Mary Catherine Rogers (born Mary Skeahan, 2 August 1872 − 25 September 1932) was an Australian magistrate, trade unionist, and the first woman elected to local government in Victoria.
Mary Rogers | |
|---|---|
| Councillor of the City of Richmond | |
| In office 5 November 1920 – August 1925 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Skeahan 2 August 1872 Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 25 September 1932 Richmond, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | Boroondara General Cemetery |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | Patrick Rogers (died 1910) |
| Children | 5 |
Early years
editRogers was raised in East Melbourne, and attended a local Catholic school. She married Patrick Denis Rogers in 1900 and had five children, although one died in infancy.[1]
After her husband died in 1910, Rogers initially worked as a cleaner, before being appointed secretary, then president, of the Women Office Cleaners' Union, and later vice-president of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union.[1][2]
Political career
editRogers became an organiser for the Australian Labor Party in 1918, serving as secretary of the party's North Richmond branch for several years.
On 5 November 1920, she was elected to Richmond City Council at a by-election, becoming he first woman elected to local government in Victoria, and the second in Australia (after Susan Benny).[3]
Rogers was re-elected unopposed in 1922. In 1925, she became a member of the council's finance and legislative committee, but was at the elections in August later that year.[2]
Later life and death
editIn 1928, she became one of first women to be appointed a justice of the peace in Victoria, serving as a special magistrate at the Children's Court at Richmond.[2][4]
Rogers died of cancer on 25 September 1932, and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery in Kew. Future federal Labor leader Arthur Calwell was a pallbearer at her funeral, where several prominent Labor and trade union officials were present.[2]
Legacy
editIn March 2016, the City of Yarra (the successor to the City of Richmond) replaced the green and male silhouettes at traffic lights with a likeness of Rogers.[3]
Mary Rogers Square on the corner of Church Street and Bridge Road in Richmond is named after Rogers.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Rogers, Mary Catherine (1872 - 1932)". The Australian Women's Register.
- ^ a b c d "Mary Catherine Rogers (1872–1932)". Australian Dictionary of Biography.
- ^ a b "Green man becomes a woman in Melbourne". Nine News.
- ^ "CELEBRATING MARY ROGERS". City of Yarra.
- ^ "Melbourne council honours Mary Rogers by changing walk signal at Richmond crossing". ABC News.