A First for Australian Women

Centenary Unnoticed, Unremarked and Uncelebrated: A milestone in the history of the women’s movement

Sunday, 12 July, 2020 is the anniversary the first representation of Australian women at the First Congress of the International Federation of University Women held in London, commencing 12 July 1920. Recorded in the source below, Mildred was my great aunt and Louisa the first principal of Sydney University Women’s College.

McGrath, Amy (1970). A Short History of the NSW Association of University Woman Graduates.

P31 New Association Formed. “In April, 1920, Mrs Bernard Muscio approached the Sydney University Women’s Council with the suggestion that an Australian Federation of University Women be formed, and in June, 1920 a committee meeting first spoke of the hope to “revive interest in the work of the Council by the expedient of creating a graduate body capable of affiliating with the International Federation.”

P33 The International Federation of University Women appears to have approached Mrs Muscio in Australia, for she wrote to the Council of the Sydney University Women’s Council, April 27, 1920, urging them to initiate a Federation of University Women in Australia, and to send a delegate to the International Federation of University Women conference July 1920 (opened 12 July). Sydney University invited her and Miss Louisa MacDonald to attend as delegates.” (Miss MacDonald retired Women’s College June 1919).