Friend and Foe Caroline Chisholm and the Women of Kyneton 1840 - 2004. Published by Springfield & Hart 206 pages with photographs, illustrations and a map. Signed by the author.Brenda Stevenshistory, kyneton, women of kyneton, kyneton - history, women on goldfields, kyneton women, womens rights.

Vida Goldstein was a feminist and suffragist. She was born in Portland on 13 April 1869. Vida's father was an anti suffragist but encouraged his daughters to be economically and intellectually independent. Vida and her sisters were well educated.These notes form part of a collection of items which document the story of Vida Goldstein.Eleven pages of biographical notes on Vida Goldstein written by her niece Leslie M. Henderson, M.A. LLB. Red typing on white paper, foolscap sizevida goldstein, feminist, suffragette, suffragist, womens suffrage, womens rights, vote, women's history

These items were part of the Gwen Goedecke donationDiaries 1983, 1984, 1988 & 1991|Newspaper clippings & photographs featuring Gwen Goedecke 1985 - 2000's|General correspondence|Study course notes at F.I.T. 1970's - 1980's|Information from the internet - Newspaper articles of Gwen's life & achievement after her passing in 2016|Justice of Peace application 1982|Letter to Peter Batchelor State Secretary of the Victoria Branch of the Victorian Labour Party from Gwen Goedecke regarding the motion of the termination of her ALP membership 19th August 1987|Gwen Goedecke resignation letter from the ALP 10th July 1987|Letter to the editor regarding the resignation of Gwen Goedecke that she was not expelled but resigned from the Labour Party 27th July 1987|Gwen Goedecke rejoining the ALP membership pack 31st October 1996|City of Sunshine Council elections 1st August 1987 distribution of first preferences of North Ward|Vote 1 Lockwood, S.M. residents information leter 27th July 1987|City of Sunshine Returning Officer G. S. Pearson letter to Gwen Goedecke regarding her actions 6th August 1987|Gwenyth "Gwen" Goedecke's Awards & Accomplishments|Gwenyth Goedecke life as an activist, councillor, member of Union of Australian Women, Australian LabourParty Member, Women Rights, Communist Party Member & Sunshine International Women's Committee|Gwenyth Goedecke Obituary|Begin Conference 1995 - UNESCO Terracotta Warriors Commentative coin & selection of postal envelopesjohn "jack" augustine tighe, gwenyth "gwen" goedecke, mayor

Biography of the life of pioneer feminist Henrietta Augusta Dugdale, who initiated the first female suffrage society. Published in 2011, this book offers an insight into Australian women's rights in the 19th century.australia, history, biography

From Heritage Victoria: The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was an international first-wave feminist organisation. The Melbourne branch was formed in 1887 and became the biggest and most influential women's organisation in Victoria. The WCTU introduced large numbers of Victorian women to political activity. The Union linked temperance and women's suffrage to achieve a variety of social reforms to improve women’s lives. Possible belonged to Florence Dellar of Henty Street, PortlandBanner for the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Navy cotton backing. Pale blue cotton front. Hand painted. White cord on edges. White fringe on bottom. Person holding flag and cross in centre. Paint - blue, white, black, gold. Wooden slat on top - nailed. String hanger with white tassels.Front: WCTU. For God, For Home, For Native Land. Portland League of Hope. Tremble King of Alcohol, We Shall Grow Up.wctu, womens christian temperance union, feminism, feminist, female artists, womens history, women's rights

Women's rights and votingPurple and green book titled "The right to vote: the right to stand". The involvement of women in local government in Victoria. In centre of book map of Australia with ALGWA in centre. Circle around has "Australian Local Government Women's Association Inc" book by Helen D. Harris OAM. Book has 93 pages.As abovevoting, helen harris, women's rights

This book contains maps and walking tours of Melbourne with a focus on places that are important to the development of women's rights over the years.96 p., paperback, illus. (some col.), maps.melbourne, women, women's rights, walking tours

