Historical information

Pam Stone was the first woman elected to the Wodonga City Council and first woman elected Deputy Mayor and later Mayor of the Rural City of Wodonga.

She was born in Swan Hill on 22nd January 1929. Her early years were spent in Mildura, Melbourne and Swan Hill but she lived most of her adult life in Albury Wodonga. Pam attended school in Melbourne and was also a member of the Catholic Club where she met her future husband, Les Stone. They married on 18th April 1949 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne.
On graduating from Melbourne Teachers College, Les was posted to several small country schools before being transferred to Wodonga in 1956. After a period teaching in Gippsland, the Stone Family returned to Wodonga. Les taught at several schools in the district before being promoted to Principal of Wodonga West Primary. Following involvement in many community organisations Les was elected as Councillor for the West Ward, Wodonga in 1967. He was re-elected unopposed in 1970 and 1971, becoming Mayor in 1973. He passed away in office in December 1974

Les Stone’s service was only possible with the support of Pam who also took a major role in public life and serving the Wodonga community. Four years after his death, Pam stood for and won the Council Ward of Wodonga West Riding, previously held by Les. Pam held the West Riding unopposed for her 15 years on Council from February 1977 to August 1992. This included a term as Deputy Mayor from August 1979 to August 1980. In August 1985 Pam was elected as Wodonga’s 6th Mayor and served in that role until August 1986.

In 1978 Pam was made a Justice of the Peace and regularly sat in the Court of Petty Sessions Magistrates Court Wodonga.

Pam’s commitment to education from preschool to post-secondary education was also a lifelong passion. Her strong advocacy made a defining difference to education available in Albury Wodonga from pre-school to tertiary education.
On 27th October 1994, she was named by Wodonga Technical and Further Education College as a Friend of the College.

Pam was conferred with the Order of Australia Medal on Australia Day 26th January 1994.
Her citation read:
“For service to local government and the community”.

In 2010 Wodonga City Council dedicated parkland to mark her contribution. The signage reads:
‘Pam Stone OAM Wodonga’s first female Councillor (1977) and Mayor (1985), is recognised among the most important centenary pioneers of Wodonga. Pam was married to Les Stone, also a Mayor of Wodonga. Pam gave compassionate and effective support to the underprivileged people of Wodonga. She had a profound input in establishing Post-school education in Wodonga and Albury’.

Pam Stone passed away in Albury on 6th August 2022.

Significance

These photos are significant because they depict a female pioneer of local government and education in Wodonga.

Physical description

A set of black and white and colour images of Pamela Mary Stone.