The Australian Women's Register

A member of the ACT Greens, Deb Foskey was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory representing the electorate of Molonglo in 2004. She retired from Parliament in 2008 after serving for one term only.

Marie Coutts Clark was a physicist and spectrochemist at the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Clark was educated at North Sydney Girls’ High School and then the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1932. She subsequently completed a Radio Engineering Diploma Course at Sydney.

Between 1932-1940 she taught at schools in Kyogle, Coffs Harbour, Yass and Griffith (all in New South Wales).

During the Second world War she worked at the (Amalgamated Wireless Australia) AWA Material Testing Laboratory (1940-45).

She then spent the rest of her professional life (1947-1970) employed as a Demonstrator in Physics at the University of Sydney, as a research officer in the Division of Radiophysics (CSIRO) and as a spectrochemist.

Dymphna Cusack was one of Australia’s most prolific and translated writers. Educated at St Ursula’s College, Armidale she won an Exhibition and Teaching Scholarship to the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. While at the University of Sydney, she developed life-long friendships with fellow authors Florence James and Christina Stead, and lawyer Marie Byles. After graduating she worked as a teacher until her early retirement in 1944 due to ill-health.

Cusack’s literary career took off in 1935 when her first novel, Jungfrau, was published to critical acclaim. A further eleven novels, seven plays, three travel books, two children’s books and one non-fiction book followed. Two of her novels were collaborations: Pioneers on Parade (1939) with Miles Franklin; and Come In Spinner (1951) with Florence James.

Cusack’s books were translated into over 30 languages worldwide, making her one of Australia’s most translated authors. Her anti-bomb play, Pacific Paradise (1955), written in response to the United State’s atomic tests on Bikini Atoll, sealed her reputation across Asia, Eastern Europe and the Pacific.

During the 1950s and 1960s Cusack spent long periods overseas with her partner (later husband) Norman Randolph Freehill, a journalist and founding member of the Community Party of Australia. After returning to Australia in 1962 she became associated with Faith and Hans Bandler, leaders of the Aboriginal rights movements.

In 1963 Cusack was a foundation member of the Australian Society of Authors. In 1975 she was named Woman of the Year by the Union of Australian Women. In 1976 she refused the Order of the British Empire due to her republican ideals, but in 1981, soon before her death, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to Australian literature.

A member of the Liberal Party, Suzanne Napier was elected to the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Tasmania representing the electorate of Bass in 1992. She was re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2006. During her parliamentary career she has held a range of ministerial portfolios, served as Deputy Premier from 1996-98 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1999-2001.

Fanny Cohen was headmistress of Fort Street Girls’ High School in Sydney from 1929 to 1952. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1962 for her services to education.

She was an inspirational teacher and leader with firm views about the importance of streaming gifted students and ensuring that talented girls were given the same opportunities as boys.

Gladys Hope Marks was a lifelong supporter of women’s rights. She was active in a range of feminist groups, including the National Council of Women of New South Wales. A gifted linguist, she taught French at the University of Sydney in the 1920s and 30s.

The New South Wales branch of the Australian Federation of University Women established the Gladys Marks memorial fund to assist mature women to complete courses at the university.

Sarah Hynes was the first woman to hold a government appointment in science in New South Wales. In 1934 she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Beryl Ada Graham was a science teacher and author of several school textbooks.

She was educated at Bellevue Hill Public School, William Street Girls Junior High School (1931-1933) and Sydney Girls’ High (1934-35).

Graham graduated from Sydney Teachers’ College with Bachelor of Science in 1940 and was awarded the Eva Saunders Prize for Botany III. She received her Diploma in Education in 1941.

After graduating Graham taught at several public schools, including Cessnock High and Willoughby Girls’ Home Science High.

She married Ernest Graham in 1947 and had two children, born 1956 and 1957.

Margaret Ann Montgomery Bailey was the longest serving headmistress of Ascham School. She experimented with new learning methods, introducing the ‘Dalton plan’, a philosophy of learning which emphasises self-responsibility and independence, into the senior school in 1922.

She was educated at the Newnham School for Girls, Toowoomba, and attended the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1900.

