Women Who Have Signed the Quilt & Their “Firsts”
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WOMEN WHO HAVE SIGNED THE QUILT & THEIR “FIRSTS” NAME FIRST First woman in Australia ordained as Theological Lecturer (Pitt Street 1. Hilda May ABBA Congregational Church, Sydney: 1951) First woman Mayor of Geelong City Council, the first in this VIC Council’s 2. Barbara ABLEY preceding 134-year history (2002) First woman President of the Royal Aero Club of WA; first woman President of 3. Shirley ADKINS the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (1989); first woman awarded the Oswald Watt Medal, Australia’s highest aviation award Pioneering food writer, first woman to own and manage a world-class 4. Stephanie restaurant in Australia (Stephanie’s Restaurant: 1976-1997); initiated innovative ALEXANDER primary school program, The Kitchen Garden at Collingwood College, Melbourne (2001) www.stephaniealexander.com.au Several firsts as woman in observer ranks of Bureau of Meteorology (BOM): first woman observer posted to QLD region (1983); first woman posted to Willis Island (1984); first woman for BOM to winter on Antarctic Continent (1985); first woman to obtain Senior Observer position in BOM (1988); 1 of 2 first 5. Denise ALLEN women (with medical officer Lynn WILLIAMS: also listed here) awarded prestigious Antarctic Medal for outstanding service in the Antarctic (1989); first woman ever to complete winter postings at all 4 Australian Antarctic bases (Macquarie: 1985; Mawson: 1986; Davis: 1988; Casey: 1992) First woman State Librarian in WA in its then 107year-old history (1989) 6. Lynn ALLEN First woman Chief Superintendent of St John Ambulance Australia (National 7. Lynne ALLEN- office: 1992-98) BROWN First woman awarded Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal in its then 42 year-old history (2002), in recognition of her outstanding achievements 8. Brit ANDRESEN as an academic and design architect over a sustained period in Australia and overseas First woman General Manager appointed at Waverley Council, NSW in its then 9. Kim ANSON 141 year-old history (2001) Leader of 3-women team of NT Park Rangers in charge of Arltunga Historical 10. Kristen APPEL Reserve, in East MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia - believed first Australian park solely staffed by female officers (1994) First woman in Australia to direct a major State Festival of the Arts (Adelaide: 11. Robyn ARCHER 1998 & 2000) First woman film director in Australia since 1930s (My Brilliant Career: 1979); 12. Gillian ARMSTRONG first Australian woman to direct Hollywood movie (Mr Soffel: 1985) 1 of first 10 women ordained to priesthood in the Anglican Church in 13. Betty ARNEY Australia (Perth: Sunday 7 March 1992) Australia’s first female commercial helicopter pilot (1967) 14. Rosemary ARNOLD http://members.optusnet.com.au/~whirlygirl99 First woman to fly a helicopter around Australia’s coastline (1997) 15. Allana ARNOT www.allana.com.au First woman in NT to become Associate of the Australian Insurance Institute (1977); first woman President of Darwin Basketball Association (1984); first 16. Maisie AUSTIN woman nationally accredited Level 2 Basketball Coach (1993); first woman President of NT Basketball Association (1995) First woman President of the Real Estate Institute of WA (the real estate 17. Kareena BALLARD sector’s professional body) in its 80-year history (1996-1998) 18. Joy BALUCH First woman Mayor of Port Augusta City Council, SA (1981) 19. Ros BANDT First woman in Australia to win the Don Banks Composers Award (1990) First woman to train a Coolgardie Cup winner (2002) since this prestigious WA 20. Ruth “Desy” horse race was first established in 1896 (Desy’s horse Lawmaker also won the BANNER Triple Crown (Coolgardie, Boulder and Kalgoorlie Cups) that year) 1 First Australian Aborigine drama graduate (1979); first Aborigine to perform professionally on the Australian operatic stage (Black River: 1989); co-lead in 21. Maroochy first Aboriginal musical (Bran Nue Dae: 1990); first Aborigine to sing national BARAMBAH anthem at Sydney’s Australia Day celebrations (1993); first Australian singer to perform at UN Goodwill Concert (New York: 1993); first Aborigine to sing national anthem at AFL Grand Final (1993) www.dakibudtcha.com.au First Australian President of World Federation of Occupational Therapists 22. Jo BARKER (1986-1990); first occupational therapist in Australia to be awarded PhD (1988); first woman Board member of Perth’s Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (1983) 23. Marie BASHIR First woman Governor of NSW (2001) First woman President of Shire of Healesville, VIC (1978) during 12 year stint as 24. Grace BAYLOR municipal ouncilor; first woman MP sworn into VIC Legislative Council (1979- 1985) First woman to win 5 world surfing titles, statistically the greatest woman surfer 25. Layne BEACHLEY in surfing history (2002) Australia’s first woman Ombudsman (SA: 1985); first woman Board member of 26. Mary BEASLEY Qantas (1983-85) 27. Beryl First Convenor of National Women’s Advisory Council, lobby group of women’s BEAUREPAIRE organizations (1978) First