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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

WOMEN WHO HAVE SIGNED THE QUILT & THEIR “FIRSTS”

NAME
FIRST
FIELD/S
Hilda May ABBA First woman in Australia to be ordained as a Theological Lecturer, at Pitt Street Congregational Church, Sydney (1951)
RELIGION
EDUCATION
Barbara ABLEY First woman Mayor of Geelong City Council, the first in this Victorian Council’s preceding 134-year history (2002)
POLITICS
Shirley ADKINS First woman President of the Royal Aero Club of WA; first woman President of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (1989); first woman awarded the Oswald Watt Medal, Australia’s highest aviation award
AVIATION
Stephanie ALEXANDER Pioneering food writer, first woman to own and manage a world-class restaurant in Australia (Stephanie’s Restaurant: 1976-1997); initiated innovative primary school program, The Kitchen Garden at Collingwood College, Melbourne (2001) www.stephaniealexander.com.au
GASTRONOMY
Denise ALLEN 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 (1986); first woman to obtain Senior Observer position in BOM (1988); 1 of 2 first 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)
SCIENCE
Lynn ALLEN First woman State Librarian in WA in its then 107year-old history (1989)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Lynne ALLEN-BROWN First woman Chief Superintendent of St John Ambulance Australia (National office: 1992-98)
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Brit ANDRESEN First woman awarded Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal in its then 42 year-old history (2002), in recognition of her outstanding achievements as an academic and design architect over a sustained period in Australia and overseas
ARCHITECTURE
Kim ANSON First woman General Manager appointed at Waverley Council, NSW in its then 141 year-old history (2001)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Kristen APPEL Leader of 3-women team of NT Park Rangers in charge of Arltunga Historical Reserve, in East MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia - believed first Australian park solely staffed by female officers (1994)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Robyn ARCHER First woman in Australia to direct a major State Festival of the Arts (Adelaide: 1998 & 2000)
MUSIC
PERFORMING ARTS
Gillian ARMSTRONG First woman film director in Australia since 1930s (My Brilliant Career: 1979); first Australian woman to direct Hollywood movie (Mr Soffel: 1985)
FILM INDUSTRY
Betty ARNEY 1 of first 10 women ordained to priesthood in the Anglican Church in Australia (Perth: Sunday 7 March 1992)
RELIGION
Rosemary ARNOLD Australia’s first female commercial helicopter pilot (1967) http://members.optusnet.com.au/~whirlygirl99/
AVIATION
Allana ARNOT First woman to fly a helicopter around Australia’s coastline (1997) www.allana.com.au
AVIATION
Maisie AUSTIN First woman in NT to become Associate of the Australian Insurance Institute (1977); first woman President of Darwin Basketball Association (1984); first NT woman nationally accredited Level 2 Basketball Coach (1993); first woman President of NT Basketball Association (1995)
BUSINESS
SPORT
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Kareena BALLARD First woman President of the Real Estate Institute of WA (the real estate sector’s professional body) in its 80-year history (1996-1998)
BUSINESS
Joy BALUCH First female Mayor of Port Augusta City Council, South Australia (1981)
POLITICS
Ros BANDT First woman in Australia to win the Don Banks Composers Award (1990)
MUSIC
Ruth “Desy” BANNER First woman to train a Coolgardie Cup winner (2002) since this prestigious WA horse race was first established in 1896 (Desy’s horse Lawmaker also won the Triple Crown (Coolgardie, Boulder and Kalgoorlie Cups) that year)
SPORT
Maroochy BARAMBAH First Australian Aborigine drama graduate (1979); first Aborigine to perform professionally on the Australian operatic stage (Black River: 1989); co-lead in first Aboriginal musical (Bran Nue Dae: 1990); first Aborigine to sing national 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
MUSIC
PERFORMING ARTS
Jo BARKER First Australian President of World Federation of Occupational Therapists (1986-1990); first occupational therapist in Australia to be awarded PhD (1988); first woman Board member of Perth’s Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (1983)