From Mrs Helen Lindsay Mc Donald, family descendant. Vida Goldstein was a strong advocate for women's rights and equality. She was the first woman to stand for parliament in the British Empire.Black and white studio photographic portrait of a woman in late 19th century dress. She is central in the photo, standing next to balustrade and greenery, and in the background is a painted backdrop.Front: Front- Yeoman and Co 107 Swan Street, Richmond Back- 'Vida Goldstein' - Printed in texta on stellotape.portrait photography, vida goldstein, suffragette, equality

Paper booklet, consisting of 40 pages plus 18 preface pages. Front cover of booklet is printed with with a black and white portrait image of a woman (the author of the booklet) at centre. The woman has short hair and is wearing a black gown buttoned at the neck. Text printed on front cover reads: "(Fourth Edition.)/Limitation of Offspring/MRS. B. SMYTH./To be obtained at 51 Errol Street, North Melbourne,/AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. PRICE, 1S. 6D./1893/RAE BROS., POLYGRAPHIC PRINTERS, 547 & 549 ELIZABETH STREET, MELBOURNE."non-fictioncontraception, birth control

Paper booklet, consisting of 82 pages plus 7 preface pages. Text printed on title page reads: "WHAT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD/KNOW./DISEASES/INCIDENTAL TO WOMEN./THEIR CAUSE, PREVENTION AND CURE,/BY/MRS. B. SMYTH,/Being the Substance of a Lecture delivered at the Town/Hall, North Melbourne./PRICE, 2S./MELBOURNE:/H.J. PRENDER, Printer and Publisher, 119 Swanston-st./1895'.non-fictiongynaecology, women's health, genital diseases

Roma Mirchell was an Australian lawyer, judge and the 31st state governor of South Australia. She was the first Australian woman judge, and the first woman to be a Queen's Counsel, a chancellor of an Australian university and the Governor of an Australian state. She was also considered to be a pioneer of the Australian women's rights movement. Photograph of a statue of Roma Mitchellroma mitchell, governor, adelaide

Newspaper clipping. February, 1998. Article reports on Frank Cusack's book titled 'Bendigo the German Chapter'. Ribbon from the 'National Council Women Bendigo'. Golden Anniversary - 50 years. 1948-1998. The National Council of Women of Victoria (NCWVIC) was founded in Victoria, Australia, in 1902 with Janet Clarke as the founding president. The organisation is a branch of the National Council of Women of Australia, and the International Council of Women. It is an umbrella group for a number of associated member organisations and aims to progress women's issues and women's rights in the state of Victoria.national council women, cusack, german

Hat styles have sometimes changed little over the last 100 years. The 'fedora' style used for the manufacture of this 1970s hat dates from the 1890s. Originally a style favoured by women, it became primarily used for men's hats in the early 20th century, being popularised by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII. At one stage the fedora style became a symbol of the women's rights movement.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.A small unadorned dark brown felt fedora, assumed to be designed for a child. The hat has an indented crown and a soft brim. It is otherwise with adornment.Nilchildren's hats, headwear, fedoras

Considered a ‘worthy’ councillor, William [Bill] Wishart was ‘blunt’ in words and actions during his period of civic service. He was concerned with a picturesque Kew. This included street lighting, macadamised roads and improved access to Melbourne. Often accused of being German, he asserted his Australian birth and Scottish heritage. He was a strong advocate for women’s rights, believed in compulsory voting, favoured prison reform, opposed religious instruction in State schools, betting including horse racing, Home Rule, alcohol and sought to establish a tourist bureau. Cr. Wishart was ‘unanimously’ supported to nominate for the vacated seat of Richmond in Victoria’s Legislative Council. He narrowly lost the vote. After a sudden death, he was buried with Presbyterian rites in the Boroondara General Cemetery.Arthur Henry Dear was an employee of the City of Kew, acting as Hall Keeper of the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, and later the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road. The Arthur Dear Collection contains memorabilia - tickets, programmes, invitations - as well as his identification badge.Admission ticket to a musical and bioscopic entertainment in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew, on Empire Day, Friday 24 May 1907. The ticket was tendered to schools of the district, presumably students and teachers, by the Mayor of Kew, Cr. W. Wishart.arthur dear collection, empire day - kew (vic.), kew recreation hall -- wellington street -- kew (vic.), cr william wishart, mayors of kew

