Selina Anderson
Encyclopedia
Selina Sarah Elizabeth Anderson (12 May 1878 – 30 November 1964) was an Australia
n trade unionist and the first woman to contest a seat in the Australian House of Representatives
.
Born Selina Charters near Hill End
in New South Wales
, she changed her surname when her mother remarried in 1892. After finishing school she worked as an artist and photographic retoucher.
The 1903 federal election was the first election in which women were entitled to stand for parliament. Anderson decided to contest the Sydney seat of Dalley
as an independent protectionist candidate. Although unsuccessful, she polled a respectable 18% of the vote.
The following year she was a member of the organising committee of the Labor Council of New South Wales
and helped establish the Cardboard Box makers Union, of which she became secretary. By 1906, she was one of seven women on the state executive of the Australian Labor Party
but unsuccessful in gaining Labor endorsement to contest a seat.
In 1908, she married Christopher Siggins and, as Selina Siggins, was one of the first two women to contest the South Australian Legislative Assembly. Running as an independent she polled just 2% of the vote.
In later life, she lived near Canterbury Race Course in Sydney and ran race horses. She died in 1964.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n trade unionist and the first woman to contest a seat in the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
.
Born Selina Charters near Hill End
Hill End
Hill End can refer to:*Hill End, New South Wales, Australia*Hill End, Victoria, Australia*Hill End, County Durham, England*Hill End, Gloucestershire, England*Hill End, Middlesex, England*Hill End, Somerset, England*Hill End, Worcestershire, England...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, she changed her surname when her mother remarried in 1892. After finishing school she worked as an artist and photographic retoucher.
The 1903 federal election was the first election in which women were entitled to stand for parliament. Anderson decided to contest the Sydney seat of Dalley
Division of Dalley
The Division of Dalley was an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1969. It was named for the colonial politician William Dalley. It was located in the...
as an independent protectionist candidate. Although unsuccessful, she polled a respectable 18% of the vote.
The following year she was a member of the organising committee of the Labor Council of New South Wales
Labor Council of New South Wales
The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW...
and helped establish the Cardboard Box makers Union, of which she became secretary. By 1906, she was one of seven women on the state executive of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
but unsuccessful in gaining Labor endorsement to contest a seat.
In 1908, she married Christopher Siggins and, as Selina Siggins, was one of the first two women to contest the South Australian Legislative Assembly. Running as an independent she polled just 2% of the vote.
In later life, she lived near Canterbury Race Course in Sydney and ran race horses. She died in 1964.