MEDICINE
Marie BASHIR First woman Governor of NSW (2001)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Gracia BAYLOR First woman President of Shire of Healesville, VIC (1978) during 12 year stint as municipal councillor; first woman MP sworn into VIC Legislative Council (1979-1985)
POLITICS
Layne BEACHLEY First woman to win 5 world surfing titles, statistically the greatest woman surfer in surfing history (2002). [Received 6th world title in 2003]
SPORT
Mary BEASLEY Australia’s first woman Ombudsman (SA: 1985); first woman Board member of Qantas (1983-85)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Beryl BEAUREPAIRE First Convenor of National Women’s Advisory Council, lobby group of women’s organizations (1978)
ACTIVISM
Helen BEH First woman Senior Lecturer in Psychology (1972-88); professorial head Dept of Psychology (1989-92); associate Dean, Faculty of Science (1989-92); pro Dean, Faculty of Science (1993-94) all at the University of Sydney; foundation President of the Australian Society of Psychophysiologists
EDUCATION
SCIENCE
Isobel BENNETT Renowned marine biologist, best known for pioneering work on the Great Barrier Reef; 1 of first 4 women scientists to visit an Australian Antarctic base (Macquarie Island: 1959)
SCIENCE
Roxxy BENT Co-founder (with Margie Fischer and Ollie Black) of Vitalstatistix (Adelaide: 1984), later becoming the National Women’s Theatre
PERFORMING ARTS
Marcela BILEK First woman Professor of Applied Physics at University of Sydney (2000)
EDUCATION
SCIENCE
Nancy-BIRD WALTON First woman engaged in commercial aviation in Australia when employed by Far West Children’s Health Scheme to operate her aircraft as an Aerial Ambulance & Baby Clinic, west of Bourke in outback NSW (1935). Aged 19, the youngest female commercial pilot in the British Empire at that time
AVIATION
Bronwyn BISHOP First woman to be president of any political Party in NSW when elected President of the Liberal Party in NSW (1985); first woman from NSW to be elected to the Senate (1987); first woman from Liberal Party to be elected to the House of Representatives from NSW (1994); frist woman from Liberal Party in NSW to become a Federal Minister (1996); first women in Australia to service in the Senate, the House of Representatives and as a Minister
POLITICS
Hope BLACK
(formerly MacPHERSON)
First woman curator (of Molluscs) at the Museum of Victoria (1947); 1 of first 4 women scientists, to visit an Australian Antarctic base (Macquarie Island: 1959)
SCIENCE
Ollie BLACK Co-founder of the Wimmins Circus (Melbourne: 1979) and Vitalstatistix, (Adelaide: 1984 - later to become the National Women’s Theatre)
PERFORMING ARTS
Pamela BONE The Melbourne Age’s first woman leader writer and first woman Associate Editor
MEDIA
Maria BORDONI First woman governor of a maximum security men’s prison in Australia (appointed General Manager of Yatala Labour Prison, SA: 1996)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Julie BOYD First woman Mayor of Mackay City Council, QLD (1997)
POLITICS
Sue BOYD First woman President of University of WA’s Guild of Undergraduates (1969), possibly first woman to head a student body at any Australian University
EDUCATION
Raelene BOYLE First woman on the Australian Olympic team to head up and carry the Australian flag at an opening ceremony (Montreal: 1976); also youngest Australian athlete ever to win an Olympic medal (aged 16, silver, 200m, Mexico: 1968)
SPORT
Loraine BRAHAM First woman elected from Central Australia to Legislative Assembly of NT (1994); first woman Speaker in the NT (1997)
POLITICS
Catherine BRANSON Australia’s first female Crown Solicitor when appointed head of SA’s Attorney-General’s department (1984); first woman to be appointed a Permanent Head in the SA Public Service
LAW
PUBLIC SERVICE
Sarina BRATTON First woman founder and CEO of a cruise line anywhere in the world (1999) when launched her Sydney-based Norwegian Capricorn Line
BUSINESS
Marlene BROWN First woman Alderman elected to Alice Springs Town Council in Central Australia (1971)
POLITICS
Helen BROWNLEE First Australian woman to gain international status in canoeing when selected to judge slalom at the Munich Olympics (1972); first woman President of Australian Canoeing (1985) and the NSW Olympic Council (1990); first woman on International Canoe Federation (ICF) Technical Committee for Canoe Slalom (1976) ICF Board of Directors (1988) and the Australian Olympic Committee Executive Board (1991)