Account of the indexing project providing an index to the names and addresses of the women who signed the Women's Petition in 1891, which is available online on the Parliament of Victoria's website. The Women's Petition sought equal voting rights for women.1 p. article from Ancestor, Vol. 29, No. 4, December 2008womens suffrage petition, monster petition, womens suffrage, women's petition 1891

Vintage Australian book for the homemaker c1958. The book is published prior to the granting of equal pay, affirmation of women's rights, acceptance of working mother and career woman as the norm . The book reinforces the socially accepted concept of the married homemaker and mother as perceived at the time, now the idealised concept is questioned. At the time of publication and reprints this book was envisaged to empower women. Whether' a teenager, career woman, a young married or mother' as a 'guide, philosopher, and friend' The editor Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool to Charles and Mary Jukes of the Floral Farm, Warrnambool. She attended Braemar Grammar School and Warrnambool High School. She lived and worked in Melbourne as a journalist and secretary living in St Kilda and Elsternwick 1949, Bentleigh 1954, Oakleigh 1963. In 1961 she gathered together a number of writers and consultants to produce Woman's World, a book designed as the woman's Bible to enable her to have access to expert advice and information about home and outside work fields. The book was hailed at the time as the only work of its type produced entirely for Australian conditions and was an immediate success appealing to a wide range of readers. A similar subject book of smaller size and format has been sighted 'The People's Home Library', 1910 reprinted in 1923 by RC Barnum published by The Oceanic Publishing Company. A Library of three practical books, Medical 478 pp, Home Recipe 238 pp and Home Stock 315pp.This book is a guide for everything from how to answer a telephone correctly to sorting out marital problems. A reference guide for how to be a complete and successful young woman. Courses on Beauty, Fashion, Poise and Personality, Cooking,Every Wise Woman, Love and Marriage, The Home, The Family and Interests and Hobbies. This book has significance for Warrnambool as Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool and has strong family connections to the district.A hardback reference book 'Woman's World' with a cream vinyl binding of flecked fabric outside cover and spine. Gold gilt lettering for the title and a gold gilt rose motif on the front; gold gilt lettering and publisher's name on the spine; plain back cover. The endpapers are repeated of black and white pen ink drawings showing the roles of women on varying splashes of a vairety of mono-coloured backgrounds. A general index on page 602 plus cooking index page 606 and dressmaking and sewing index page 607. The 607 pages are printed on thick, gloss white paper for 64 pages and coarser, white matt paper for the remainder. The table of contents lists a pictorial Introduction and nine chapters (courses) 'that is a 'bible' to the woman 'cares' and is vital to her as her femininity'. The editor has a heading "WOMAN" The Unacknowledged Specialist" and signed with her printed signature...Alleyne Jukes.' No dedication included although a text from Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Capable Wife)alleyne m jukes, woman, self improvement, 'bible', warrnambool

Mary Owen OAM (1921-2017) purchased this dress in 1975 in Mexico while attending the first World Conference on Women and wore it to the reception there. A dedicated feminist, unionist and activist, she was a vocal campaigner for the empowerment of women, particularly in the fight for equal pay. Mary's involvement in activism began in 1966 when she joined the staff of the Association of Architects, Engineers & Draughtsmen (AAESDA), where she was responsible for advertising, layout and proofreading editorial for its journal 'Blueprint'. Her contact with the union awoke an interest in women's rights in the workplace, and in 1969 after she joined Dr Bertram Wainer's Progressive Reform Party, which advocated for legalised abortion. She joined the Women's Electoral Lobby in 1972 and remained an active member for over forty-three years, representing the WEL on many government committees. She was a founding co-coordinator of the Working Women's Centre Melbourne from 1975 until 1986, a founding member of EMILY's List Australia, an early member of the Melbourne Press Club and an early supporter of the Australian Women's Archives Project. An annual Mary Owen Dinner was held in her honour for twenty years from 1986 until 2007, which brought together hundreds of women each year. Mary was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Order of Australia Medal in 1984. She was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.Red, white and black cotton halter neck dress with rows of pin tucking on the bodice and applied horizontal strips of red and black cotton and black lace to the skirt. Label, woven black on white acetate, centre back: Disenado con carino por / GEORGIA CHARUHAS / HECHO / EN MEXICO Label, woven black on white acetate, centre back: Gerorgia's / BOUTIQUE LAS MARIPOSAS / Designer: / Georgia Charuhas / MERIDA YUCATAN, MEXICOmexico, international women's conference, 1970s fashion, georgia charuhas, feminism, mary owen