woman Senior Lecturer in Psychology (1972-88); professorial head Dept of Psychology (1989-92); associate Dean, Faculty of Science (1989-92); pro Dean, 28. Helen BEH Faculty of Science (1993-94) all at the University of Sydney; foundation President of the Australian Society of Psychophysiologists Renowned marine biologist, best known for pioneering work on the Great 29. Isobel BENNETT Barrier Reef; 1 of first 4 women scientists to visit an Australian Antarctic base (Macquarie Island: 1959) Co-founder (with Margie Fischer and Ollie Black) of Vitalstatistix (Adelaide: 30. Roxxy BENT 1984), later becoming the National Women’s Theatre 31. Marcela BILEK First woman Professor of Applied Physics at University of Sydney (2000) First woman engaged in commercial aviation in Australia when employed by Far 32. Nancy-BIRD West Children’s Health Scheme to operate her aircraft as an Aerial Ambulance WALTON & Baby Clinic, west of Bourke in outback NSW (1935). Aged 19, the youngest female commercial pilot in the British Empire at that time First woman from NSW to serve in both the Senate (1987-1994) and the House 33. Bronwyn BISHOP of Representatives (as Member for Mackellar: from 1994) 34. Hope BLACK First woman curator (of Molluscs) at the Museum of Victoria (1947); 1 of first 4 (formerly women scientists, to visit an Australian Antarctic base (Macquarie Island: 1959) MacPHERSON) Co-founder of the Wimmins Circus (Melbourne: 1979) and Vitalstatistix, 35. Ollie BLACK (Adelaide: 1984 - later to become the National Women’s Theatre) The Melbourne Age’s first woman leader writer and first woman Associate 36. Pamela BONE Editor First woman governor of a maximum security men’s prison in Australia 37. Maria BORDONI (appointed General Manager of Yatala Labour Prison, SA: 1996) First woman Mayor of Mackay City Council, QLD (1997) 38. Julie BOYD First woman President of University of WA’s Guild of Undergraduates (1969), 39. Sue BOYD possibly first woman to head a student body at any Australian University First woman elected from Central Australia to Legislative Assembly of NT 40. Loraine BRAHAM (1994); first woman Speaker in the NT (1997) Australia’s first female Crown Solicitor when appointed head of SA’s Attorney- 41. Catherine General’s department (1984); first woman to be appointed a Permanent Head BRANSON in the SA Public Service First woman founder and CEO of a cruise line anywhere in the world (1999) 42. Sarina BRATTON when launched her Sydney-based Norwegian Capricorn Line First woman Alderman elected to Alice Springs Town Council in Central 43. Marlene BROWN Australia (1971) 2 First woman and first Australian to gain international status in canoeing when 44. Helen BROWNLEE selected to judge slalom at the Munich Olympics (1972) First woman President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine 45. Lexia BRYANT (1999); Chair of the Women in Rural Practice group which developed the policy on women as rural doctors for the College’s foundation documents (1996-7) 46. Quentin BRYCE 1 of first women called to the Bar in QLD (1965) First woman head of the United Dental Hospital, Sydney (Director of Dental 47. Susan BUCHANAN Services: 1999) 48. Ricky BURGES First woman to head Perth Zoo (CEO : 1995) 49. Meredith First woman President of Academics Union of NSW (1985); co-founder National BURGMANN Pay Equity Coalition (1988); co-founder Ernie Awards for sexist remarks (1992) First woman President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions 50. Sharan BURROW Asia Pacific Region (2000) First Australian (and only second) woman world leader of the Salvation Army 51. Eva BURROWS (1986-1993) First woman editor-in-chief of a major daily newspaper (Sydney Daily & Sunday 52. Ita BUTTROSE Telegraphs: 1980); first woman Board member of Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd Australia First woman registered with the Australian Society of Anaesthetic & Operating 53. Joan CAIRNS Theatre Technicians (1975), she joined the Operating Theatre team at Alice Springs Hospital Founder of Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (1980) 54. Helen CALDICOTT First woman sports broadcaster on ABC Radio and Television in VIC; first woman 55. Elaine CANTY appointed to the AFL Tribunal (1996) First woman Aboriginal umpire to officiate more than 100 AFL games in the NT, she has been involved over the years in NT basketball, hockey, softball and 56. Joy CARDONA cycling, being presented with a Special Contribution to Indigenous Sport (female) award at the 6th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards (Perth: 1996) First Liberal Party woman to head an Australian State or Territory Parliament 57. Kate CARNELL (elected Chief Minister of the ACT: 1995) 58. Jennifer First woman Minister of Health in SA Parliament (1979) CASHMORE First woman Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (1992-95); first woman General Secretary of the Technical Teachers Union of 59. Tricia CASWELL Victoria (1979-1992); first woman full-time industrial officer Victorian Trades Hall Council (1984-92) 60. Suzanne First woman President of Country Liberal Party (CLP) in NT (1994-2001) CAVANAGH 61.