SPORT
Lexia BRYANT First woman President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (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)
MEDICINE
Quentin BRYCE 1 of first women called to the Bar in QLD (1965)
LAW
Susan BUCHANAN First woman head of the United Dental Hospital, Sydney (Director of Dental Services: 1999)
MEDICINE
Ricky BURGES First woman to head Perth Zoo (CEO : 1995)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Meredith BURGMANN First woman President of Academics Union of NSW (1985); co-founder National Pay Equity Coalition (1988); co-founder Ernie Awards for sexist remarks (1992)
EDUCATION
UNION
ACTIVISM
Marie BURKE see Marie SINGLE
Sharan BURROW First woman President of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Asia Pacific Region (2000)
UNION
Eva BURROWS First Australian (and only second) woman world leader of the Salvation Army (1986-1993)
RELIGION
Ita BUTTROSE First woman editor-in-chief of a major daily newspaper (Sydney Daily & Sunday Telegraphs: 1980); first woman Board member of Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd Australia
MEDIA
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Joan CAIRNS First woman registered with the Australian Society of Anaesthetic & Operating Theatre Technicians (1975), she joined the Operating Theatre team at Alice Springs Hospital
MEDICINE
Helen CALDICOTT Founder of Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (1980)
ENVIRONMENT/
CONSERVATION
ACTIVISM
Elaine CANTY First woman sports broadcaster on ABC Radio and Television in VIC; first woman appointed to the AFL Tribunal (1996)
MEDIA
SPORT
Joy CARDONA 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 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)
SPORT
Kate CARNELL First Liberal Party woman to head an Australian State or Territory Parliament (elected Chief Minister of the ACT: 1995)
POLITICS
Jennifer CASHMORE First woman Minister of Health in SA Parliament (1979)
POLITICS
Tricia CASWELL First woman Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (1992-95); first woman General Secretary of the Technical Teachers Union of Victoria (1979-1992); first woman full-time industrial officer Victorian Trades Hall Council (1984-92)
ENVIRONMENT/
CONSERVATION
UNION
Suzanne CAVANAGH First woman President of Country Liberal Party (CLP) in NT (1994-2001)
POLITICS
Evonne CAWLEY
(formerly GOOLAGONG)
First Aboriginal woman to win the prestigious Wimbledon tennis singles title (1971)
SPORT
Irene CHATFIELD First woman awarded the AFL’s inaugural Woman of the Year (1998)
SPORT
Kerry CHIKAROVSKI First woman to lead a major political party in NSW when elected Leader of the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party (1998)
POLITICS
Joan CHILD First woman Australian Labor Party (ALP) member in the House of Representatives (1974); Australia’s first woman Speaker of either House of the Federal Parliament (House of Representatives: 1986)
POLITICS
Elizabeth CHIPMAN 1 of 3 Australian women (with Shelagh Robinson and Jutta Hosel) first on the Antarctic continent with ANARE - Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (Casey: summer 1975-6); first woman member of the ANARE Club
SCIENCE
M.E. (Peg) CHRISTIAN First veterinarian to establish private small animal practice in NT (Alice Springs: 1948-1951); co-pioneered Wombaroo, replacement milk formula for orphaned marsupials
SCIENCE
Meredith CHROME
(now ROODENRYS)
First woman President of the Local Government Association of SA (1982)
POLITICS
Joan CLARING BOULD First full-time female student at SA’s St Barnabas’ Theological College, Belair; first Anglican woman to receive Bachelor of Theology degree from Flinders University, Adelaide; first woman ordained deacon in SA (1987)
RELIGION
Doreen CLARK First woman National President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (1994)
SCIENCE
Molly CLARK Founder of the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame, Alice Springs (1993), dedicated to preserving the place of women in history and their special contribution to Australia’s heritage; pioneered homestay operation at her Old Andado homestead, Central Australia, a first for tourism in the NT (from late 1960s)
RURAL
