Women Vote: They Picked up the Patter with Amazing Fluency” Exhibition
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“Women Vote: They Picked up the Patter with Amazing Fluency” Exhibition 15 Aug 08 - 16 Nov 08 A Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Project By the Beechworth Arts Council In partnership with The Burke Memorial Museum And Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre Beechworth Professional Women Beechworth Red Cross Beechworth Secondary College With thanks to Victorian Parliament, Office of Women’s Policy Researched and compiled by: Cath O’Connor 2008 ‘Scroll of Honour’ An Art Installation by Beechworth artist Jo Voigt Launched on 26th July 2008 2 ' Beechworth women were active in public life in Beechworth working tirelessly They Picked up the Patter with Amazing Fluency: Women Vote 1908-2008' to assist those in need in their community. They organised bazaars, balls and other fund raising activities for the churches, hospital and benevolent asylum. (A brief outline) Some of the organisations supported by women included: Founded on gold in the early 1850's and prosperous as a mining town, Beechworth Ladies' Benevolent Society- Formed by the women of Beechworth was known as the 'city in the hills'. By the 1890's it had Beechworth in 1892 to assist those in needy circumstances with gifts of food, experienced changing fortunes and a serious decline in its fortunes and in its clothing, blankets and firewood. population. Women's Christian Temperance Union - A Beechworth Branch of WCTU Who were the women of Beechworth who signed the Monster Petition in was formed in December 1890, it aimed to "overthrow the monster of iniquity 1891? Were they the leaders in their community? Why did they believe so and raise in every home an altar unto God". Mrs Osborne was the first strongly in the need to demonstrate to the Victorian Parliament that women President and the early meetings were chaired by the minister. Mrs Mary Ann wanted the vote? The Monster Petition sought that 'Women should Vote on Warren later became President in March 1891 when the branch was reported Equal terms with Men' as having 35 members who were busy taking the temperance message to the hospital, gaol and benevolent asylum. It is highly probable that the Beechworth From the stories of the women who signed the Monster Petition in 1891, it is members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union were instrumental in known that many women were married, had large families and faced many collecting the 170 women's signatures for the Monster Petition in Beechworth hardships in their lives. The older women were born overseas and had and District in 1891, as the WCTU strongly supported the petitioners to the migrated to Australia and then made their homes in the Ovens goldfields. Their Victorian Parliament for women's suffrage in Melbourne. daughters who signed the Petition were likely to have been born in Australia. Most women worked in the home. Some women held public positions in the community. The matrons of two of the main institutions, the Ovens and District Australian Women's National League – In 1904 a Beechworth Branch was Hospital and the Beechworth Benevolent Asylum were women and Miss K formed through the efforts of A. M. Zwar. A year later it had 51 members and its Alderdice was Curator at Burke Museum and later a teacher at the Beechworth stated aims were: 'Loyalty to the Throne': to counteract Socialist tendencies; to Technical School. educate the women of Victoria to realise their political responsibilities and to safeguard the interests of Home, Women and Children. The League was The women who worked were mainly engaged in domestic work. Other reported as displaying ‘a pitiful dependence on male patronage and guidance'. women listed in the 1901 Post Office Commercial Directory were engaged in The meetings were usually being chaired by John Fletcher, a bookseller and business including; 11 hotelkeepers, 6 dressmakers, 2 bakers, 2 drapers and stalwart of the Presbyterian Church. The League identified with conservative 1 conducted a photographer's studio. It was common practice for women to politics in Beechworth. carry on businesses after their husband's died. Obituaries for Mrs William Trim tell us she had eight children and took over operating her husband's bakery Until 1901, women lacked basic political, economic and civil rights. Before business after his death. She was also a tireless worker for local benevolent Federation women could not vote nor stand for any level of government. In organisations including the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Victoria, women did not have the right to vote until 1908 and it came seventeen years and eight Bills after the Monster Petition was delivered to the Victorian In 1901, 12 women were employed as nurses under Matron Margaret Parliament. The