Part of the Gwenyth "Gwen" Goedecke CollectionBox 1| Women's International League for Peace and Freedom WILPF| National Council of Victoria Inc. NCWV| Centre for Working Women Co-op| Union of Australian Women UAW| Women's Electoral Lobby Victoria WEL| Coalition of Australian Participating Organisations of Women CAPOW! | Box 2| National Women's Advisory Council| Victorian Women's Advisory Council| Office of the Status of Women Canberra|Women Workers of the West|Women's Bureau Canberra|Office of Women's Affairs| Rural Women's Network, Victoria| Victorian Women's Trust| International Alliance of Women I.A.W| Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF)| International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW)| Inaugural Women's Research Officer's Newsletter March 2003| Women of the West Network minutes Feb '85/July '86| UN Association of Australia Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) agenda Oct 1981| Women's Peace Camp report by Gwen Goedecke (1 page only) 1995 PUBLICATIONS: United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 51st session (New York) Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women - a written statement submitted by Rhonda Sharp, Professor Economics, University of South Australia 2007|Parliament of Australia, House of Representaties News Release 1997 re grants to Women's Non Government Organizations (NGO's)| Presentation of Australia's Third Progress Report on Implementing the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1997| Status of Women Committee UNAA (Victorian Division) Agenda 2007| United Nations Mandates of International Space Year 1991| Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice From the Office of the Status of Women - Australian Federal Government -|Women's Budget Programme Assessment (85/86)|Newsheets Sept to Oct 1983|Activities of the Office 1982-1983|Directory of Government Resources for Women 1983|Fair Exposure (1983)|Budget Impact Statement 1987 to 1988|National Economic Conference - an information paper on the economy Women's Contribution to Economic Recovery 1983 |Affirmative Action for Women vol 2 (1984)|Women's Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister - report (1977)|International Alliance of Women (IAW) The Increasing importance of women in north south cooperation (International Literacy Year 1990)|International Women's Year Priorities and Considerations - Australian National Advisory Committee (1974)|Women's Studies International Forum vol 7 #6 (1984), Pergamon Press UK|'The 51% Minority' - Womens's Policy Co-ordination Unit (Victorian Gov't) 1984women