Adrienne CLARKE First woman Chair of CSIRO Board (1991-1996); first scientist appointed to prestigious post of Lieutenant Governor of VIC (1997-2000)
SCIENCE
Phynea CLARKE First indigenous woman to represent Australia in the National Hockey Under 21’s team (in Five-nation tournament, Sydney: 1986); first Alice Springs’ woman to represent NT in National competitions (Under-16’s and Under-21’s)
SPORT
Rosalba CLEMENTE First woman Artistic Director of SA’s State Theatre Company, Adelaide (2000)
PERFORMING ARTS
Annie COCKSEDGE First woman to graduate in sound mixing from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) (1982); for nearly a decade, first and only female sound mixer with the ABC
FILM INDUSTRY
Denise COLLINS First woman appointed to Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) Australian Rally Commission (1996); 1 of few Australian drivers internationally recognized by the FIA (motorsport’s governing body)
SPORT
Elizabeth CONSTABLE First woman elected to WA Parliament as an Independent (in the By-election for the Seat of Floreat: July 1991)
POLITICS
Natalie COOK First woman (with team partner Kerri Pottharst) to win Olympic gold medal for Australia in Beach volleyball (Sydney: 2000)
SPORT
Helen COONAN First woman to hold a Treasury portfolio since Federation when appointed Federal Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (2001)
POLITICS
Joan COOPER First woman Professor of Information Technology (IT) in Australia (University of Wollongong, NSW: 1991)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Suzanne CORY First woman (and 6th Australian) to win the prestigious Royal Medal of the London-based Royal Society (2002) for her pioneering work on molecular biology of the immune system; first Australian to win the L’Oreal/UNESCO Women in Science Award (2001)
SCIENCE
Kay COTTEE First woman to circumnavigate the world singled-handed when she arrived in Sydney Harbour on 5 June 1988 in her yacht “Blackmore’s First Lady” after her epic 46,000 km voyage
ADVENTURE
Elizabeth COUCHE 1 of the first 10 women ordained to priesthood in the Anglican Church in Australia (Perth: Sunday 7 March 1992)
RELIGION
Margaret COURT
(formerly SMITH)
First Australian woman to win the prestigious Wimbledon tennis singles title (1963)
SPORT
Louise COX First woman President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects since its foundation in 1929 (1994)
ARCHITECTURE
Joan COXSEDGE First woman Australian Labor Party (ALP) Member of Parliament elected to the VIC Legislative Council (1979-1992)
POLITICS
Wendy CRAIK First woman Executive Director of Australia’s peak farm lobby group, the National Farmers Federation, (1995)
RURAL
ACTIVISM
Helen CREED First woman National President of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union (1999)
UNION
Janice CROSIO First woman in Federal Parliament to have served on executive in all 3 levels of government – local, State and Federal. First woman Mayor of Fairfield City Council, NSW (1974-5 & 1977-80); first woman Cabinet Minister in NSW (1984-88); ALP member for Prospect, NSW since 1990
POLITICS
Trish CROSSIN First woman Australian Labor Party (ALP) Senator for the NT in Federal Parliament (1999) www.senatorcrossin.octa4.net.au
POLITICS
Rosemary CROWLEY First SA woman member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Federal Parliament (1983); first SA woman elected to Federal ministry (Minister for Family Services & Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women: 1993)
POLITICS
Diana CULLEN First woman to win trophy at the Perth Show (with a Sauvignon Blanc); pioneered use of oak in white wine production in WA (1980s) www.cullenwines.com.au
GASTRONOMY
Vanya CULLEN First woman to win the Qantas/Wine Magazine’s Winemaker of the Year (2000) www.cullenwines.com.au
GASTRONOMY
Lisa CURRY Former swimming champion and first woman Chair of the National Australia Day Council in Canberra (2000)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Ann CURTHOYS First woman Professor of Australian History at the Australian National University, Canberra (replacing famed historian, Manning Clark: 1995)
EDUCATION
HISTORY
Betty CUTHBERT First Australian to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympic games, dubbed Australia’s “Golden Girl” (Melbourne: 1956)
SPORT
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Elizabeth Cameron DALMAN Pioneer of contemporary dance in Australia; founder of the Australian Dance Theatre, (1965-75) this country’s first professional modern dance company
