The Australian Women's Register

Beatrix (Bix) McCay was the second woman to sign the Victorian Bar Roll when she did so in 1925. Unfortunately, her career at the Bar was cut short by a diagnosis of tuberculosis and the requisite sojourn in a sanitorium and subsequent convalescence. She nevertheless went on to contribute to public life through her involvement in numerous community organisations, including the Red Cross and the Girl Guides.

Go to ‘Details’ below to read a tribute to Beatrix McCay written by her daughter in 2009, for which permission to reproduce has been granted for the Trailblazing Women and the Law Project.

Noni Hazlehurst is an Australian actress, writer, and director. Born in 1953 Hazlehurst began her career in the arts in the 1970’s playing a character in the television series The Box. Hazlehurst is particularly well known for her long time role on the children’s’ program Play School . Her experiences with children’s programming and media have led Hazlehurst to speak out about the potential impact of the media on child welfare. Her role as a youth and children’s advocate is also demonstrated through her position as national ambassador with Barnardo’s children’s charity.

In 1995 Hazlehurst received an Order of Australia award for her services to children and children’s charities, other awards and honours were to follow. In 2016 Hazlehurst became the second Woman to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame and used her acceptance speech to speak out against sexism and bigotry in the television industry. Hazlehurst has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Flinders University, four Australian Film Institute Awards, two Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, two Logie Awards, and one award from both the San Sebastian International Film Festival and Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival.

Ann Shelton graduated in 1964, winning the Anna Brennan Memorial Prize for the woman placed highest in the final year law class at the University of Melbourne. She went on to be Victorian Parliamentary Counsel, where she worked with the legendary John Finemore.

Go to ‘Details’ below to read a reflective essay written by Ann Shelton for the Trailblazing Women and the Law Project.

Tammy Young is the founder and owner of Young’s List, a boutique barristers’ clerking service in Victoria. Combining a passion for practice management and a keen interest in business, Young sought to build upon the expertise she acquired in commercial law, when she launched Young’s List in 2012. Of the thirteen Victorian based barristers’ clerks, Tammy is the sole female business owner, and one of only two female CEOs.

As a young, single parent of two small children, Tammy completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), majoring in history, at the University of Melbourne. She then commenced undergraduate studies in law, which she completed with honours in two and a half years. Young then undertook her articles of clerkship at Minter Ellison where she worked predominantly in taxation. She subsequently completed an associateship at the Federal Court of Australia where she gained experience in both migration and native title law.

Young later worked at Freehills in mergers and acquisitions, and commercial litigation at Cornwall Stodart Lawyers. She signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 2008.

After the birth of her fourth child, Tammy left the Bar and took the unprecedented step of joining Foley’s List as a barristers’ clerk. This inspired her to start her own list of barristers, with an emphasis on commercial law.

Sally Brown was at the forefront of women advancing in the Victorian judiciary, as one of the first female magistrates appointed in Victoria in 1985. She was appointed Chief Magistrate in 1990, and then a Judge of the Family Court of Australia in 1993. She has served on a number of boards, including as Chair of the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Incorporated in 1996 as a not-for-profit association, Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL) is the peak representative body of women lawyers in Victoria, and a recognised organisation of Australian Women Lawyers. Ms Deanne Weir was appointed first convenor.

One of VWL’s key objectives is to promote the understanding and support of women’s legal and human rights. We work to fulfil that objective through a variety of means, including by identifying, highlighting and eradicating discrimination against women in law and in the legal system, as well as by seeking to achieve justice and equality for all women.

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women was established in 2001 to acknowledge inspirational Victorian women for their contributions, leadership and achievements.

Motivated by a burning sense of injustice, Elizabeth Eggleston was a trailblazer in advocating justice for Aboriginal people. An academic lawyer and activist – she was the first doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Law at Monash University – Eggleston’s research revealed systematic discrimination of Indigenous peoples in the administration of justice. She was a founder of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service in 1972.

Isla Victoria Murphy was born on 17 July 1913 at St Kilda. After graduating as dux from the Presentation convent school, she attended the University of Melbourne. In 1933, Isla completed her Bachelor of Arts (Hons). She completed her Bachelor of Laws in 1934 and her Masters the following year. Isla was admitted to the Bar on 1 May 1936. She practised with her uncle’s firm and was described as ‘the best man in the office’. During this time, she also served on the Victorian committee of the St Joan’s Social and Political Alliance, an international organization committed to an active role in society for lay Catholic women.

Isla joined the Australian Women’s Army Service on 21 November 1941, where she attended the first A.W.A.S. officers’ course and became captain. In 1943 she was promoted to major and appointed deputy assistant adjutant-general (women’s services) at Land Headquarters. In September 1944 she became assistant adjutant-general (women’s services) and was made temporary lieutenant colonel. Murphy assisted with the rehabilitation of servicewomen before transferring to the Reserve of Officers on 7 September 1946.

With the intention of resuming her legal career, she attended a refresher course at the University of Melbourne, where she met solicitor Horace Arthur Wimpole, who had also served in the Australian Imperial Force, and been a prisoner of war. They were married on 16 September 1947, and Isla did not recommence her practice. In 1957-60 Isla was vice-president of the Lyceum Club. She died on 4 January 1967.

Alana Boyd participated in gymnastics, high jump and hurdles as a child, trying pole vault for the first time when she was eighteen. She went on to represent Australia at IAAF World Championships, as well as at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Lisa Chesters, a member of the Australian Labor Party, was elected Member for Bendigo in the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament at the September 2013 election.

Clare O’Neil, a member of the Australian Labor Party, was elected Member for Hotham in the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament at the September 2013 election.

Joanne Ryan, a member of the Australian Labor Party, was elected Member for Lalor in the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament at the September 2013 election. She currently holds the position of Opposition Whip.

Steph Ryan was elected National Party Member for Euroa in the Legislative Assembly of the Victorian Parliament at the November 2014 election. She is Deputy Leader of the National Party.

Eleanor Patterson began competitive high jump as a child in country Victoria. Her first international competition was the World Youth Championships in 2013.

Jodi Elkington began sprinting when she was seventeen years old. Born with cerebral palsy, she went on to represent Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and to win a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Caitlin Thwaites represented Australia in volleyball before turning to netball. In 2014 she was part of the gold-winning national team, the Diamonds, at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Rachael Lynch played hockey for her home state of Victoria before joining the national team. She went on to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s Hockey World Cup and the Champions Trophy. In 2014, the International Hockey Federation named her the World Cup Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Georgia Nanscawen began playing hockey when she was five years old and made her international hockey debut in 2009. She has represented Australia at the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s Hockey World Cup and the Champions Trophy.

Tegan Caldwell made her international netball debut at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Melina Bath was appointed Member for Eastern Victoria representing the Nationals Party in the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Victoria on 16 April 2015. She holds the position of Nationals Whip in the Legislative Council.