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Women of influence |
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Women have played a significant role in the Legislative Council, whether representing the community as members or supporting the Parliament as officers and staff. |
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Image (left to right): Catherine Green, NSW Parliamentary Archives (Date Unknown); Ellen Webster, NSW Parliamentary Archives (Date Unknown) |
In 1931, the Honourable Catherine Green and the Honourable Ellen Webster were the first two women members appointed to the Legislative Council. Catherine used her time in the Council to advocate on issues including maternal care, equal guardianship of children, and equal wages for women. Ellen too was a passionate champion for the community, showing particular concern for the plight of farmers during the depression.
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Image: Virginia Chadwick, Photographer: Andrew Taylor, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 June 1998 p.4, Fairfax Collection |
In 1998, the Hon Virginia Chadwick became the first female President of the Council, and indeed the first female Presiding Officer of the Parliament. Prior to that, Virginia had been the first Liberal woman to gain a ministerial appointment in a NSW government, the state’s first female Minister for Education, and the state’s first female Opposition Whip. Virginia Chadwick’s presidency was recently immortalised when a marble bust of her likeness was unveiled in the chamber – you can find it on the left when you first walk into the room.
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Image: Lynn Lovelock in Usher of the Black Rod uniform, (c. 1988), Private Collection |
At the Table, women have held advisory roles pivotal to the operation of the House. In 1988, Ms Lynn Lovelock became the first woman appointed to the position of Usher of the Black Rod. She went on to be the first woman appointed to the position of Deputy Clerk and in 2007, the first female Clerk of the Parliaments and the Legislative Council. Lynn’s period of service was marked by significant developments in law and parliamentary practice, including as one of the original authors of NSW Legislative Council Practice, a definitive record of almost 200 years of practice and procedure in the upper House.
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