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WEL in the 1980s

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WEL poster that remained in use into the 2000s, where it can be seen in photos of demonstrations. (Courtesy Jessie Street National Women’s Library)

International Women’s Day march. Melbourne, 1980. (Photo Val Marsden)

Edna Ryan (WEL–NSW) bounding into the 1980s with her usual enthusiasm. (Photo Diana Goldrick)

WEL encouraged women to stand for local councils, with a view to gaining the support of councils on local community services such as child-care centres and family planning clinics. Sydney, early 1980s. (Courtesy Jessie Street National Women’s Library)

WEL Conference on Local Women Standing for Council, YMCA, Sydney, June 1980. The Conference provided advice to women on how to campaign for positions in local government. L to R, Helen L’Orange, Joan Bielski. (WEL–NSW office-Treasures collection)

Helen L’Orange was an Alderman of the Strathfield Council when she joined WEL. At the time of the Conference she was Director of the NSW Women’s Co-ordination Unit in the Premier’s Department. ((WEL–NSW office-Treasures collection)

Carole Baker (WEL–NSW) was the Major of North Sydney at the time of the Conference. Other WEL founding members who played important roles in local government were Ann Morrow, who became Mayor of Malvern in Melbourne, and Winsome McCaughey who was elected to the Melbourne City Council and became Lord Mayor in 1988. (Photo WEL–NSW office-Treasures collection.)

Pat Richardson (WEL–Coffs Harbour) was a member of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA). The WEL conference in June 1980 was held in conjunction with the NSW Branch of the ALGWA. (WEL–NSW office-Treasures collection)

Ruth Schnukal (WEL–Victoria) at the Portland conference in 1982. (Photo Kerry Lovering (WEL–Victoria))

Parramatta WEL and friends, Sydney, 1982. (WEL–NSW office-Treasures collection)

WEL–ACT and WEL–Australia had their offices at the Women’s House at 3 Lobelia St, O’Connor, during the 1980s. They shared the Women’s House with the ACT Abortion Counselling Service, WL and other women’s organisations. (Design Caroline Ambrus)

Gail Radford at WEL’s 10th National Conference. She is wearing a T-shirt that was screen-printed by WEL–ACT in the mid 1970s. Turner Primary School, Canberra, October 1982. (Photo Yvonne Andrew (Carnahan))

WEL members of the ACT Abortion Counselling Service. L to R, back, Trish Rees, Yvonne Carnahan (WEL National Co-ordinator), Sue Dwyer, Ronda Hatch, Robbie Henderson (Walmsey); middle, Susan Guir; front, Pat Quiggan, Shirley Kral, Margaret Hicks, Marilyn Miller, Isobel Crawford; Canberra 1982. (Yvonne Andrew (Carnahan)).

International Women’s Day, Sydney, 1983. (WEL–NSW Office-Treasures collection)

WEL worked tirelessly for the introduction of anti-discrimination that would make such discrimination unlawful. (Job advertisements, ‘Men and Boys’, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 July 1980, page 14)

This T-shirt was part of a campaign to encourage women to take up jobs not traditionally done by women. In the 1980s many WEL members worked as Equal Employment Opportunity Officers in government departments and tertiary institutions. (Photo Gail Radford)

Demonstration against the Federal Sex Discrimination Bill, Parliament House, Canberra, 1983. (Photo Christine Fernon)

Poster advertising party to celebrate passage of Sex Discrimination Bill. Canberra, March 1984. The party, organized and paid for by WEL, was complete with a large purple, green and white cake, champagne and flowers for the Minister. (Courtesy Jessie Street National Women’s Library.)

L-R, Pamela Denoon (WEL National Co-ordinator), Ian Macphee MP, Susan Ryan (Minister Assisting the PM for the Status of Women) at WEL party to celebrate passage of the Federal Sex Discrimination Bill, Canberra, 8 March 1984. (Photo Christine Fernon)

WEL–WA, Palm Sunday Peace March, Perth, 1985. (Photo Robyn Murphy)

Dot Goodrick and Irene Greenwood, International Women’s Day, Perth, 1985. (Photo Robyn Murphy)

Kerry Lovering (WEL–Vic) and Edna Ryan (WEL–NSW) at the 1987 National WEL Conference. Melbourne, July 1987. (Photo Kerry Lovering)

WEL–NSW marching with their banner in the 1980s.

Dinner to celebrate Joan Bielski’s Member of the Order of Australia for services to the education of girls and women, L to R Robyn Stinson, Diana Goldrick and Joan Bielski. Sydney, 1988. (Photo Diana Goldrick)

Dinner to celebrate Joan Bielski’s Member of the Order of Australia for services to the education of girls and women, L to R, Jan Aitkin, Joan Bielski, Mary Gaudron, Sydney, 1988. (Photo Diana Goldrick)