Threads through time
short sketch of Vida Goldstein by Fern Smith 2008
Vida Goldstein (1869 -1949) actively increased
the repertoire of women's issues and forged a state, national
and international name. At twenty one she assisted her mother
in the monster petition (1890) and came became a protégé
of Annette Bear-Crawford; who taught her public speaking and
fund raising (e.g. funds for purchasing Queen Victoria Hospital
for Women). Gracia Baylor, the first female Liberal Member 1979-
1985 Legislative Council, noticed in the tomb of public land
(1982) to be sold was the old Queen Victoria Hospital thus began
the seeds for The Queen Victoria Action Campaign" in 1987
women of Victoria gained victory in 1994.
Annette Bear-Crawford, a founder with Henrietta
Dugdale of the feminist movement in Victoria, died in suddenly
in 1899. Vida Goldstein filled the void and became a leader
for the rights of women. Vida Goldstein became the first full
time paid employee of the United Council for Woman Suffrage
in 1899. Vida had the ability to work co-operatively with other
organisations and within a year there were thirty two affiliate
associations to Women's Suffrage League (check name). Today
this tactic of affiliation is still in use.
Goldstein saw beyond getting the vote, which
women had achieved federally, resigned from United Council for
Woman Suffrage in 1901 to champion political aspirations for
women and publish and edit Australian Women's Sphere journal
(1903-1905). Goldstein saw women's equality would remain "as
side issues" (Goldstein 1911) unless women stood for parliament.
Formed in 1903 Women's Political Association of Victoria, founder
Goldstein, aimed to for the political education for women. Vida
Goldstein was tireless, standing for parliament five times from
1903 -1917. Her legacy has been slow in 2008 both state of Victoria
and the federal governments have just over 30% representation
of women.
In 1915 Vida founded the Women's Peace Army
(1915-1919) and a new paper emerged "The voter" with
a clear message for pacifism. Conscription was a huge debate
spanning many decades and in 1972 conscription of any kind was
repealed. Australia is still has lively debates on pacifism
and disarmament for example the Iraq war and nuclear weapons.
Doris Blackburn (1889-1970) became Vida Goldstein's
campaign secretary 1913 and member of Women's Political Association
1911. As Vida's popularity, waned Blackburn carried the mantle
encompassing women's equality, civil liberties, peace advocate
and extending the repertoire, to include indigenous rights with
the formation of Aboriginal Advancement League with Doug Nicholls
in 1957. Where Vida failed, Doris succeeded in becoming an independent
member in the House of Representatives 1946- 49.
Women have not achieved full equality
(Total pay gap 33.8% ABS 2005), we pay tribute to the tireless
work of Vida Goldstein who, worked tirelessly for half a century
(state, federal and internationally); her voice, the struggle
for women's equality and peace still resonate through the threads
of time.
