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Former Member Details

Mrs Gertrude Mary MELVILLE (1884 - 1959)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 07/10/1884
Place of Birth: Hamilton Saw Mills, Port Macquarie , New South Wales , Australia
Date of Death: 21/08/1959
Place of Death: Little Bay , New South Wales , Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 10 Sep 1952 22 Apr 1958 5 years 7 months 13 days A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 10 September 1952 and 21 November 1957. Casual vacancy – elected for balance of term of servcie of Hon. E.H Farrar, deceased.
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Joined c.1904, became a member of Paddington Branch, central executive from 1922 until 1926, 1950 until 1952, Women's Central Organising Committee president from 1947 until 1952.
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Home Duties. Educated at St Peter's Convent in Surry Hills. Director of Fairfield Hospital; member of Board of Health from 1943 until 1959; vice president of the Good Neighbour Council, contributor to the Golden Jubilee Souvenir of the Labor Women's Central Organising Committee in 1954. Continued to battle energetically for women's rights, housing, hospitals, welfare and equal pay. Known as 'the grand old lady of the Labor Party'.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman at Cabravale Council from 1944 until 1948. Mayor from 1945 until 1948.
Personal
Daughter of Jack Day. Married Arthur Melville on 3 December 1903 and had issue, 5 sons. Roman Catholic. Funeral at Randwick cemetery from the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family at Maroubra.
Additional Information