public service had institutionalised inequalities of pay and Winning at the Ovens District Hospital and other nurses worked at the promotion for women and severely limited choices of occupation, thus Beechworth Lunatic Asylum under Matron Maria Meade. Many women reflecting the unregulated discrimination normal in other areas of employment. worked in traditional employment such as teaching and nursing and at that This was the condition of the women of Beechworth and strengthened their time were paid less than men working in the same occupations aspirations and resolve for equality. What the papers had to say lose will be the presence of some charming ladies in both the corridors and refreshment rooms of Parliament House. Female Franchisists Rejoicing (‘Our Melbourne Letter’ Ovens & Murray Advertiser October 17 1908) Women’s Suffrage (London) (‘Cable Letter’ Ovens & Murray Advertiser Political intelligence, like other news, travels very fast. Very shortly after the July 4 1908) Premier had made the announcement regarding the Adult Suffrage Bill in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the telephone bells were heard ringing all Another great women’s suffrage demonstration took place outside the House of over the lobbies calling for Mr Mackinnon and other members. These Commons last night. Mr Asquith declined to receive a deputation, and an messages came from Miss Vida Goldstein and other ladies who have for such attempt was made to invade the House of Commons. A huge uproarious crowd a long time been actively engaged in bringing the justice of the movement assembled in Parliament Square and remained for two hours watching the under the notice of members of both Houses. I hear now that when the bill is progress of the assault. The police effected 28 arrests. It is estimated that the passed, as the female franchisists declare it will be, a monster women’s crowd numbered fully 75,0000, and many frantic and dangerous rushes were demonstration will be held. It has not yet been decided whether this is to take made to avoid the horses of the mounted police. Some time later two women the form of an afternoon tea party or an evening ‘song and dance’, but it is very were arrested in the act of smashing Mr Asquith’s windows in Downing Street. certain that it will be a function adequate to the victory. It will be somewhat amusing to hear Sir Thomas Bent, who is to be specially invited, addressing a gathering of this kind. The wily Premier is perhaps looking forward to the time when the women of Victoria will prepare another list of the names of those whom they deem most suitable to lead a Government, and that Sir Thomas hopes to find his name at the top of this. The Female Franchise (Ovens & Murray Advertiser Nov 28 1908). At last the Legislative Council has given way and has conceded the vote to the women of Victoria, and thus places them on a level with their sisters in the other states. It is significant of the change that it has come over the spirit of the Upper House in this matter that the second reading should have been carried ‘on the voices.’ While the debate on the second reading was being conducted the galleries were full of suffragettes, one of whom did not, with that feminine disregard of consequences for which the sex is noted, hesitate to give expression to her indignation when one or other of the speakers advanced the old time-worn argument against the female vote. Sir Henry Wrixon is a courteous and chivalrous gentleman, otherwise this offending female franchisist might have found herself consigned to the Parliamentary ‘black hole,’ though where that dread apartment is in the present Parliament House is as much a matter of conjecture as the Swanee River is to every American I have hitherto come across. However, there you are, the women of Victoria now have the vote, and all that remains is to see how they use it. By all events, one troublous and troublesome subject has been removed from State politics. What we shall Mrs W Adam ( - ) John Street1 Frances Armstrong (1876- ) Finch Street4 Mary (nee Riddoch) Adam was married to William Adam. Their daughter, Ada Frances Ellen Armstrong was born on 21st April 1876 at Hurdle Flat. She was (Ida) Isabella Riddoch died in her first year. (343/36) (C.O’Connor) baptised at Christ Church in June 1877. Her parents were John (a warder at the Hospital for the Insane) and Rebecca Armstrong. Frances had six sisters; Elizabeth Allott (1867*-1928) Hurdle Flat2 Emily, Mary, Amy, Florence, Alice and Louisa, and a brother, William, all of whom were baptised at Christ Church. Frances was 15 when she added her Elizabeth was the daughter of James Grant and Margaret (nee Meldrum). She signature to the Monster Petition. (345/1) (C.O’Connor) was born about 1867 in Yackandandah. In 1885 she married George Henry Allott, the son of Thomas and Amelia (nee Woods) Allott of Hurdle Flat.