PERFORMING ARTS
DANCE
Lois D’ARCY Australia’s first marriage celebrant (appointed by Attorney-General of Australia, Senator Lionel Murphy: 19 July 1973)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Dur-é DARA First woman President of the Restaurant and Caterers Association of VIC since 1906 (1994)
GASTRONOMY
Barbara DARLING Amongst first women ordained as priests at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne (13 December 1992); first woman in Melbourne elected as (clerical) canon for St Paul’s Cathedral (October 1995)
RELIGION
Christine DAVY Australia’s first woman captain of a passenger airline (Connair, operating out of Alice Springs: 1974)
AVIATION
Joyce DAWS First woman President of the VIC Branch Council of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), first woman in any State or Territory of Australia to hold that position (1976)
MEDICINE
Shirley DE LA HUNTY
(formerly STRICKLAND)
First Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in athletics (London: 1948); first Australian mother to both perform and win at the Olympics (Melbourne: 1956)
SPORT
Anne DE SALIS First woman appointed to Senior Executive level in Commonwealth Treasury since Federation (1991), she later established AMP Direct
PUBLIC SERVICE
BUSINESS
Julie DEVINE see Julie DRYDEN
Collette DINNIGAN Currently the only Australian-based fashion designer recognized by the Chambre Syndicale of women’s Prêt-a-Porter (ready-to-wear) designers, first Australian to mount full-scale fashion show at the Paris Collections (1995) www.collettedinnigan.com.au
FASHION
Julie DRYDEN
(formerly DEVINE)
First woman to work underground in QLD; first woman to obtain the QLD First Class Mine Managers’ Certificate of Competency (Metalliferous); QLD’s first woman Mines Inspector (QLD Dept of Natural Resources and Mines, Townsville: 2002)
SCIENCE
PUBLIC SERVICE
Deirdre DUNCAN First woman in Australia to gain PhD in Educational Administration (1976); first lay principal of Order-owned independent Catholic girls secondary college; 1 of first Associate Professors appointed at the Australian Catholic University, Strathfield NSW
EDUCATION
Ruth DUNKIN First woman Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology); first woman Vice-Chancellor of any VIC University (2000)
EDUCATION
Pam DUNSFORD First woman student and oenology (winemaking) graduate at the all-male residential Roseworthy Agricultural College, SA (1973) www.chapelhillwine.com.au
GASTRONOMY
EDUCATION
Judith DURHAM Lead singer of Australia’s first international chart topping group, The Seekers; first Australian international female pop star (1960s)
MUSIC
PERFORMING ARTS
Val DYER First winner of the inaugural NT Rural Woman of the Year (1994)
RURAL
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Ella EBERY First woman Councillor (1969) and Mayor of St Arnaud, VIC (1988-90); first woman editor of the North Central News, St Arnaud, VIC (since 1981)
POLITICS
MEDIA
Barbara ETTER First woman Commander within the NT Police (1992)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Elizabeth EVATT First woman to preside in an Australian Federal Court when appointed Chief Judge of the newly created Family Court of Australia (1975)
LAW
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Beatrice FAUST Founder of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) in Australia (1972)
ACTIVISM
Molly FERGUSON see Molly HEALY
Leanne FERRIER First woman racing driver ever to finish on the V8 Supercar podium when the then 20 year old became runner up in the first round of the 2001 Konica series; first woman ever to win a race and championship round (2000) www.leanneferrier.com.au
SPORT
Michelle FIELD 1 of 3 first women professional firefighters recruited to the VIC Metropolitan Fire Service (1988)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Rhondda FIGGIS CLOSE First woman President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (NSW branch) in its then 112 year-old history (1984-87); first woman President of the NSW Council of Professions
MEDICINE
PUBLIC SERVICE
Diane FINGLETON First woman police officer appointed to the SA Drug Squad (1971); to become Detective Sergeant (1979); in charge of a country region (Yorke Peninsula: 1989)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Chantal FISCHER see Chantal PARSONS