Gwyneth "Gwen" Goedecke collectionHiroshima|Historical articles, Hiroshima Day Speech (Rally 2007) Melbourne|Campaign for International Co-operation & Disarmament (CICD) - 40 years on - Commemoration (1985) |Nuclear Disarmament - People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) including the Footscray Sunshine PND group|signed petition World Disarmament Campaign (1982) sponsored by the UN Association of Australia|Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (post 2007) - Why the US is targeting Russia and Iran ...... Nuclear Primacy|publication of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) 2007 titled ' Understanding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'|Australian Nuclear Free Zones Secretariat including minutes and correspondence - Sunshine Council|Non- Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 (Australia) Uranium Mining - protest groups meetings, rally notices, newspaper articles, Atomic Energy in Australia magazines Volume 18, number 4 |Campaign for International Co-Operation and Disarmament (CICD) - Australia's longest runing peace movement, founded in 1959 by unionists, church leaders and peace activists (originally called World Congress for Disarmament and International Co-Operation) |United Nations - Australia and the United Nations Annual Report Card (2007) - report by Gwen Goedecke (1995) - 50th Anniversary Conference : The United Nations - Between Sovereignty and Global Governance - (La Trobe University)|UNITY - newsletters, publications of the UN Association of Australia -#274 (September 2001) AND #331 (March 2003) -compiled from Federal Parliamentary and other sources relevant to Australia's obligations to the UN | Arms Race/Spending: Newspaper clippings '70s to 2008 Senate Motion on National Missile Defence (200?) Submission re Australian involvement in Missile Defence dated? Defence White Paper Community Consultation Process and correspondence (July to September 2008) Exposing the Bare Essentials Behind the Arms Trade: Connecting Women's Rights & The Peace Process - by Yum Lee, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (1995) Various articles on arms/disarmaments/national security/defence spending including Senate Questions (1994 &1995) Australian Controls on the Export of Defence & Related Goods - Guidelines for Exporters - Department of Defence (1992) World Action to Stop the Deadly Arms Race - report isssued by Alf Watt for the Australian Socialist Group NSW (post 1975) Anti US/Foreign bases in Australia - '80s to 2000 Anti US bases in Australia and the Paciic including PINE GAP newspaper - Oceania (1986) |East Timor Article by Vera Butler (PHD, Political Science, Uni of Melbourne) on Australia, East Timor and The Clinton Doctrine - September 1999 |Middle East List of UN Resolutions against Israel (1955-1992) Map of Middle East Theatre of War, from the Centre for Research on Globilisation, Canada (2003) Brief - Middle East highlights (1973) by Israel Press Ltd., Tel Aviv |Iraq War (1998-2004 Newspaper arlticles Flyers protesting the war, rally notices Reports, emails, correspondence, media releases, petitions, newsletters Socialist Worker pamphlet - 'Is the UN an alternative to the US Empire?' Report by Dr Carmen Laswrence MP - 'What War?' (April 2003) A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition response to President Bush's National TV address of September 7, 2003 |Peace andTerror World Peace Council Presidential Committee meeting, Stockholm (1975) (2 reports) 'Challenging the Cold War' - an analysis of the motivation and strategies of the Victorian Peace Council in the 1950's, by Nancy Florence Phillips B.A. (Oct 1986) Palm Sunday Peace Rally & Festival poster (1988) Media Report (2003 'Managing Terror in the Media', together with Gwen's notespeace

Born in Bendigo and trained as a nurse in the 1950s, Sonia Jill O’Brien devoted a lifetime to social and environmental issues at both the state and local level. From her work in the 1960s with the Family Planning Association of Victoria, of which she was a founding member, through to the 1990s as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Department of Health, she supported efforts to improve women’s health and reproductive rights. At the local level she was most active on committees that worked to save the natural and built environment. The Power-line Action Group, the Studley Park Conservation Society, and the Yarra Bend Park Trust all benefitted from her indefatigable endeavours as well her vision. In 1980, Jill O’Brien successfully stood for the Kew City Council and served as Mayor in 1983 and 1984. With an eye to preserving the past as well as guarding the future, she had the Mayoral robes restored and in 1980 and 1981 was president of the Kew Historical Society. The preservation and restoration of Villa Alba in Walmer Street owes much to her determined efforts throughout the 1980s. On Council, she chaired a number of committees involved in the saving of the Kew River Parklands from the proposed transmission line of the SEC. To this end, she was the Council representative on the Merri Yarra Municipal Protection Committee.Rare colour photograph, used as the official mayoral portrait of Cr Jill O'Brien.Formal civic portrait of Cr Jill O'Brien in red mayoral robes wearing lace jabot and cuffs. The portrait is part of the larger Jill O'Brien Collection donated by her daughters.cr jill o'brien, city of kew -- mayors, mayoral portraits -- city of kew

