CHAPTER 3 The 1920s – roaring into modern Australia
3.4 Edith Cowan paves the way
Name:
ACTIVITIES
Check your understanding
1.
Edith Cowan gave women and children a voice in Australian political life. Describe some
of the experiences that led Edith Cowan to champion the rights of these groups in society.
2.
Explain why the election of Edith Cowan to an Australian parliament was such an
important achievement for all Australian women.
3.
In 1990, Edith Cowan’s great contribution was acknowledged when the newest university
in Western Australia was named after her. Make a list of Edith Cowan’s range of
activities, then explain why she should still be regarded as such a role model in modern
Australia.
Using sources
1.
From looking at source 3.4.2, explain the problems you think Edith Cowan would have
encountered in coming into the Australian political world.
2.
Read Edith Cowan’s maiden speech to the Western Australian Parliament (source 3.4.3).
What does she believe that women would contribute to the Parliament if men would
listen to them?
Researching and communicating
1.
Imagine you are Edith Cowan’s campaign manager and you need to design an election
campaign. Using source 3.4.3 and the text, design a series of advertisements and posters
using desktop-publishing software and write the text for a series of short radio
promotions that express what Edith Cowan stood for. Urge the Australian public of the
1920s to think of the future and ‘give women a go’ in politics.
2.
Apart from Edith Cowan, other women who made enormous contributions to twentiethcentury Australian political and public life included Vida Goldstein, Isabella Golding,
Catherine Dwyer, Jessie Street, Pearl Gibbs and Enid Lyons.
(a) Research the life and achievements of one of these women and put your
biographical findings onto a roleplay card.
(b)
Using your roleplay cards, give your notable women the opportunity to address a
public meeting where the topic for discussion is: ‘What is a woman’s place in
Australian society?’
Retroactive 2 2E Activities
© Maureen Anderson, Anne Low, Jeffrey Conroy, Ian Keese 2005
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RETROACTIVE 2 2E
(c)
Prepare roleplay cards for members of your class audience. Your 1920s audience
could include representatives of the trade union movement, churches, or employer
groups. Give your audience the chance to ask questions of your guest speakers.
Worksheets
3.2
1920s crossword
Notes:
Retroactive 2 2E Activities
© Maureen Anderson, Anne Low, Jeffrey Conroy, Ian Keese 2005
2