducted on a voluntary, non-profit basis, the W.E.L is a political pressure group that seeks to remove the economic and social disadvantages of women in Australia, to end discrimination against women and to promote equal opportunity. The W.E.L was constituted with a double purpose – to carry to the elected representatives of the community the views and requirements of female electors and to inform those female electors about their representatives’ standard of consciousness of women’s issues.

One of a series, the Third Women and Labour Conference intended to encourage research and experience sharing which furthered women’s understanding of their participation in the workforce and Australian society. More than 100 sessions were conducted with papers and workshops covering topics such as women and work, technological change and its impact upon women’s employment, women and the family, the programs to assist women to take up “non-traditional” employment, migrant women, women’s studies, feminist theory and practice, lesbianism, women and ageing, women and the media, women and art, work and unions, feminist literary criticisms and the strategies for women in the 80s (discussed by guest speakers Deborah McCulloch and Bettina Cass). The conference aimed to ensure the participation of a wide range of women and to promote contributions on important topics.

In 1973, the first national conference on Sexism in Education was convened by the Women’s Liberation Movement, fuelled by concern for the position of women and girls in society and Women’s Studies courses were established at Flinders and Adelaide Universities. Teachers and Students quickly became aware of a shortage of materials in this area and a group of women educators began meeting in 1974 to redress this. In July 1975 the Women’s Studies Resource Centre was established at Wattle Park Teachers College funded by a grant from the Australian National Advisory Committee for International Women’s Year. After moving several times the WSRC relocated to its present address in the suburb of North Adelaide.

Initiated by women already in the art world, the Women’s Art Movement (hereinafter named W.A.M.) was part of an international trend somewhat belated in Australia, which lead women artists to look at their position as women in society and to analyse their position as artists through a feminist frame. The W.A.M offered women artists support within an alternative group structure. The group began with the aim of supporting and promoting women artists, educating members on the problem of discrimination and working with one another to overcome sexism in the arts and society. Fifty women ranging in age from 18 to 65 attended the first meeting. As attendance numbers grew, funding was required. Such monetary resources were obtained from the South Australia Arts Grant Advisory Committee (A.G.A.C), the Community Arts Board (C.A.B), and the Visual Arts Board (V.A.B) for salary and administrative costs, workshops and the publication of the book Women’s Art Movement 1978-1979, Adelaide, South Australia, respectively.

The Australian Federation of Graduate Women (South Australia) Inc. was founded in 1914 as the Women Graduates’ Club, a sub-society of the Adelaide University Women Students’ Club. Its aims as adopted at the first meeting on 7 July 1914 were “To provide social intercourse among women graduates” and “to deal with questions primarily affecting University graduates”. From 1923 the association became an affiliate of the National Federation of Graduate Women (then known as the National Federation of University Women).

The national body of the Australian Federation of University Women was renamed to the Australian Federation of Graduate Women (AFGW) in December 2009. Presumably, this was when the New South Wales branch also changed its name.

The University of Queensland Women Graduates’ Association was established at a meeting in September 1920. It became part of the Australian Federation of University Women following the establishment of that organisation in 1922.

The Northern Territory chapter of the Australian Federation of Graduate Women. In accordance with national regulations of the AFGW, the Northern Territory branch was in abeyance from c.2013 due to insufficient membership numbers.

The Canberra Association of Women Graduates was formed in 1944 with the aim of facilitating ‘inter-communication and co-operation between women of universities of all nations’ (1944 Constitution). The Association was affiliated with the Australian Federation of University Women and the International Federation of University Women. Membership was comprised of women holding degrees from any university recognised by the Australian Federation of University Women.

In 2009, in line with resolutions of the affiliated National body, the organisation changed its name to the Australian Federation of Graduate Women (Australian Capital Territory) Inc.

As of 2010, Tasmanian membership of the Australian Federation of Graduate Women was being managed through the ACT branch.

The Australia Group of the Liaison Committee of Women’s International Organisations was formed in April 1950 to gain status and representation at United Nations meetings held in Australia and South East Asia. The Australian Group operated for some time to combine national and international functions, but in 1954 it was resolved to limit activities to those of “a group of organisations” specially concerned with such subjects as human rights, the status of women, and the nationality of married women.

The Australian Group organised Australian participation in various international-agency conferences in the South-East Asian area, notably the United Nations Commissions on the Status of Women, and the United Nations Seminar on Civic Responsibilities and Increased Participation of Asian Women in Public Life (1957).

In 1963 the Liaison Committee headquarters group in London voluntarily withdrew from consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and the Australia Group, feeling that the Australian Committee was no longer necessary, ceased to function later in that year.

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 Zonta Club of Adelaide was officially chartered on April 17, 1969. Allthea Tebbutt was elected as the first president of the Club, alongside Board Members Irene Jeffries, Dr Catherine Ellis, Geraldine Little, Joyce Cupples, Brenda Coulter and Judith Hay.

The Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW) is a non-profit, non-government society with member bodies in each state. The Federation was formed in 1927, from existing associations of medical women in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, to promote and develop the formal practice of medicine among women. The first medical women’s association was formed in Victoria in 1895. Historically it has worked to remove barriers to women’s participation in the profession. Currently, the Federation sponsors numerous networking and mentoring programs for women doctors. It has branches in all states and the Australian Capital Territory.

