This month we celebrate International Women’s Day, and remember the female trailblazers who’ve paved the way for today’s feminists. Ever wonder which Australian state was way ahead of the game in smashing gender norms and championing women’s rights? Spoiler alert: South Australia has been quietly crushing it since way back when.
Before it was cool or even a hashtag, South Australia was out here making history and setting the pace for change. From being one of the first places in the world to grant women the vote to being the home of the nation’s first female Prime Minister, SA’s got a pretty impressive track record.
But here’s the real question: How much do you actually know about these groundbreaking moments and the trailblazing women behind them? It’s time to put your knowledge to the test! (Answers below!)
1. South Australia was the first colony in Australia and only the fourth place in the world where women gained the vote. What year did it happen?
a) 1921
b) 1894
c) 1877
d) 1931
e) 1897
2. SA’s Catherine Helen Spence wrote the first novel about Australia by a woman. It was published anonymously in London in 1854. What was it called?
a) Clara Morison: A Tale of South Australia during the Gold Fever
b) The Miners of Moonta: A Tale of Copper and Community in South Australia
c) Charlotte’s Haven: A Story of Survival in the Adelaide Hills
d) The Chronicles of Catherine: A Family’s Struggle in a New Land
e) La Grande Sophie: A Romance set in Southern Australia
3. South Australia is the home state of the nation’s first female Prime Minister, who served from 2010-2013. What is her name?
a) Julia Gillard
b) Penny Wong
c) Julie Bishop
d) Natasha Stott Despoja
e) Tanya Plibersek
4. The first state secondary school for girls in Australia opened in SA in 1879. What was it called?
a) Elite Women’s Preparatory School
b) Summit Girls’ High School
c) Suffragette Science and Arts Institute for Girls
d) The Advanced School for Girls
e) The Queen Victoria Institute for Young Ladies
5. A South Australian university was the first in Australia and the second in the world to admit women to study for degrees. Which one was it?
a) University of Adelaide
b) Flinders University
c) Adelaide Law School
d) University of Roseworthy
e) The University of South Australia
6. In 2017, The Adelaide Crows won the inaugural premiership of the AFL Women’s league. Who was the star Crows player who also won the 2017 AFL Women’s Best and Fairest Award?
a) Chelsea Randall
b) Courtney Cramey
c) Erin Phillips
d) Ebony Marinoff
e) Sarah Perkins
7. When Dame Roma Mitchell was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of South Australia, she became the first female judge in the nation. What year was she appointed?
a) 1978
b) 1939
c) 1956
d) 1879
e) 1965
8. What world first did South Australia achieve in 1894 concerning women’s rights?
a) Women were allowed to wear trousers in public spaces.
b) The first female lawyer was admitted to the bar.
c) Women were granted the right to stand for parliament.
d) The first female firefighters were employed.
e) Voting was made compulsory for women.
9. In 1915, South Australia became the first Commonwealth police force to appoint women officers. What were the names of the two first female officers?
a) Mary Lee and Catherine Helen Spence
b) Edith Cowan and Constance Stone
c) Julia Gillard and Roma Mitchell
d) Kate Cocks and Annie Ross
e) None of the above
10. What significant step did South Australia take in 1975 to support women’s rights that was an Australian first?
a) Introduced the first public holiday for women
b) Passed legislation against gender-based discrimination
c) Started the first women-only sports team
d) Opened the first women’s library
e) Launched the first women’s radio station
A blueprint for a more equal future
Despite all the epic progress and awesome South Australian women trailblazers, there’s still work to do. Almost 40 per cent of women experience physical or violence, spend over two hours more on unpaid work daily, and earn 93 cents to a man’s dollar. Not to mention, men are snagging 1.5 times more top jobs. That’s why South Australian Women’s Equality Blueprint 2023-2026 is stepping up. Launched last year by the state government, it’s our game plan to shake things up, tackle these issues head-on, and drive us towards a fairer, happier community. Find out all about it here.
One of the exciting initiatives to come out of the Blueprint so far is Raiise – a new Respectful Club Environments Program, which aims to promote gender equality and respectful behaviour in sport and the wider community. Find out how it’s kicking goals for women statewide here.
ANSWERS: 1 (b). 2 (a). 3 (a). 4 (d). 5 (a). 6 (c). 7 (e). 8 (c). 9 (d). 10 (b).
Want more? Matt, Anna and Tim explore the path to gender equality here.
