May Moss
Encyclopedia
Alice "May" Moss, CBE (27 April 1869 – 18 July 1948) was an Australian welfare worker and women's rights activist.
She was born as Alice Frances Mabel Wilson in Ballarat
and was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College
in East Melbourne. She married grazier Isidore Henry Moss in March 1887 and they had two daughters.
While her children were young, Moss began to campaign for the rights of women and served as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League in 1906–14, during that time she actively campaigned in Victoria for womens suffrage. She was a member of the National Council of Women of Victoria from its formation in 1904. In 1914 she relinquished her position as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League
at the onset of World War I
in order to become the (then) only female member of the Victorian recruiting committee for the Armed Services.
She was an Australian delegate at the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in 1927, where she was the first woman to sit on a finance committee. She attend the International Council of Women in Geneva in the same year and in 1928 was elected as vice president of the ICW, a position she held until her death.
She was the first president of the National Council of Women of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. She was involved in organising the centenary of Melbourne
celebrations, she was on the executive of the Victorian and Melbourne Centenary Celebrations Council and chaired the Women's Centenary Council. She was the first female non-professional member of the National Health and Medical Research Council
.
She was born as Alice Frances Mabel Wilson in Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
and was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne , is an independent,private, Presbyterian, day and boarding school predominantly for girls, located in Burwood, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in East Melbourne. She married grazier Isidore Henry Moss in March 1887 and they had two daughters.
While her children were young, Moss began to campaign for the rights of women and served as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League in 1906–14, during that time she actively campaigned in Victoria for womens suffrage. She was a member of the National Council of Women of Victoria from its formation in 1904. In 1914 she relinquished her position as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League
Australian Women's National League
The Australian Women’s National League was an Australian political lobby group federation first established in 1904. It acted in many ways like a political party, with an extensive branch network and the capability to run its own candidates...
at the onset of 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...
in order to become the (then) only female member of the Victorian recruiting committee for the Armed Services.
She was an Australian delegate at the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in 1927, where she was the first woman to sit on a finance committee. She attend the International Council of Women in Geneva in the same year and in 1928 was elected as vice president of the ICW, a position she held until her death.
She was the first president of the National Council of Women of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. She was involved in organising the centenary of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
celebrations, she was on the executive of the Victorian and Melbourne Centenary Celebrations Council and chaired the Women's Centenary Council. She was the first female non-professional member of the National Health and Medical Research Council
National Health and Medical Research Council
The National Health and Medical Research Council is Australia's peak funding body for medical research, with a budget of roughly 700 million dollars a year...
.