This bag belonged to by Mrs Alice "May" Moss CBE (1869-1948), Australian suffragist, social welfare campaigner and longtime resident of 59 North Road, Brighton. Born Alice Frances Mabel Wilson in Ballarat, in 1887 May married Isidore Moss, the son of Norwood's builder Mark Moss. While her children were young, she began to campaign for the rights of women and served as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League in 1906-14, during which time she actively campaigned in Victoria for women's suffrage. She was an Australian delegate at the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in 1927, where she was the first woman to sit on a finance committee. She attended the International Council of Women in Geneva in the same year and in 1928 was elected as vice president of the ICW, a position she held until her death. She was the first president of the National Council of Women of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. May was active in many other community organisations and causes, including the Royal Women's Hospital, the Collingwood Crèche and the Free Kindergarten movement. She served on the board of management of the City Newsboys' Society in 1906-48 and was the first woman lay-member of the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1936-45. She was also member of the International and Lyceum clubs, with an interest in the theatre, painting and woodcarving.French petit point tapestry bag featuring seven people in a bucolic scene, with trees and buildings in the background. Black border. Gold metal hinged opening with ornamental clasp and gold chain.may moss, petit point, 1930s

Everyone seemed to know Frances – it was November 1985 – I met Frances at the Victorian Synod office as she lent me her office to interview staff for St Philip’s which I was taking over in 1986. The interviews completed, she took me to a nearby coffee shop where we had a delightful chat. I came away much the richer, more informed about St Philip’s and feeling I had known Frances forever. And so started our 23 year friendship, with me hearing the first of many stories – for Frances was a wonderfully gifted story teller with a capacity to turn the past into life, and its characters into real people. It seems fitting that a person destined to add to Australia’s history should be born down the beach from Mendonca’s Mahogany ship – Port Fairy on the 28 January 1924. There she went to school – first to primary school then to Camperdown’s Higher Elementary School which went to Year 10. She was the eldest of four children with three brothers, Jock, Norman and Rod. After Year 10, Frances took a job in Camperdown as a dental nurse. She tackled this successfully until deciding to study at Rolland House in Carlton to become a Deaconess. Jock, her brother, recalls asking Frances what made her decide to be a Deaconess. At a Presbyterian Fellowship camp at Warrnambool, Frances and the others were sleeping in the Church Hall on palliases. During the night she awoke and her eye was drawn to a stained glass window, unusually brightly lit. On the window were the words “Follow Me”. Without flinching Frances took the words to heart and decided to serve God as a Deaconess, and during her time with the Australian Inland Mission she became quite a legend. What a patriot Frances was! She loved the stories of pioneers and knew well the history of where she had come from – the Western District. A keen follower of cricket, she would be right up with the last test and the issues of the team. Originally a Melbourne football supporter, she became an avid Geelong supporter and would often score at the annual self destruct St Philip’s vs Flynn Church match. She loved the gladiatorial, albeit often suicidal display. And though an Aussie through and through she loved her Scottish roots. Through her stories, she could easily transport a person in the Centralian landscape onto the heather of the Highlands. In spite of her love for Scotland, the city which was her favourite was New York. Frances – truly a citizen of the world. As a citizen of the world Frances fought for Indigenous and migrant women’s rights and was active in the World Council of Churches, sponsoring local and overseas women to study in Australia and to return to their homes as trained teachers and theologians. Up until recently she was involved in the Spina Bifida and Hydro Cephalis Association of SA. By the time she had taken up with the AIM Frances had a well tuned desire for social justice. To her it was important that the poor and less fortunate were given a go. She felt that the Labor Party provided her best avenue to push her social justice desires. After joining the party in 1956, she quickly became a respected member of the party and worked tirelessly for it, being honoured in the end with life membership. In the party she knew everyone and everyone knew her. She introduced me to Bob Hawke and when I spoke to Gough Whitlam once on a plane, he affirmed to me his friendship with Frances. In her cottage was a picture of her with Kevin Rudd with his arm around her. She is remembered by her party colleagues as someone who had a real compassion for helping