The Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia was formed in August 1945 at the inaugural meeting of the party's Federal Council. That year the influential lobby group The Australian Women's National League merged with the Liberal Party, and as a result the Federal Constitution for the Party made specific provisions for the roles women would play in the party. In October 1946, the constitution established the Federal Women's Committee as a structural feature of the Party.
The Liberal Party maintains at a state level the Liberal Women's Councils for the state of Victoria and New South Wales. It is unknown if the other states maintain such state councils in addition to the overarching Federal Women's Committee of the Liberal Party of Australia.
The Federal Women’s Committee (FWC) was established at the inaugural meeting of the Liberal Party Federal Council in August 1945. The FWC was incorporated in the Party Constitution as an official component of the Party in October 1946, and has had representation on the Party’s Federal Executive since that time.
Membership "The voting membership of the FWC comprises the Chairman of each State and ACT women’s section, the female Federal Vice-President of the Party and the President and Immediate Past President of the FWC. Observer members include the Party’s Federal President, Immediate Past President and the Federal Minister for Women".
"Each State and Territory Division of the Liberal Party has a women’s section, with constituted powers and representation at senior Party levels. The sections have been influential over the years and instrumental in the development of many of the Party’s major initiatives for women at Federal, State and Territory levels".
"As the peak body representing women in the Liberal Party, the FWC has been active in promoting women for elected office, advocating policy, advising on a wide range of issues, assisting in election campaigns and performing a vital role in the enduring success of the Liberal Party. Much of the FWC’s efforts are unsung but they are crucial to the development of a truly representative nationwide party organisation".
Chairwomen / Presidents 1945-46: Miss Margaret Battye WA 1947: Miss Roberta Gallagher NSW 1948: Mrs W. S. Lettice QLD 1949: Mrs M. Hodgson VIC 1950: Miss Millie Best MBE TAS 1951: Mrs (later Lady) Kathleen Sandover OBE JP WA 1952: Mrs (later Dame) Marie Breen VIC 1953: Mrs (later Lady) Kathleen Sandover OBE JP WA 1954: Hon Eileen Furley OBE NSW 1955: Mrs (later Lady) Elizabeth Wilson CBE SA 1956: Miss Millie Best MBE TAS 1957: Mrs (later Dame) Audrey Reader VIC 1958: Mrs M. Gordon OBE QLD 1959: Mrs (later Hon) Eileen Furley OBE NSW 1960: Mrs (later Dame) Mabel Miller TAS 1961: Mrs (later Lady) Elizabeth Wilson CBE SA 1963-64: Miss Iris Hyde NSW 1965: Mrs (later Dame) Mabel Miller TAS 1966-67: Mrs V Blogg MBE 1967-70: Mrs Noelene Wheeler QLD 1970-71: Mrs Margaret Daniel SA 1971-72: Mrs Eileen Parr TAS 1972-73: Mrs Audrey McKenna WA 1973-74: Mrs Yvonne McComb QLD 1974-76: Mrs (later Dame) Beryl Beaurepaire VIC 1976-77: Mrs Althea McTaggart WA 1977-80: Mrs Maureen Giddings NSW 1980-85: Mrs Elizabeth Grant AM ACT 1985-86: Mrs Cassie Solomon QLD 1986-88: Ms (later Hon) Trish Worth (MHR) SA 1988-90: Ms Nia Stavropoulos Tilley ACT 1990-94: Mrs (later Hon) Joan Hall (MHA) SA 1994-97: Mrs Chris McDiven AM NSW 1997-99: Ms Penny Reader Harris SA 1999-2004: Mrs Deirdre Flint TAS 2004-2008: Mrs Theana Thompson VIC 2008- : Ms Robyn Nolan WA
References
External links History of the FWC Australian Women's Archives entry