In light of Women’s History Month, Edith Dircksey Cowan was a woman that changed history for women in Australia. She was born in 1861 at Glengarry and she believed that education was fundamental to tackling the social issues of the day and further. She fought tirelessly to improve conditions for women, children, families, the poor, the under-educated and the elderly. She encouraged sex education in schools, migrant welfare and the helped with the formation of infant health centres.

Among her many achievements, Edith Cowan was very influential in obtaining votes for women in Western Australia. She was Vice President of the Women Justices’ Association and the Western Australian League of Nations Union. She helped found the Children’s Protection Society which was the precursor of the Children’s Court and helped create the Western Australian National Council for Women and was its president for eight years.

The Guidance of Infants Act (1922) which allowed women to apply to the courts if their husbands left them without adequate maintenance, was amended by the efforts of Edith Cowan and she also argued that a woman should be legally entitled to a share of her husband’s income.

Edith Cowan was a woman who was very strong and. She did it all so women can have better rights and can have more of a say in what they think is right for their future’s and for the health of women.

These days a portrait of Edith Cowan can be seen on the Australian $50 bill.

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