Women in Queensland

This week is Queensland Women’s Week for 2022. The theme for this year is “keep making noise.” We thought, what better opportunity is there to talk about some incredible women who have helped shape Queensland to encourage every woman in Queensland to use her voice and “keep making noise” to end gender discrimination and break the bias of gender stereotypes.

Dr Lilian Cooper (1861-1947) was the first female doctor in Brisbane. Although she was born and raised in England, Dr Cooper moved to Brisbane immediately after qualifying as a doctor in London and set up her practice in the city. Dr Coooper specialised in diseases of women and children and even travelled to her patients via horse and cart. As well as her medical knowledge, Dr Cooper was widely respected for her kindness to her patients and the general public. Dr Cooper offered her medical experience for the Australian Army in World War I. She was told female doctors were not wanted and should stay home. Instead, Dr Cooper volunteered for the Scottish Women’s Hospital Service and served on the frontlines in France and Serbia. She received the Order of St Sava from the King of Serbia for her efforts. Once the war ceased, Dr Cooper returned to her busy Brisbane practice. Upon her death, her house was donated as a hospice - it is now St Vincent’s Hospital at Kangaroo Point.

One of Queensland’s incredible women was Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920 - 1993). Oodgeroo was a key figure in history and is well known for her invaluable contribution to First Nations Peoples’ rights, education and literature. She grew up on Quandamooka Country - on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). As a young adult, Oodgeroo enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service to support World War II. In her later life, Oodgeroo travelled across Australia and the globe to raise awareness of the continual oppression being experienced by First Nations Peoples in Australia. Oodgeroo wrote poetry and books, which did very well throughout her life. Oodgeroo’\s poetry and books are still often studied in high school curriculums across the state.

Irene Longman was born in 1877 and was the first woman elected to Queensland Parliament in 1929. After this monumental win for women everywhere, Irene made a significant impact on women and children. Irene played a crucial role in women working as police in the Queensland Police Service. She also was instrumental in creating private, safe and separate places for Children’s Court hearings in Queensland - something which was not done before her time. Irene achieved all this whilst having to leave Parliament to use the bathroom as there were no female toilets in the building and having to eat her meals on the verandah as she was never allowed to use the dining room the male politicians were allowed to use at Parliament House. How crazy is that?

We hope you enjoyed learning about three of Queensland’s incredible women. It was tough to choose just a handful. We do have a digital storytelling piece available on our website that shares a snapshot into female history in Queensland, including challenges and triumphs from the 1800s until now. How can you use your voice, skills, knowledge, or creativity to “keep making noise” to end gender discrimination and break the bias of gender stereotypes in Queensland?