The Australian Women's Register

Elba was born into a strongly socialist working-class family in Chile, which became closely associated with the government of Savador Allende and was forced to flee Chile following his assassination. On settling in Canberra she instigated a strike of workers at the at the Health Services Supply Services laundry at Mitchell in 1987. In 1991 she joined the staff of the Beryl Women’s Refuge, where she is still employed. She has assisted many Chilean refugees settle in Canberra and has been involved in a number of community organizations.

Lily Ah Toy was well known and respected across the Northern Territory; so well respected that, as part of the bicentennial events in 1988, she was one of only eight Territory women to be recognised for their contributions and achievements. Her family were key figures in the Pine Creek and Darwin (Northern Territory) Chinese communities, although, they came to be well regarded across ethnic boundaries, for the extent of their generosity and involvement in the community, her efforts in 1974 to assist people made homeless and hungry by Cyclone Tracy being a case in point.

At various times in her life, Lily was involved in school mother’s clubs, church councils, the Red Cross and various Chinese organisations. In 1982, Lily graduated from the Northern Territory University with a diploma in ceramics. At 65 years of age she was the oldest graduate.

Lily’s family was very poor but, through hard work and commitment, they made their place in the Territory. It is important that Lily and other Chinese Australians are now recognised as an important part of our Northern Territory history.

Sabina Greenman was a successful alderman for the Leichhardt Municipal Council from 1956-59. She ran once for election to parliament in the unwinnable seat of Balmain in the 1959 New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She was an early member of the Liberal Party. Sabina was also campaign director for Elton Lewis in 1954 for the Federal seat of Martin and in 1958 for the seat of Dalley. Sabina Greenman was married to Charles Greenman, with whom she had a daughter, Kathleen. She was a great grandmother at the time of her campaign in 1959, when Elton Lewis was her campaign director.

Angela Griffiths is an activist for the Citizens Electoral Council. She ran for election to the House of Representatives for Page in 2001 and 2004 and for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat for Lismore in 2003. She was a firm believer in the policies of U.S. campaigner, Lyndon LaRouche, as the solution to world problems. Angela Griffiths and her husband run a small organic egg farm near Kyogle.

A pioneer for women doctors and a tireless committee-woman, Lucy Gullett was inspired by the success of the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Melbourne to found a hospital run by women for women. The Rachel Forster Hospital for Women and Children, as it became, opened in 1922. Gullett was also a one-time candidate (Independent) for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of North Sydney in 1932.

Gerda Hailes is a committed Christian who ran for the Christian Democrat Party in the 2003 New South Wales Legislative Assembly elections for Wyong.

Bernadette Hamilton was a once only candidate who stood for the Liberal Party in the 1988 New South Wales Legislative Assembly elections for Heffron. At the time of her campaign, Bernadette Hamilton was a successful small businesswoman and appeared regularly on the local radio station 2 RES-FM. She was the mother of two young children, was a State Foster parent and was active locally with children’s groups.

Shelley Hancock was a Liberal Party candidate who was elected to parliament at her first attempt in 2003. She became the Member for South Coast in the South Wales Legislative Assembly. She was re-elected in 2007, 2011 and 2015. In 2016 she was the Speaker in the Legislative Assembly, the first female to assume this position.

Prior to this she was a successful local councillor, having been Alderman at the Shoalhaven Council from 1987-2001 and Deputy Mayor 2000-01.

Susan Harben was a prominent figure in the Gay and Lesbian community. She ran for election as an ALP candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Bligh in 1995.

Catherine Webster ran as a Natural Law Party candidate in the 1995 New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Wakehurst.

Janey Woodger was a prolific campaigner who stood as a candidate in multiple elections.
As an Australians Against Further Immigration candidate she contested the following elections:
New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Campbelltown in 1995.
House of Representatives seat of Werriwa in 2001 and 2005.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly Campbelltown by election in 2001.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly Macquarie Fields by-election in 2005.
She also sought election to the House of Representatives for Cook in 1996 as a Reclaim Australia, Reduce Immigration Party member.

Joanna Weckert was one of many Australian Greens members who ran for election only once. She ran for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Gosford in 1999.

Victoria Lucille Wootten represented the Communist Party of Australia in the seat of Mt Druitt at the 1978 New South Wales Legislative Assembly elections.

Neva Wendt ran for election only once and as an Australia Party candidate she failed to gain election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Miranda in 1973. She did however, go on to a successful career in international affairs.

Nicole White was a one-time Call to Australia candidate who ran for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Bulli in 1995.

Margery Whitehead only ran once for election to parliament. That was in 2003 as an Independent in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Heffron. Prior to that Margery was a successful local councillor for Randwick from 1997 to 2004. She was educated at Sydney Girls’ High School and in 2005 was the President of the Old Girls’ Union of the school.

Mrs Mary Jamieson Williams was a pioneer of the women’s movement and a staunch temperance worker. She ran for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of North Shore in 1925 as an Independent.

Joy Williams was a Communist Party of Australia candidate in the 1962 elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Phillip.

Karen Willis ran for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Camden in 1991 as an Independent.

Sabine Hedwig Willis is a well known feminist and historian who ran for election once only. She was the ALP’s candidate in the 1976 New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Northcott.

Constance Ellen Wilson ran as an Independent for election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Lismore in 1956.

Edwina Lyn Wilson was an Australian Democrats candidate at the following elections: the House of Representatives seat of Hunter in 1980 and 1983 and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Lake Macquarie in 1984.

Pamela Adelaide Wilson stood as an Australia Party candidate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Wakehurst in 1973.

Cheryl Wong stood for the Unity Party at the New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Willoughby in 1999.

Anne Wood was an Independent candidate in the 2003 elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Wollongong.

Brooke Watson was an Australian Democrats candidate in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly elections for Penrith in 1995.

Gloria Wood was an Independent in the 1991 elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Mt Druitt.