people. She believed in the traditional ethic of the Labor Party which is to help those who are less fortunate. Interestingly, she supported St Philip’s moving from solely being a residential college to a school because we had chosen a relatively low fee base to enable maximum access for people and our boarding house continued to, and still does, offer accommodation to any student wishing to attend schools in Alice. Having supported the outback for years from the engine rooms of the mission arm of the church in Victoria, Frances then decided to move to Alice for her retirement. Settling in the little cottage at the far south eastern corner of Old Timers, this became to me, my family and I’m sure to plenty of people, Frances’ Cottage. But moving to Alice was hardly moving into retirement. She quickly became Chaplain at St Philip’s where she clearly showed her love for the children and staff and a real belief in St Philip’s role – to provide access to education for isolated children. She became a stalwart of the Adelaide House Museum, a wonderful member of the congregation, a powerful contributor to the Presbytery and the Annual Synod. Frances was strong, never flinched on a point of principle and discussed things face to face so that you truly knew where you stood with her. She had a great feeling for the pastoralists and knew many of them well. As Chaplain of the College she related well to the children and in addition, knew many of their families. She also felt deeply for the Indigenous people and regularly tackled the issue of how conditions could be improved for them. As we developed the school at St Philip’s, Frances worked with me on so many things. She would visit the College each week for Chapel, run a Sunday school for little kids and the service for all the boarders. When the school was ready to start she wrote the College prayer, said now every week by all students. The prayer says so much about Frances. She pioneered the RE program, teaching RE and in addition to Sunday, visited staff and students every Wednesday. At Presentation Night she presented a homily and provided the blessing – always a strong presence in front of the College community. She was so much part of St Philip’s that when we built the new boarding house in 1990 it seemed so obvious to call it McKechnie House. As a faithful servant of Adelaide House for years and an enthusiastic member of the National Trust, Frances was the first chairperson of the committee, a driving force to redevelop Adelaide House and she worked tirelessly to present John Flynn’s Hospital in the best light. She helped to deliver the stories of Flynn and McKay and the Outback missionaries to so many people and was instrumental in producing meaningful displays. I enjoyed walking around the museum with her intensely, enjoying her detailed stories of the past missionary era and I know many others would have as well. As a loyal and loving member of the Flynn Church, and being such a comrade of Fred McKay’s, Frances understood intricately the symbols which lie within the architecture. Once again, as a story teller, each one had a yarn attached to it. Over her twenty-three years as a member of the Flynn Church she has made a wonderful contribution. As a charismatic personality people were naturally attracted to Frances and were touched and affected by her. Peter Robson, twenty-two years at St Philip’s, remembers her asking him why he had stayed so long at the College. He explained to her that it was her address one day in Chapel in the early times that inspired him to keep going. With great wisdom she had said, “You can’t conquer something, unless you allow it to conquer you.” St Philip’s had conquered him. Wherever she went, whomever she was with, she had a real and lasting impact. Frances brought the reality of the Outback to so many as she addressed congregations around Victoria. She started the Australian Church Women’s Fellowship in the Northern Territory in 1997. She was also involved in setting up the Institute for Aboriginal Development. I believe that Frances should have been recognised nationally for her work with an AM. However, she was the Northern Territory finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year Awards in 2003. In 2004 she was awarded an OBE – not from the Queen but at Old Timers. This is a coveted award which means “Over Bloody Eighty”. Frances was part of it all, in the river, at a bush dance, at a dinner, at a service, at a party, at a meeting, at a footy game, at a cricket game, at Synod, at Presbytery, at Labour meetings, I could go on. Frances McKechnie, what a wonderful Australian. (Eulogy by Chris Tudor) Frances McKechnie died mid-2008. Deaconess Frances McKechnie is seated in front of a map of Australia marked with Australian Inland Mission places identified.At the time the photo was taken, McKechnie was the Victorian Regional Officer for the Australian Inland Mission (Presbyterian). At one stage, she worked for National Mission Frontier Services from 1968 to 1986. See below for the eulogy at her funeral by Chris Tudor. (Frances died May or June 2008.)deaconess frances mckechnie; australian inland mission; presbyterian church