“If men and women can work for the State side by side and represent all the different sections of the community, and if the male members of the house would be satisfied to allow women to help them and would accept their suggestions when they are offered, I cannot doubt that we should do very much better work in the community than was ever done before.” An excerpt from Edith Cowan’s maiden parliamentary speech
Edith Cowan Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is born.
Edith Dircksey Cowan OBE was an Australian social reformer who worked for the rights and welfare of women and children. She was the first Australian woman to serve as a member of parliament.
Edith Cowan – Social Reformer – Associated Links:
- Edith Cowan Biography |Australian Dictionary of Biography: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cowan-edith-dircksey-5791
- Edith Cowan | National Museum of Australia: http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/defining_moments/featured/edith-cowan
- Edith Cowan Biography | Edith Cowan University: http://www.ecu.edu.au/about-ecu/welcome-to-ecu/edith-dircksey-cowan
- Edith Cowan University | Official Site: http://www.ecu.edu.au
Articles:
- “On this Day: Australia’s first female politician is born” | Australian Geographic: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2011/08/on-this-day-australias-first-female-politician-born
- “Edith Cowan: The girl who changed the rules” |Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/fierce-girls/edith-cowan-the-girl-who-changed-the-rules/9550256
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