Fanny Brownbill
Encyclopedia
Fanny Eileen Brownbill was an Australian state politician, serving as the Labor Party
Member for Geelong, Victoria
, serving from 1938 until her death in 1948. Brownbill was the first woman to win a seat for Labor
in Victoria.
, to an Australian father, James Alford, and English mother, Ann Abbot. In 1913, she became a housekeeper to William Brownbill, a baker and widower with four children. They married in 1920, and that same year, William entered Parliament as the Labor
Member for Geelong
in the Legislative Assembly. He served again after an electoral defeat, in total serving 15 years as the MLA for Geelong.
Upon William's death while in office in 1938, Fanny contested the seat, winning comfortably, and became the first Labor woman to win a parliamentary seat in Victoria
, the first woman elected from a non-metropolitan area, and the second Labor woman to do so in Australia
. She served for ten years until 1948, when she died suffering from heart disease.
Brownbill's particular political passions were the welfare of women, children and the aged. In her maiden speech, she spoke of a mother's life of sacrifice, and urged the Railways Commissioners to allow perambulators on the railways. One of her many achievements was the establishment of Grace McKellar House, a nursing home for the elderly, which is still operating today.
Her by-election was, at times, dramatically fought, with statements from the leader of the United Australia Party
, the conservative party of the day, claiming that women were not suited to politics. From The Argus
newspaper: "Speaking in support of Mr R. H. Weddell, the endorsed U.A.P. candidate for the Geelong seat, at Geelong West on Monday, the Federal Treasurer (Mr. Casey) expressed doubt whether there was a place for women in politics...'If there is a place for women in politics,' added Mr Casey, 'it is probably in the Legislative Council or in the Senate, where things are quieter and the old gentlemen occasionally drowse into their beards. My advice is, however good a woman may be, to stick to a man for what has always been recognised in the past to be a man's job." – The Argus
, 1 June 1938.
Brownbill fought back, stating: "As for his remark that he doubted whether any woman, intellectually of otherwise, could stand up to men of equal ability, it is so audacious and conceited that it almost takes my breath away. What a high opinion Mr Casey has of men, and what a low one of women."
From 1943 to 1948 she was the sole female Member of Parliament after Country/Independent Ivy Weber
resigned. After Brownbill's death in 1948, she was described by Acting Premier John McDonald as "...the embodiment of tolerance. Her charming personality had endeared her to all in the chamber, irrespective of the party." In addition, both Mr William Galvin and Mr Trevor Oldham gave glowing tributes to Mrs Brownbill It was nearly 20 years before another woman was elected to the Victorian Parliament
, being Dorothy Goble for the seat of Mitcham in 1967.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Member for Geelong, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, serving from 1938 until her death in 1948. Brownbill was the first woman to win a seat for Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in Victoria.
Early life and career
Brownbill was born Fanny Alford, the youngest of seven children, in Modewarre, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, to an Australian father, James Alford, and English mother, Ann Abbot. In 1913, she became a housekeeper to William Brownbill, a baker and widower with four children. They married in 1920, and that same year, William entered Parliament as the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Member for Geelong
Electoral district of Geelong
The Electoral district of Geelong is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It is based around inner metropolitan Geelong and includes the suburbs of Bell Park, Drumcondra, East Geelong, Geelong, Geelong West, Newtown and South Geelong and parts of Highton, and North Geelong...
in the Legislative Assembly. He served again after an electoral defeat, in total serving 15 years as the MLA for Geelong.
Upon William's death while in office in 1938, Fanny contested the seat, winning comfortably, and became the first Labor woman to win a parliamentary seat in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, the first woman elected from a non-metropolitan area, and the second Labor woman to do so in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She served for ten years until 1948, when she died suffering from heart disease.
Brownbill's particular political passions were the welfare of women, children and the aged. In her maiden speech, she spoke of a mother's life of sacrifice, and urged the Railways Commissioners to allow perambulators on the railways. One of her many achievements was the establishment of Grace McKellar House, a nursing home for the elderly, which is still operating today.
Her by-election was, at times, dramatically fought, with statements from the leader of the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
, the conservative party of the day, claiming that women were not suited to politics. From The Argus
The Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
newspaper: "Speaking in support of Mr R. H. Weddell, the endorsed U.A.P. candidate for the Geelong seat, at Geelong West on Monday, the Federal Treasurer (Mr. Casey) expressed doubt whether there was a place for women in politics...'If there is a place for women in politics,' added Mr Casey, 'it is probably in the Legislative Council or in the Senate, where things are quieter and the old gentlemen occasionally drowse into their beards. My advice is, however good a woman may be, to stick to a man for what has always been recognised in the past to be a man's job." – The Argus
The Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
, 1 June 1938.
Brownbill fought back, stating: "As for his remark that he doubted whether any woman, intellectually of otherwise, could stand up to men of equal ability, it is so audacious and conceited that it almost takes my breath away. What a high opinion Mr Casey has of men, and what a low one of women."
From 1943 to 1948 she was the sole female Member of Parliament after Country/Independent Ivy Weber
Ivy Weber
Ivy Lavinia Weber was an Australian politician.Born at Captains Flat in New South Wales to schoolteacher John Filshie and his wife Elizabeth Seaman, she was educated at the local schools, eventually becoming a physical culturist and organiser...
resigned. After Brownbill's death in 1948, she was described by Acting Premier John McDonald as "...the embodiment of tolerance. Her charming personality had endeared her to all in the chamber, irrespective of the party." In addition, both Mr William Galvin and Mr Trevor Oldham gave glowing tributes to Mrs Brownbill It was nearly 20 years before another woman was elected to the Victorian Parliament
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
, being Dorothy Goble for the seat of Mitcham in 1967.