Originally a member of the National Party in Queensland, now the Liberal National Party since the merger of the Liberal and National Parties in Queensland in September 2008, Rosemary Menkens was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the Member for Burdekin in 2004. She was re-elected in 2006 and 2009.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Christine Scott was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the Member for Charters Towers in 2001. She served for one term only suffering defeat at the 2004 election.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Carryn Sullivan was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as Member for Pumicestone in 2001. She was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2009. Before her entry into the state parliament, she served as a councillor for the Shire of Caboolture from 1991-94.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Jan Jarrett was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as Member for Whitsunday in 2001. She currently holds the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Margaret Keech was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the Member for Albert in 2001. She has held a number of ministerial portfolios, including Child Safety and Women, Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development. She currently holds the position of Government Whip.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Carolyn Male was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the Member for Glasshouse in 2001. After the electoral redistribution of 2008 she stood successfully for the seat of Pine Rivers at the 2009 election. She currently holds the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Education.

Described as a ‘woman of great strength’, Kathleen Egan was a Dominican Sister and educationist with a commitment to improving educational opportunities for children with hearing disabilities.

In 1931, after teaching in Tamworth and Mayfield, both in New South Wales, she was appointed to the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Waratah, Newcastle, New South Wales. Believing that ‘the deaf child has tastes, dislikes, ambitions similar to those of her unhandicapped sister’, she introduced the State curriculum (using conventional textbooks where possible) and was, thus, responsible for considerable reforms of education for the deaf in New South Wales.

A member of the National Party of Australia, Leisha Harvey was elected to the Queensland Parliament as Member for Greenslopes in 1983. She served as Minister for Health from December 1987 until January 1989. She was defeated at the election which was held in December 1989.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Laurel Power was elected Member for Mansfield in the Parliament of Queensland in 1989. She remained in the parliament until July 1995.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Judy Spence was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the representative for the electorate of Mount Gravatt in 1989. She is currently the Leader of the House in the Parliament as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Minister for the Arts, Anna Bligh. She has held ministerial portfolios, which have included Police and Corrective Services and Seniors, since 1998.

A member of the National Party, Naomi Wilson was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as Member for Mulgrave in 1995. During her term in parliament she served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care from 1996-98, and as Minister for four months, from February to June 1998. She was defeated at the 1998 election. Before entering the state parliament she served in local government as a councillor on the Mulgrave Shire Council from 1991-95.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Lindy Nelson-Carr was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as Member for Mundingburra in 1998. During her parliamentary carer she has served as a Minister in a number of portfolios and also as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and other Ministers.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Dana Wortley was elected to the Senate of the Parliament of Australia as a Senator for South Australia in 2004. She was defeated at the 2010 federal election.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Vi Jordan was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as Member for Ipswich West at the state election, which was held in 1966. She was the second woman to be elected to the Queensland Parliament. She was re-elected in 1969 and 1972, but was ultimately defeated in 1974. Before entering the state Parliament, she served as a Councillor for the Ipswich City Council.

A member of the National Party, Vicky Kippin was the first woman from her party to be elected to a parliament in Australia in 1974. She represented the electorate of Mourilyan in the Queensland Parliament. She was re-elected in 1977, but defeated at the 1980 election. She was a candidate again in 1983, but was unsuccessful in regaining the seat. After her parliamentary career she served as a councillor for the Johnstone Shire Council from 1982-85.

A member of the Liberal Party of Australia, Rosemary Kyburz was elected to the Queensland State Parliament as the Member for Salisbury in 1974 after an unsuccessful attempt in 1972. She was re-elected in 1977 and 1980, but was ultimately defeated at the 1983 election. While a Member of Parliament she married fellow parliamentarian Robert George Akers on 18 January 1981 and was the first sitting female member to give birth to a son in 1982.

A member of the Australian Greens party, Christine Milne was elected to the Senate of the Parliament of Australia as a Senator for Tasmania in 2004. Before her election to the Federal Parliament she served as member for Lyons in the Tasmanian State Parliament in the House of Assembly from 1989 until her defeat in 1998. She was re-elected at the 2010 federal election.

A member of the Australian Labor Party, Ursula Stephens was elected as a Senator for New South Wales in the Senate of the Parliament of Australia in 2001. She was re-elected in 2007 and held the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector from 2007-10.