Petronel White in 1954

Mary Hyacinthe Petronel White OBE (4 October 1900 – 1 June 1984) was a women's rights campaigner, the first woman elected to the Brisbane City Council and first woman alderman in a capital city of Australia.

Early life

Born in Townsville, Queensland on 4 October 1900, White was the eldest child of architect Thomas Clive Groom (d. 1953)[1] and Mary Jane Groom (née Brown).[2] She had three younger brothers, Pierre Louis (b.1902), Clive Roland (b.1903) and Hugh Foster (b.1906).[3]

Career

White was the first woman elected to Brisbane City Council in April 1949 representing the Hamilton Ward for the Citizens' Municipal Organisation.[4] Her candidature received support from the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane, John Beals Chandler, a fellow CMO member.[5] When elected, she was also the first woman alderman in a capital city of Australia.[4] A year into her first term she called for more women to become involved in aldermanic work, saying: "For women's influence on the council to be effective, more than one woman is needed".[6]

In 1950 she campaigned to raise £20,000 for a swimming pool to be built in Hamilton Ward.[4]

When the Sunday Mail launched the Watch-the-Pennies League under the leadership of Lady Cilento, Jean Cooper, and Betty Paterson, White gave the first demonstration of a money-saving device, an attachment for machine darning.[7]

In 1952 White raised the concerns of women faced with financial hardship  on the death of the family breadwinner while probate was determined and ownership of household furniture called into question.[8]

White was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours for her service to the community and local government.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Family Notices". The Courier-mail. No. 5034. Queensland, Australia. 16 January 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ Hacker, Diane, "White, Mary Hyacinthe Petronel (1900–1984)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 29 May 2021
  3. ↑ "Record details of Mary Hyacinth Petronel Groom". www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Wanted, £20,000 for pool". Sunday Mail. No. 1567. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Advertising". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 30 March 1949. p. 13. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Day By Day". The Courier-mail. No. 4228. Queensland, Australia. 15 June 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Report on Debate No. 1". Sunday Mail. No. 1584. Queensland, Australia. 4 February 1951. p. 10. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Reader Says: Women need protecting after husbands die". The Courier-mail. No. 4966. Queensland, Australia. 28 October 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Mrs Mary Hyacinth Petronel White". It's An Honour. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Commonwealth and State Lists in Full". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 711. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 June 1967. p. 10. Retrieved 1 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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