Margie FISCHER Co-founder (with Roxxy Bent and Ollie Black) of Vitalstatistix (Adelaide: 1984) which later became the National Women’s Theatre
PERFORMING ARTS
Penny FLETT First woman in peacetime to hold a male rank and first woman doctor to serve in the RAAF (1974)
MILITARY
MEDICINE
Kathryn A. FLYNN
(formerly HENDERSON)
First and only woman to compete in the National Parachute Championships (Cessnock, NSW: 1962); first and only woman to represent Australia at the (6th) World Parachute Jumping Championships (Orange, Massachusetts, USA: 1962)
AVIATION
Rosemary FOLLETT First woman to head an Australian government (ACT’s first female Chief Minister and first woman to attend a Premiers’ Conference: 1989)
POLITICS
Leneen FORDE First woman Governor of QLD (1992); first Australian International President of Zonta International, the service club of executive and business professional women (1990-92)
PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Nicolette FRAILLON First Australian woman to conduct an ABC orchestra; first woman Music Director and Principal Conductor of major European symphony orchestra (Royal Netherlands National Ballet Company in Amsterdam: 1994)
MUSIC
PERFORMING ARTS
Dawn FRASER First and only swimmer in history of Olympic Games to have won an Olympic event (100m freestyle) 3 times in succession (achieved Tokyo: 1964)
SPORT
Marian FREE First woman in Brisbane Anglican Diocese to be made a Rector of a Parish; 1 of 2 women who broke ground by becoming General Synod Representatives; first woman in the Brisbane Diocese to receive a Phd
RELIGION
Cathy FREEMAN First indigenous Australian to win an international track medal (bronze, 4x400m relay, Auckland Commonwealth Games, 1990); first to win Commonwealth gold (Canada, 1994); first indigenous Australian to win individual Olympic gold medal (Sydney, 2000) www.cathyfreeman.com.au
SPORT
Sandra FRENCH First woman Mayor of Burnie City Council, TAS (1991-96)
POLITICS
Jan FULLERTON First woman Director General of the National Library of Australia, Canberra (1999)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Margaret FULTON First and greatest of the Australian celebrity cookery writers, with 4 million cookbook sales over the past 40 years; credited with being 1 of first to bring international cuisine to the Australian table after WWII
GASTRONOMY
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Sue GAJDOS
(now VIRAGO)
1 of 3 first fully-trained women wharfies (stevedores) in NSW to join men at Port Botany, Sydney (1997); first Australian woman to represent women transport workers at international level (as Maritime Union of Australia delegate at International Transport WorkersB9 Federation Women’s Conference, New Delhi, India (1998)
UNION
Fay GALE First woman Professor of Geography in Australia (University of Adelaide: 1978)
EDUCATION
Mary GAUDRON First woman Judge to the High Court in Canberra, the highest court in the Australian judicial system (1987)
LAW
Jennie GEORGE First woman President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) (1995)
UNION
June GILL First woman Board member of the SA Fishing Industry Council (1998); founding Chair of SAWIN (SA Women in Fishing: 1996); instigated first National conference for Seafood Women; developed first state seafood women’s Action Plan (1997)
BUSINESS
ACTIVISM
Rebecca GILMORE First woman (with team partner Loudy Tourky) to win Australia’s first Olympic medal (bronze) in synchronized diving (Sydney: 2000)
SPORT
Freda GLYNN Co-founder of CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Medial Association: 1980) which includes Imparja, first Aboriginal commercial TV station (1988), and first licenced Aboriginal radio station Radio 8KIN FM broadcasting in regional languages
MEDIA
Madeleine GLYNN First woman Superintendent with SA Police (appointed Local Service Area Commander of the South Coast Division: 1998)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Melanie GOEHR First woman firefighter recruited to NT Fire & Rescue Service (1992)
PUBLIC SERVICE
Kay GOLDSWORTHY 1 of 8 women ordained as Australia’s first female deacons (1986); 1 of 10 women ordained as Australia’s first female Anglican priests (Perth: Sunday 7 March 1992)
RELIGION
Evonne GOOLAGONG see Evonne CAWLEY
Sue GORDON First Aboriginal person to head a government department in WA (appointed Commissioner for Aborigin