Sibyl Morrison
Encyclopedia
Sibyl Enid Vera Munro Morrison (18 August 1895 – 29 December 1961) was the first female barrister
in New South Wales
, Australia
. She graduated LL.B from the University of Sydney
's law school in 1924.
, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Morrison was the daughter of Charles Henry Victor Emanuel Gibbs, a Victorian-born pastoralist, and his second wife Alexandrina Caroline Elizabeth, née Munro, from Parramatta
.
Morrison received her education at Shirley College, Edgecliff
, and the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
(P.L.C), at Croydon
. She was then a resident in The Women's College while studying law
at the University of Sydney
, where she graduated in 1924. During her classes at Sydney's law school, she witnessed first-hand the prejudice against women in the legal profession, experiencing cat-calling and foot-stomping from her male peers.
In 1923, she took a break from her studies to visit Britain
, and subsequently married a ranch owner, Charles Carlisle Morrison in London
on 1 October of that year. Returning to Sydney, she completed her law course and on 2 June 1924 was admitted to the New South Wales Bar, where she became the first woman to practise.
(also a school friend from her P.L.C days), both of whom had been admitted as solicitors in 1924.
With her solid legal knowledge, Morrison was welcomed as a member of the National Council of Women of New South Wales, and was convener of their laws committee. In November 1926, she presented a paper on divorce
in Australia when the National Council of Women was advocating uniform Federal marriage and divorce laws. She divorced her husband in 1928.
Returning to London in 1930, Morrison was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple in May. Back in Sydney, she married once again, this time to architect
Carlyle Greenwell
on 16 March 1937, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. She was no longer listed as a practising barrister after this marriage.
In 1940 she became the first president of the Law School Comforts Fund, becoming a life vice-president in 1942. She was also involved with what became the Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney.
Although Sibyl Morrison had been in competition with male colleagues throughout her career, it is said that she never lost her femininity, with a magazine noting that she was "an exceedingly smart up-to-date frocker".
at Collaroy
in Sydney on 29 December 1961, and was cremated with Anglican rites. She never had children.
From an estate valued at £72,011, she made two bequest
s of £1000 for annual prizes or scholarship
s in the faculty of law to be named after her mother and herself. After several other bequests, she left the residue to the University of Sydney, to be known as the 'Sibyl Greenwell Bequest' in order to support the small animal section of the Rural Veterinary Centre at Camden
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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 graduated LL.B from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
's law school in 1924.
Early life
Born at PetershamPetersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Morrison was the daughter of Charles Henry Victor Emanuel Gibbs, a Victorian-born pastoralist, and his second wife Alexandrina Caroline Elizabeth, née Munro, from Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
.
Morrison received her education at Shirley College, Edgecliff
Edgecliff, New South Wales
Edgecliff is a small suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Edgecliff is located 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra. The postcode is 2027.Edgecliff is surrounded by...
, and the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for girls in Croydon, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, Australia...
(P.L.C), at Croydon
Croydon, New South Wales
Croydon is an affluent suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Croydon is located 11 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district. Croydon is split between the two local government areas of Burwood Council and the Municipality of Ashfield.The...
. She was then a resident in The Women's College while studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where she graduated in 1924. During her classes at Sydney's law school, she witnessed first-hand the prejudice against women in the legal profession, experiencing cat-calling and foot-stomping from her male peers.
In 1923, she took a break from her studies to visit Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and subsequently married a ranch owner, Charles Carlisle Morrison in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 1 October of that year. Returning to Sydney, she completed her law course and on 2 June 1924 was admitted to the New South Wales Bar, where she became the first woman to practise.
Career
In Morrison's first appearance as a barrister, she was to act for a plaintiff widow claiming under the Testator's Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act. She successfully established herself at the Bar and was on occasions briefed by fellow pioneering female lawyers, Christian Jollie Smith and Marie BylesMarie Byles
Marie Beuzeville Byles is known as a committed conservationist, the first practicing female solicitor in New South Wales, mountaineer, explorer and avid bushwalker, feminist, author and an original member of the Buddhist Society in New South Wales...
(also a school friend from her P.L.C days), both of whom had been admitted as solicitors in 1924.
With her solid legal knowledge, Morrison was welcomed as a member of the National Council of Women of New South Wales, and was convener of their laws committee. In November 1926, she presented a paper on divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
in Australia when the National Council of Women was advocating uniform Federal marriage and divorce laws. She divorced her husband in 1928.
Returning to London in 1930, Morrison was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple in May. Back in Sydney, she married once again, this time to architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Carlyle Greenwell
Carlyle Greenwell
Carlyle Greenwell was an Australian architect whose houses, designed in the first half of the 20th century, are now heritage listed and a philanthropist whose bequest to the University of Sydney funds research in Anthropology and Archaeology.-Early life:Greenwell was born in Windsor and was...
on 16 March 1937, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church. She was no longer listed as a practising barrister after this marriage.
In 1940 she became the first president of the Law School Comforts Fund, becoming a life vice-president in 1942. She was also involved with what became the Business and Professional Women's Club of Sydney.
Although Sibyl Morrison had been in competition with male colleagues throughout her career, it is said that she never lost her femininity, with a magazine noting that she was "an exceedingly smart up-to-date frocker".
Death
Morrison died of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at Collaroy
Collaroy, New South Wales
Collaroy is a suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Collaroy is located 22 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and part of the Northern Beaches region...
in Sydney on 29 December 1961, and was cremated with Anglican rites. She never had children.
From an estate valued at £72,011, she made two bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
s of £1000 for annual prizes or scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s in the faculty of law to be named after her mother and herself. After several other bequests, she left the residue to the University of Sydney, to be known as the 'Sibyl Greenwell Bequest' in order to support the small animal section of the Rural Veterinary Centre at Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
.
See also
- List of Australian Presbyterians
- List of Old Girls of PLC Sydney