Thelma Bate
Encyclopedia
Thelma Florence Bate CBE
(3 August 1904 – 26 July 1984) was an Australian community leader and women's activist.
Born Thelma Florence Olsen in Sydney
, she was the daughter of Norwegian seaman Olaf Olsen and his wife Florence Beatrice, née St Clair, who was born in Melbourne
. Her mother married Carl Gustav Sundstrom in 1912; Thelma attended Fort Street Girls' High School before graduating from the University of Sydney
with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1928. She subsequently taught at Meriden School and travelled abroad.
She married grazier Richard Falkner Harvey on 20 June 1934 at St Philip's Church of England in Sydney and settled on his property near Ivanhoe
, where she joined the Country Women's Association
. Her husband died in 1946; the following year she stood as the Country Party candidate for the seat of Dubbo
in the state election
. Thelma Harvey was the first woman endorsed by the Country Party to contest an election in Australia.
She married Kenneth Kirkby, a Country Party executive member, on 8 December 1949 at St John's Church of England in Darlinghurst
; the couple lived at Bellata near Moree
, and were divorced. Kirkby continued to contest elections for the Country Party but was not elected. She represented New South Wales at the Associated Country Women of the World conference in Toronto
in 1953, and continued to be active in the community. A committee member of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, she was the New South Wales representative to the United Nations Association of Australia International Weomn's Year committee.
On 12 June 1958 she married Jeff Bate, the Liberal
member for Macarthur
in the Australian House of Representatives
, who farmed at Tilba Tilba. They divorced in 1968. Bate was honorary secretary (1957–59) and president (1959–62) of the CWA, when she became known for her strong support of the inclusion of Aboriginal women in the CWA. She was treasurer of the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in the 1960s and was appointed Commander of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1969. She died in 1984 at Gordon
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(3 August 1904 – 26 July 1984) was an Australian community leader and women's activist.
Born Thelma Florence Olsen in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, she was the daughter of Norwegian seaman Olaf Olsen and his wife Florence Beatrice, née St Clair, who was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Her mother married Carl Gustav Sundstrom in 1912; Thelma attended Fort Street Girls' High School before graduating from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1928. She subsequently taught at Meriden School and travelled abroad.
She married grazier Richard Falkner Harvey on 20 June 1934 at St Philip's Church of England in Sydney and settled on his property near Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe, New South Wales
Ivanhoe is a small township on the Cobb Highway between the Lachlan and Darling rivers in New South Wales, Australia. It is located within the Central Darling Shire local government area. Ivanhoe functions as a service centre for the surrounding area. The township is...
, where she joined the Country Women's Association
Country Women's Association
The Country Women’s Association of Australia is the largest women's organisation in Australia. It has 44,000 members across 1855 branches. Its aims are to improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those women...
. Her husband died in 1946; the following year she stood as the Country Party candidate for the seat of Dubbo
Electoral district of Dubbo
Dubbo is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Troy Grant of the National Party of Australia....
in the state election
New South Wales state election, 1947
The 1947 New South Wales state election was held on 3 May 1947. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
. Thelma Harvey was the first woman endorsed by the Country Party to contest an election in Australia.
She married Kenneth Kirkby, a Country Party executive member, on 8 December 1949 at St John's Church of England in Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
; the couple lived at Bellata near Moree
Moree, New South Wales
Moree is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains....
, and were divorced. Kirkby continued to contest elections for the Country Party but was not elected. She represented New South Wales at the Associated Country Women of the World conference in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1953, and continued to be active in the community. A committee member of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, she was the New South Wales representative to the United Nations Association of Australia International Weomn's Year committee.
On 12 June 1958 she married Jeff Bate, the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Macarthur
Division of Macarthur
The Division of Macarthur is an Australia Federal electoral division covering outer south-west Sydney. Its present boundaries cover the southern suburbs of Campbelltown, all of the local government area of Camden and small parts of Wollondilly. It covers 537 km² and is named after John...
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....
, who farmed at Tilba Tilba. They divorced in 1968. Bate was honorary secretary (1957–59) and president (1959–62) of the CWA, when she became known for her strong support of the inclusion of Aboriginal women in the CWA. She was treasurer of the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in the 1960s and was appointed Commander of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1969. She died in 1984 at Gordon
Gordon, New South Wales
Gordon is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gordon is located north-west of the Sydney Central Business District and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council...
.