What is it that Mrs Janet Walker, Margaret Scott, Miss Madeline Bird, Dr Mercy Dickinson, Lady May Lamington and actress Mary Maguire have in common? The answer will be revealed at ‘A woman’s influence in Queensland‘, a Symposium hosted by Queensland Women’s Historical Association, Miegunyah, Bowen Hills, Brisbane. Several of Queensland’s best known researchers, volunteers and authors come together to share their knowledge, interpretation and stories relating to an elite group of women whose influence has shaped Queensland and is still felt today.
For those not familiar, the Queensland Women’s Historical Association (QWHA) was formed in April 1950 in order to stimulate interest in the history and heritage of Queensland and in particular, the history of pioneer families and the contribution made by women to the development of Queensland.
Lady Lamington, ca. 1898, wife of Baron Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. Negative 184103, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. The Lady Lamington Hospital, dedicated to women and women’s health issues was formally opened on 31 October 1900.
Lady Lamington Hospital Committee, 1901. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number 186381.
Actress Mary Maguire, ca. 1937. Accession: 90-5-26 John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
A Brisbane girl, Mary (Peggy) was only 16 when Charles Chauvel cast her in his early epic film Heritage (1935). Mary left for Hollywood to star in the Warner Bros picture That Man’s Here Again (1937).
Dr Mercy Dickinson AM PhD, Miss Madeline Bird and Mrs Gwen Hay OAM will be among three of the women featured at the Symposium. Each contributed to the Queensland Braille Writing Association.
Lady Sybil Lavarack visits Braille House, 1 July 1954, Ipswich Road Annerley. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Contributor Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd. The volunteer members of Queensland Braille Writing Association have served the community since 1897. Source: http://braillehouse.org.au/history/
The John Oxley Library collections offers support in researching these stories of influential Queensland women.
- Muslim roots: a local history. The story of Muslim settlement in Brisbane and the development of the Mt Gravatt/ Holland Park Muslim community. HDVD 307.6 MUS 2010. Executive Producer: Jack Bravo; Director: Brian Gething; Casting [and] written by Jeneth Deen [and] Jack Bravo; Narrator: Cr. Krista Adams.
- Published in Issue 6, 5 November, 2013 – Michael Marendy, Brisbane’s highly respected and experienced fashion and textiles conservator and curator shares his knowledge, expertise and research of Queensland’s influential fashion designers with Fashion Archives Nadia Buick and Madeleine King, recipients of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Award, 2014.
- Past President, Queensland Women’s Historical Association (QWHA) member Diana Hacker has co-authored several QWHA publications and biographies. View the extensive list of titles deposited with the John Oxley Library including The colonial diaries : recording the strength of family and the faith of the Jones women; Contessa Diamantina di Roma Lady Bowen; Lilies in the field : First Ladies of Queensland 1824-1914.
Visit the Queensland Women’s Historical Association and Miegunyah House Museum website for more information about the Symposium and the program of speakers and topics. Members of the Brisbane Living Heritage Network (BLHN) can access the information through the network as well.
It promises to be a very interesting and informative symposium ofQueensland stories and content.
Anne Scheu
Distributed Collections Coordinator | Queensland Memory