To Be The First' luncheon illustrates advances made by women during past century

31/8/99
Women's Interests Minister Rhonda Parker said a 'To Be The First' luncheon today to honour 40 women who were the first to achieve positions in their particular field of endeavour illustrated the advances women have made since gaining the right to vote 100 years ago.
Guests at the luncheon included Antoinette Kennedy, the first woman in the state to be appointed as a District Court judge; Clare Casey, the first woman principal of a senior High School, Wendy Fatin, the first woman from Western Australia elected as a Member of the House of Representatives; Val Doherty APM, the first woman appointed Chief Superintendent of WA Police and Paula Wagg, the first woman jockey to be licensed in WA.
Mrs Parker said the achievements of these 40 outstanding women were a natural progression of women gaining the right to vote in the State 100 years ago.
"That right led to advances in important areas for women such as equal pay for equal work, equal rights to education and rights to enter all the professions and to represent their constituents as members of local, State and Federal Government," she said.
"One hundred years ago WA was one of the first jurisdictions to grant women the right to vote.
"Since then we have been able to create the environment where younger women can confidently enter a wide range of professions that were once male-dominated.
"While these changes are very encouraging, there remains much to be done in terms of the numbers of women and their level of representation in Government and private organisations."
Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 781

Title	Fname	Sname	First in the Field of	Suburb
Ms	Shirley	Adkins	first woman President of the Royal Aero Club of WA and first woman President of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia	MT PLEASANT
Dr	Lynne	Allen	first woman appointed State Librarian of the Library & Information Services	PERTH
Ms	Karina	Ballard	first woman in Western Australia to be President of Real Estate Institute of Western Australia	COMO
Prof	Joanna	Barker	first woman to gain a PhD in Occupational Therapy in Australia and the first woman Chair of the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Board	PERTH
Ms	Lilian Joan	Bath	first woman to obtain a degree in mining engineering in Australia and the first woman to hold WA Quarry Managers Certificate of Competency	MT BARKER
Magistrate	Deborah	Bennett-Borlase	first woman appointed Magistrate in Western Australia	PERTH
Ms	Eve	Broadley	first woman in Western Australia on the trading floor of Stock Exchange of WA and the first woman in WA of a partnership of stockbrokers	PERTH
Ms	Clare	Casey	first woman Principal appointed to a senior high school	EAST PERTH
Hon.	June	Craig	first woman Chair of WA Save the Children fund, first woman chair of National Save the Children fund and first woman chair of Presbyterian Ladies College Council	MOSMAN PARK
Ms	Valerie	Davies	first woman to read the news on commercial television in Western Australia	WATERMAN
Ms	Val	Doherty, APM	first woman appointed Chief Superintendent of WA Police	SCARBOROUGH
Ms	Pat	Dudgeon	first Head of Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University	PERTH
Ms	Ellie	Eaton	first woman to be appointed Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA Inc	CLAREMONT
Ms	Vivien	Edwards	first woman prosecutor in Western Australia	DENMARK
Hon.	Wendy	Fatin	first woman from Western Australia elected as a Member of House of Representatives	ROLEYSTONE
Dr	Penny	Flett	first woman doctor in the Royal Australian Air Force	SUBIACO
Ms	Dot	Goodrick	first President of Women's Advisory Council 1983	CRAWLEY
Ms	Beryl	Grant	first woman on the Board of Australian Inland Mission and the first woman Chairperson Child Care Services Board.	DAGLISH
Ms	Edie	Hoy Poy OAM CD	first woman Life Member of Chung Wah Association	BURSWOOD
Ms	Margaret	Hubery	first woman President, Royal Perth Hospital and first woman Chair of Silver Chain Services	OSBORNE PARK
Ms	Bronwyn	Keighley-Gerardy	first woman Commissioner, Freedom of Information	PERTH
Her Honour Judge	Antoinette	Kennedy	first woman in Western Australia to be appointed to the judiciary of the District Court of WA	TRIGG
Ms	Liz	Lehman	first woman in Western Australia to be appointed Superintendent of Prisons and Superintendent of Riverbank Prison	EAST PERTH
Ms	Mollie	Lukis	first woman in Western to be appointed State Archivist and first Librarian, Battye Library	NEDLANDS
The Hon Justice	Carolyn	Martin	first woman in Western Australia to be appointed as a Judge in the Family Court	PERTH
Ms	Maureen	McDaniell	first woman President in the seventy year history of the Rotary Club of Perth	WEST PERTH
Ms	Jean	Menzies	first woman in Western Australia to be Master Skipper	FREMANTLE
Ms	Margaret	Nadebaum	first woman Director-General of the WA Education Department	SWANBOURNE
Ms	Diana	Newman	first woman appointed Liquidator in Western Australia, first woman appointed State President, CPA and first woman appointed Australian President, CPA	ATTADALE
Ms	Rona	Okely	first woman Chair of Motor Vehicle Dealers Licensing Board	MADDINGTON
Prof	Cheryl Elizabeth	Praeger	first woman Professor of Mathematics, University of Western Australia	NEDLANDS
Ms	Mareena	Purslowe	first woman in Western Australia to be a Funeral Director	SUBIACO
Ms	Brenda	Robbins	first woman in Western Australia and Australia to be President of Australian Institute of Management, WA	PERTH
Ms	Gwen	Roderick	first West Australian woman to be National President of National Council of Women	PERTH
Ms	Nita	Sams	first woman to be President of the Printing Industry in Western Australia	RIVERVALE
Ms	Irene	Stainton	first Aboriginal woman to hold many positions including Accommodation Manager - Homeswest, Registrar of Aboriginal sites - WA, Director of Yorganop Childcare and first WA Delegate to become National Secretary - SNAICC	CLOISTERS SQUARE
Ms	Nancy	Stewart	first woman Guidance Officer in EDWA and first woman clinical psychologist in State Public Service	COTTESLOE
Ms	Paula	Wagg	first woman jockey to be licensed in Western Australia	BELMONT
Ms	Kath	White	first woman Managing Director of a TAFE College in Perth	JOONDALUP
Ms	June	Williams	first woman appointed Commissioner for Equal Opportunity in Western Australia	PERTH