Women's Service Guilds
Encyclopedia
The Women's Service Guilds, initially known as the Women's Service Guilds of Western Australia, was an organizing body of the feminist movement in Australia
. Founded in 1909, they integrated the campaigns for improved status and welfare of women and children nationally and with overseas organisations.
was the second australian state to grant most women a vote in government elections. Many existing and incipient organisations moved to capitalise on the emancipation of women and Women's Service Guilds (WSG) sought to coordinate the political actions of these organisations. Despite a 'conservative' membership, similar to the Country Women's Association
(CWA) or later National Council of Women, the body sought to promote feminism and remain free of the two party system that dominated the political scene. The long time president and cofounder of the WSG was Bessie Rischbieth
who connected the organisation to british and american movements and led the organisation to become a national one. Other notable members include Roberta Jull
and Edith Cowan
(cofounders), Ruby Hutchison
, Florence Cardell-Oliver, Mary M Bennett, Jean Beadle
and broadcaster Irene Greenwood.
The official organ of the WSG was the magazine, The Dawn, through which Rischbieth (editor) and the guilds advanced causes such as representation of women in the judiciary, parliament and in the welfare system. The last issue of the Dawn newsletter was to contain the obituary of its long term editor. The organisations scope also included the prostitutes and prisoners of the nation. Their long running campaign to allow the admission of single women to a new hospital (KEMH
) was met with staunch opposition from the establishment and media of the day. The Kindergarten system in the state was founded by the organisation, as was the local Girl Guides Association and a home for elderly women, the Mount Henry Hospital. The Civil Rehabilitation Council of Western Australia, the Prisoners Aid Society, the Society for the Preservation of Nature were also auspiced by the WSG. They were not limited to the newly entitled voters and advocated on behalf of the rights of children and women of the indigenous
population of the nation. This was, along with activism for the conservation of Natural heritage
, well in advance of international organisations of the 1960s or australian social movements of the 1980s and 90s.
Their agenda also included pacifist activism, such as the opposition to conscription
, and other 'radical' causes. Some of these led to potential splits within the guilds, Cowan actively supported conscription for example, but Rischbieth is credited with maintaining the unity of the movement. She also coordinated with the League of Nations
to form a national organisation that addressed issues on a national level. The WSG were affiliated with the Karrakatta Club
, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Western Australia and international suffrage movements.
The organisation preceded and significantly overlapped with the Australian Federation of Women Voters and was instrumental in the formation of the Western Australian Women’s Parliament in 1946. The Kings Park
memorial to pioneering women was also founded. The WSG ceased its operation in 1997, nearly 90 years after it began. On the day of disbandment, Cheryl Davenport addressed the state parliament with the details of the achievements of WSG.
A continuing scholarship, the Women's Service Guild [sic] top-up, a Murdoch University
trust that is - remarkably - available for study at any West Australian university. PhD students with research of benefit to the women and children of Western Australia can apply for three years of funding assistance.
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...
. Founded in 1909, they integrated the campaigns for improved status and welfare of women and children nationally and with overseas organisations.
History
The recently federated state of Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
was the second australian state to grant most women a vote in government elections. Many existing and incipient organisations moved to capitalise on the emancipation of women and Women's Service Guilds (WSG) sought to coordinate the political actions of these organisations. Despite a 'conservative' membership, similar to the Country Women's Association
Country Women's Association
The Country Women’s Association of Australia is the largest women's organisation in Australia. It has 44,000 members across 1855 branches. Its aims are to improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those women...
(CWA) or later National Council of Women, the body sought to promote feminism and remain free of the two party system that dominated the political scene. The long time president and cofounder of the WSG was Bessie Rischbieth
Bessie Rischbieth
Bessie Mabel Rischbieth, née Earle OBE was an influential and early Australian feminist and social activist. A leading or founding member of many social reform groups, such as the Women's Service Guilds, the Australian Federation of Women Voters and their periodical Dawn, she sought to establish...
who connected the organisation to british and american movements and led the organisation to become a national one. Other notable members include Roberta Jull
Roberta Jull
Roberta Henrietta Margaritta Jull was a medical doctor who, in November 1896, joined her brothers' practice at Guildford, Western Australia, becoming dismayed by the living conditions and high infant mortality among her patients...
and Edith Cowan
Edith Cowan
Edith Dircksey Cowan , MBE was an Australian politician, social campaigner and the first woman elected to an Australian parliament....
(cofounders), Ruby Hutchison
Ruby Hutchison
Ruby Hutchison was the first woman elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1954 serving until 1971. She also was a key figure in the establishment of the Australasian Consumers' Association in 1959 .-References:*ACA....
, Florence Cardell-Oliver, Mary M Bennett, Jean Beadle
Jean Beadle
Jane Beadle was an Australian feminist, social worker and Labor party member.She was born in Clunes, Victoria, and left school early to assist her widowed father. She worked in Melbourne's oppressive clothing factories until her marriage in 1888...
and broadcaster Irene Greenwood.
The official organ of the WSG was the magazine, The Dawn, through which Rischbieth (editor) and the guilds advanced causes such as representation of women in the judiciary, parliament and in the welfare system. The last issue of the Dawn newsletter was to contain the obituary of its long term editor. The organisations scope also included the prostitutes and prisoners of the nation. Their long running campaign to allow the admission of single women to a new hospital (KEMH
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is located at 374 Bagot Road, Subiaco, Western Australia.It provides pregnancy and neonatal care within the greater Perth Metropolitan area. In cases where patients have gone to private maternity clinics they may be moved to KEMH should complications occur...
) was met with staunch opposition from the establishment and media of the day. The Kindergarten system in the state was founded by the organisation, as was the local Girl Guides Association and a home for elderly women, the Mount Henry Hospital. The Civil Rehabilitation Council of Western Australia, the Prisoners Aid Society, the Society for the Preservation of Nature were also auspiced by the WSG. They were not limited to the newly entitled voters and advocated on behalf of the rights of children and women of the indigenous
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
population of the nation. This was, along with activism for the conservation of Natural heritage
Natural heritage
Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes encompassing the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known as biodiversity, and geology and landforms ....
, well in advance of international organisations of the 1960s or australian social movements of the 1980s and 90s.
Their agenda also included pacifist activism, such as the opposition to conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, and other 'radical' causes. Some of these led to potential splits within the guilds, Cowan actively supported conscription for example, but Rischbieth is credited with maintaining the unity of the movement. She also coordinated with the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
to form a national organisation that addressed issues on a national level. The WSG were affiliated with the Karrakatta Club
Karrakatta Club
The Karrakatta Club is a women's club in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1894, it was the first women's club in Australia.-History:The Karrakatta Club was founded in 1894 by members of the St George Reading Circle. The St George Reading Circle was formed around 1887 for the purpose of...
, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Western Australia and international suffrage movements.
Legacy
The organisation preceded and significantly overlapped with the Australian Federation of Women Voters and was instrumental in the formation of the Western Australian Women’s Parliament in 1946. The Kings Park
Kings Park, Western Australia
Kings Park is a park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two thirds of the grounds conserved as native bushland. With panoramic views of the Swan...
memorial to pioneering women was also founded. The WSG ceased its operation in 1997, nearly 90 years after it began. On the day of disbandment, Cheryl Davenport addressed the state parliament with the details of the achievements of WSG.
A continuing scholarship, the Women's Service Guild [sic] top-up, a Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
trust that is - remarkably - available for study at any West Australian university. PhD students with research of benefit to the women and children of Western Australia can apply for three years of funding assistance.