By Luke Voogt
Laws barring women from sitting on juries seem almost inconceivable today.
But in 1966 Noele Cook’s mother Elsie Dabb was one of many Geelong women who fought for that right.
“You could vote but no women sat on juries,” the Newtown great-grandmother explained.
“When a woman was charged with something, what did she get? She got a whole of lot of men sitting there judging her.“
Elsie was a member of National Council of Women Victoria’s Geelong branch, which celebrates its 75th anniversary next month.
The branch campaigned successfully alongside comrades state-wide for women to serve on the jury.
“There was no reason women weren’t capable or intelligent enough to make these decisions,” Noele said.
Legislators trialled the changes in Geelong and in 1967 local women joined juries for the first time, she said.
“Geelong has been used in many experiments and that was one time.“
Noele joined her mother at the Geelong branch soon after and has been part of the group, on and off, for half a century.
But her family’s involvement in women’s rights goes back to Federation in 1901.
Her great-grandmother petitioned alongside hundreds of thousands of women for the right to vote, which Victorian Government granted in 1908.
Noele, 86, will join more than 100 women celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Geelong branch at its annual luncheon, including current president Janice Latham.
“Noele’s treated like the grand duchess – which she is,” Janice said.
“She’s just a lovely person and full of history.”
Geelong mayoress Bessie Wallace helped found the branch during the war effort in 1944, as women took up labour roles traditionally the domain of men.
The branch campaigned for legislative changes to improve the status of women, most notably jury duty.
In 1966 branch members organised a campaign meeting and were initially “very despondent” thinking only 15 women would show, Janice said.
“They turned out at town hall and could not believe what happened – they had 300 women there!”
More recently the group has campaigned on behalf of children in kinship care and victims of family violence, while assisting local refugee students to learn English.
“They’re wonderful women,” Janice said.
“They’re of a good spirit and they encompass all sorts of religions and political affiliations.”
The branch has raised money for Foundation 61’s planned women’s drug rehab centre and at next month’s luncheon will raise money for North Geelong Secondary College students.
“We already have three bursaries for $250 each,” Janice said.
Barwon Heads CFA captain and renal practice manager Helen Wood will be keynote speaker of the luncheon at Geelong Regional Library and Heritage Centre on 17 June.