The Medical Women’s Society of NSW was founded in 1921 to advance the interests of medically qualified women in professional practice. It was active in establishing the Australian Federation of Medical Women and continues to work for medical women in New South Wales.

The Council of Jewish Women was founded in Sydney in 1923, due largely to the efforts of Dr Fanny Reading. Its initial purpose was to gather Jewish women together to undertake religious and community service, in addition to educational and philanthropic work. Membership of the Council also included membership of the Australian Zionist Organisation. Its first activities revolved around community service to alleviate poverty and unemployment. By the end of its first year the Council had 377 members, and was growing steadily across the country. The first National Conference of the Council was held in Sydney in May 1929, when its present name was adopted: The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia. The Council continues today as a non-profit, voluntary organisation acting for the advancement of Jewish women, and for social justice generally.

The National Council of Jewish Women, South Australia Section was founded in 1929 due to the efforts of a group of South Australian women who had attended the first national conference of the Council of Jewish Women in Sydney in May of that year. They persuaded Fanny Reading, founder of the Council, to visit Adelaide in September to assist with this aim. Reading met with Mrs Isabella Solomons, wife of the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation President and herself president of the South Australian Women’s Zionist Society and who had formed the Adelaide Ladies Jewish National Fund in 1928. Solomons became the first president of the newly formed Section, remaining in this position until 1946.

From its earliest days, the Council in South Australia was concerned with both Zionist and community work. It raised funds for various Jewish causes and charities (both Jewish and some non-Jewish), as well as holding social events. After WWII, they sought to assist Jewish migrants arriving in South Australia and from the 1950s initiated various services for the aged such as meals on wheels.

A relatively small organisation, membership of the group has never exceeded 60.

The Council continues today as a non-profit, voluntary, organisation for Jewish women, acting for their advancement and for social justice generally.

The National Council of Jewish Women, Western Australia Section was founded in 1929, largely as the result of a visit of by Fanny Reading to Perth expressly for the purpose of amalgamating the existing Western Australia League of Jewish Women with the National Council. While this aim was not achieved, Fanny Beckler became the founding president of the Western Australia Section of the Council (the League continued for several years before disbanding). A Council Juniors was also formed. In its early days the Western Australia Section devoted itself to assisting Jewish migrants and then to war work. In the years after WWII, the Council organised more social events, undertook more fund raising and offered services for the elderly. The Council continues today as a non-profit, voluntary, organisation for Jewish women, acting for their advancement and for social justice generally.

The National Council of Jewish Women, Brisbane Section was formed in 1927 with Mrs E Isaacs as its founding president. Among the Section’s earliest activities were the formation of a Literary and Discussion Circle, and committees for Sewing, Hospital work, Catering, Entertainment, Immigrant Welfare, a Jewish Bush Book Club and a Girls Committee. As this indicates the Section encompassed a broad range of social, educational and welfare interests. They engaged in numerous fund raising endeavours, and concentrated on local philanthropic projects for both the Jewish and non-Jewish community. After the establishment of Israel, they also devoted their efforts towards support for the new Jewish State.

The Council continues today as a non-profit, voluntary, organisation for Jewish women, acting for their advancement and for social justice generally.

The National Council of Jewish Women, New South Wales Division was established in 1923. Originally called the Council of Jewish Women, in 1927 a national body (The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia) was formed and a separate New South Division of this organisation established.

Fanny Reading, the first president, immediately set about implementing service programs for the local Jewish community. An immigrant welfare committee was established, which was the first to provide any assistance for Jewish immigration in Sydney. Funds were raised for the relief of Polish Jewry. Other work included teaching Sunday Schools, visiting people in hospital, and assisting with other fundraising projects, both Jewish and non-Jewish, as well as social events particularly for Juniors. The Council in Sydney was particularly involved in supporting the Zionist cause and then with support for Israel. By the 1960s, it had several groups operating across Sydney and one in Newcastle.

Over its long history, the Council has been involved in an enormous array of issues, as well as charitable, educational and social activities. The Council continues today as a non-profit, voluntary, organisation for Jewish women, acting for their advancement and for social justice generally.

Established in 1927 by Dr Fanny Reading MBE, the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Vic) provides community support to vulnerable people, promotes a harmonious multicultural society, works to advance the status of women and supports projects in Israel. Inspired by Jewish values, the NCJWA (Vic) aims to create a better world for women.

Programs the NCJWA (Vic) runs include:

• Caring Mums, a home-based, non-denominational free service that provides emotional support to mums of newborn babies and women during pregnancy.
• Empowering Single Jewish Women and Effective Relationship Programs, which aim to support single women to manage the emotional upheaval post separation and promote the development of positive relationship skills.
• Support for the elderly programs.
• Support for Women from the former Soviet Union.
• Interfaith Activities.
• Status of Women activities, which involves a commitment to promoting human rights through equality, access and equity for women and girls within the Jewish and broader communities.
• Support for Israel fundraising activities.
• Opportunity Shop activities.