Celebrating Women's Suffrage at the WEA

Centenary of Women’s Suffrage

Contrary to some belief, the WEA does not stand for Women’s Educational Association! However, the WEA has always had a strong female student base; board members; staff and leaders – right from its establishment in South Australia in 1913.

It was fitting then, that the Winter 1994 WEA Course Guide devoted its cover to a celebration of the centenary of women’s suffrage in South Australia. The Guide cover, shown below, featured the women of the House of Assembly and Legislative Council of the day.

 Front to back, left to right: Bernice Pfitzner, Dorothy Kotz, Sandra Kanck, Lorraine Rosenberg, Anne Levy, Julie Greig, Carolyn Pickles, Elizabeth Penfold, Caroline Schaefer, Annette Hurley, Diana Laidlaw, Joan Hall.

Celebratory events were held at the WEA to celebrate women’s right to vote in South Australia and to stand for election to parliament (South Australia was the first state in Australia to grant women the right to vote).  Photos from a celebratory event which launched the Winter Course Guide are also included below. Do you know the names of any of the women in these photos?