Jeanne Young
Encyclopedia
Sarah Jane Young OBE
, née Forster, known as Jeanne Forster Young (1 July 1866 – 11 April 1955) was an Australian political reformer.
Born at Unley
in Adelaide to smith John Forster and Sarah Jane, née Jarvis, she received a private education before becoming a governess and piano teacher; she also attempted freelance journalism, and lost the sight in one eye in an accident with a horse and trap. She married journalist Alfred Howard Young at her father's home in East Adelaide on 23 January 1889. She became secretary of the Effective Voting League in 1897 as Jeanne Forster Young and named Catherine Spence as an inspiration.
Young and Spence campaigned in Sydney
in 1900 for the Hare-Spence method to be used for federal elections, staying with Rose Scott
, and after Spence's death Young completed and published Spence's unfinished autobiography. Young joined the Australian Red Cross Society, the South Australian Soldiers' Fund and the Wattle Day League (WDL) during World War I
and directed a three-day exhibition for the WDL's motor ambulance committee in 1916. She left her husband, who had disagreed with her fervent nationalism, in 1917, although he continued to lend her his support. A justice of the peace
from 1917, she was secretary of the Women's Representation League in 1918 and was an active member of the board of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery from 1916, finally retiring (when almost blind) in 1928. In 1930 she founded the Proportional Representation Group.
After reuniting, Young and her husband travelled abroad in 1932, searching in Switzerland
for a cure for Jeanne's blindness. She campaigned for proportional representation
in England and attended a Commonwealth League conference for the Women's Non-Party Association, a South Australian organisation of which she had been a founding member in 1909. Her husband died in 1936 and Jeanne published a biography, Catherine Helen Spence, in 1937. As an independent proportional representation advocate, she unsuccessfully ran for the House of Assembly
in 1918 and 1938 and for the Senate
in 1937. Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938, she published her last brochure in 1945 and died at Rose Park
in 1955.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, née Forster, known as Jeanne Forster Young (1 July 1866 – 11 April 1955) was an Australian political reformer.
Born at Unley
Unley, South Australia
Unley is an inner-southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. The relatively wealthy area lies within the City of Unley. The suburb is the home of the Sturt Football Club, an SANFL team...
in Adelaide to smith John Forster and Sarah Jane, née Jarvis, she received a private education before becoming a governess and piano teacher; she also attempted freelance journalism, and lost the sight in one eye in an accident with a horse and trap. She married journalist Alfred Howard Young at her father's home in East Adelaide on 23 January 1889. She became secretary of the Effective Voting League in 1897 as Jeanne Forster Young and named Catherine Spence as an inspiration.
Young and Spence campaigned in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1900 for the Hare-Spence method to be used for federal elections, staying with Rose Scott
Rose Scott
Rose Scott was an Australian women's rights activist who protested for women's suffrage and universal suffrage in New South Wales at the turn-of-the twentieth century .-Early life:...
, and after Spence's death Young completed and published Spence's unfinished autobiography. Young joined the Australian Red Cross Society, the South Australian Soldiers' Fund and the Wattle Day League (WDL) during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and directed a three-day exhibition for the WDL's motor ambulance committee in 1916. She left her husband, who had disagreed with her fervent nationalism, in 1917, although he continued to lend her his support. A justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
from 1917, she was secretary of the Women's Representation League in 1918 and was an active member of the board of the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery from 1916, finally retiring (when almost blind) in 1928. In 1930 she founded the Proportional Representation Group.
After reuniting, Young and her husband travelled abroad in 1932, searching in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for a cure for Jeanne's blindness. She campaigned for proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
in England and attended a Commonwealth League conference for the Women's Non-Party Association, a South Australian organisation of which she had been a founding member in 1909. Her husband died in 1936 and Jeanne published a biography, Catherine Helen Spence, in 1937. As an independent proportional representation advocate, she unsuccessfully ran for the House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
in 1918 and 1938 and for the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
in 1937. Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938, she published her last brochure in 1945 and died at Rose Park
Rose Park, South Australia
Rose Park is a suburb with a population of 1,293 in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. It is located one kilometre east of Adelaide's central business district . Rose Park is a leafy, tree-lined and wealthy inner suburb containing a number of historical and contemporary attractions...
in 1955.