The Australian Women's Register

The Methodist Ladies’ College, Burwood, was opened as the Wesleyan Ladies College in January 1886 with 12 students. After being named the Burwood Ladies’ College from 1899, the name Methodist Ladies’ College was officially used from 1914.

In June 1977 the school was officially renamed MLC school after the Methodist Church was subsumed into the new union of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches.

In June 1977 the Methodist Ladies’ College Burwood was officially renamed MLC school after the Methodist Church was subsumed into the new union of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches.

In 1979 Methodist Ladies’ College Launceston merged with Oakburn College and Scotch College to form Scotch Oakburn College.

The Women’s Progressive Association was formed by Annie Golding and her two sisters, Belle and Kate, in 1901. The Association had broken away from the Women’s Suffrage League and was more closely aligned with the labour movement and the concerns of working class women and their families.

Beatrice Faust, the founder of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) in Victoria, went to Sydney to set up WEL in New South Wales in 1972. Beatrice addressed a meeting at the house of Julia Freebury and, after deliberation, Caroline Graham, June Surtees and Wendy McCarthy agreed to become co-conveners of the Sydney branch and thus, the founding conveners of WEL in NSW.

The first public meeting of the WEL in NSW was held on 17 June 1972 and 40 women attended.

Originally founded by Dr James Graham in 1893 in Hay Street, the Women’s Hospital moved to Crown Street, Surry Hills, in 1897. The Board of the Women’s Hospital met for the first time on 13 August 1895.

From 1900, Crown Street became a teaching hospital in obstetrics for medical students at the University of Sydney. By 1943, the hospital had become the largest maternity hospital in the state.

The Crown Street Women’s Hospital closed on 31 March 1985.

Lucy MacMahon graduated from the University of Sydney with her medical degree in 1924. She travelled to England and remained there during the World War II period. On return to Australia, MacMahon worked closely with her two brothers who were surgeons.

The Sydney Women’s Film Group viewed and discussed current work by women filmmakers.

The first Sydney Lyceum Club was established by writer Agnes Rose Soley (Rose De Boheme) in 1914.

North Sydney Girls High School, located on Lane Cove Road, Crows Nest, was officially opened by the Education Minister on 27 January 1914. The building was the first in the state to be purposefully built for the higher education of public school girls.

The Muslim Women’s National Network Australia represents a network of Muslim women’s organisations and individuals throughout Australia.

The Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales was formed out of the Women’s Literary Society in 1891. The League led the fight for women’s suffrage in New South Wales.

The Catholic Women’s League Australia, New South Wales Inc., can trace its origins back to the foundation of the Catholic Women’s Association in Sydney in 1913.

Established in 1883, Sydney Girls High School is the oldest state girls school in New South Wales.

Louise Bannister has been a trail blazer since birth. Born at 26 weeks in Armidale in NSW, she was described as a ‘Miracle Midget’ by the media when she eventually left hospital. Her first years of life were marked by bouts of rigorous physiotherapy which seemed like torture to a toddler. Thanks to the determination of her parents, all Lou’s education was in mainstream public schools.

Lou’s realisation of the power of advocacy was awakened during a year at high school in Seattle where she met a fellow student with complex disabilities whose spirited approach to changing the world served as a role model, and imbued Lou with a sense of disability pride.

Several years after transferring to Canberra in 1991, WWDACT recruited Lou as a research officer to undertake the first-ever survey of women with disabilities in the ACT. A myriad of roles and project work followed, building her prominence in the community. She is now a much awarded leader in the ACT.

An effervescent personality is a key factor in how Lou interacts with everyone. She believes that a supportive style of leadership is more effective than anything hierarchical. Her feminist ideals are founded in a commitment to equity, and a belief that a diverse group of women can work together, to achieve a common goal.

Read an interview with Louise Bannister in the online exhibition Redefining Leadership.

Born in Queanbeyan, Justine Bamblett has both Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri heritage, and this rich duality has shaped her world view. She is passionate about the role that leaders play in modelling strength and resilience to young people. Having the lived experience of mental illness has given her a deeper understanding of the importance of developing a sense of self-worth. Her leadership enables younger people to enjoy better quality of life. Justine projects an outgoing, open personality that enables others to approach her with questions about employment, mental health or life itself.

Justine believes that education, coupled with community supports, is a key to shaping attitudes and understanding cultures. Misunderstanding results from ignorance of different religions and different cultures. Our lives are richer where there is diversity. Justine relates with empathy to people from all backgrounds and will try to help them in any way possible.

Justine’s aim is to foster an inclusive environment for those who see themselves as outsiders within our society.

Read an interview with Justine Bamblett in the online exhibition Redefining Leadership.

Sister May Bartlett joined the Australian Army Nursing Service on 12 June 1915. In 1919 she was awarded the Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class. She worked at Perth Hospital for many years.

Lady Gladys Nicholls was a prominent Aboriginal activist for the Aboriginal community in urban Melbourne from the 1940s to 1970s. Alongside her husband Pastor Doug Nicholls, Gladys was an inspiration to many.

The Women’s Pioneer Society of Australasia is an organisation of female descendants of early colonial pioneers, government officials, military personnel, free settlers and convicts.

Vicki Viidikas had her first poem, At East Balmain, published when she was 19 years of age. Since that time, Vicki had her poetry and fiction published in many literary magazines and later she also produced several collections of poetry.

Hilda Rix Nicholas made a significant contribution to Australian art in the period between the First and Second World Wars. Her art also achieved a high level of success and recognition in France.

Kathleen Gepp was involved in the Australian Red Cross and held various positions within the organisation including Honorary Public Relations Officer, the Junior Red Cross National Secretary and the National Director of the Junior Red Cross.

Eleanor (Nell) Rivett worked in girls’ education in India from 1907 to 1947 with the London Missionary Society. She was the secretary of the Bengal Women’s Education League and the Bengal Advisory Board on Women’s Education.

Eleanor was educated at the University of Melbourne and graduated with both a Bachelor and Master of Arts.

Vivienne Newson was both the vice-president and president of the United Associations of Women, Sydney.

Charys Else Young was born in 1898 to parents Margaret and Charles Ernest Young. Charys was an occupational therapist and an active church member.