Mrs Edith Dircksey Cowan, OBE
- Position
- Member Centenary Committee
- Postnominals
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Committee group
- Historical, arts and science and pageantry
- Year of death
- 1932
- Plaque number
- FA42
- Dedicated by
- Kings Park Board on 29 September 1929
- More information
Biography abstract:
Edith Dircksey Cowan (2/8/1861 - 9/6/1932) was the National Party member for West Perth in the Legislative Assembly from 1921-24; the first woman in the Commonwealth to be elected to a Commonwealth Parliament.
During her 50 years in public life, which were the formative years of Western Australia, she was concerned with the interests of women and the health and education of children.
She was awarded an OBE for her work during war years, helping improve amenities and conditions on troop ships and aiding convalescent soldiers and their families.
In 1919, she was made a Justice of the Peace, the first intake of women into that position.
Included in her many interests were: Founding member of the Karrakatta Club; WA Historical Society; Encouragement of local artists by purchase of their work; St John's Ambulance Certificate; Training school for nurses; Boards of King Edward Memorial Hospital, Fremantle Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital; District Boards of Education; Ministering Children's League; Children's Courts and Day Nurseries; Group Settlement Scheme; National Council of Women; Womens Service Guild; National Council for Women; and Womens Franchise League.
She travelled to Europe in 1902, attending Suffragette meetings in London. In 1925 she visited Washington for the International Council of Women where she was one of 10 Australian delegates.
The clock tower memorial outside Kings Park was erected in 1934 amidst much controversy. The memorial was suggested at a public meeting in 1932 in gratitude for her long service to the State but opinions varied as to the form of the memorial. Kings Park Board objected to a memorial in the Park other than a national one. The Architects Institute objected to the side outside Kings Park as it was such an important point in the City. After an injunction to stop work proceeding, the City Council won and work commenced. It was a well chosen site as Edith Cowan's memorial overlooked her house in Malcolm Street, Parliament House and gave her an unobstructed view of Perth City. It was the first time in Australia that such a memorial had been constructed in honour of a woman.
Further recognition has been given to her with her portrait on stamps, banknotes and the first University named for a female. Her Malcolm Street house was re-erected at the Joondalup campus of Edith Cowan University.
Mrs Edith Cowan OBE was a member of the Western Australian Centenary Committee (Historical, Arts, Science and Pageantry) in 1929.