WCTU AUSTRALIA HISTORY
AUSTRALIAN PRESIDENTS
1891-1894
1894-1903
1903- 1906
1906-1912
1912-1921
1921-1927
1927-1930
1930-1936
1936-1945
1945-1951
1951-1957
1957-1963
1963-1966
1966-1972
1972-1978
1978-1984
Miss J Ackerman
Mrs E W Nicholls
Mrs J S Rooke
Mrs S S Nolan
Lady Holder JP
Mrs JohnMcLeod JP
Mrs E C Strang
Mrs J Tait JP
Mrs Griffiths Lloyd
Mrs HC Tipper
Mrs N I Chesterfield
Mrs H V Gray
Miss Isabel McCorkindale MBE
Mrs L T Williams
Mrs W B Wharton
Mrs G E Renolds
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1984-1991 Mrs J Cocks JP
1991-1995 Miss O Edwards
1995-2000 Mrs D Giddings
2000-2006 Mrs M Martin JP
2006-2013 Mrs E Chandler
2013-2018 Mrs A Bergen
2018 - Current Mrs J Butler
WCTU is proud of their heritage of service to others ever since their beginnings in Australia in 1882.
WCTU began in Sydney and has continued
throughout Australia until today. Read more about this long history.
THE BEGINNINGS
1882
WCTU commenced operation in New South Wales on Monday, 22 August, 1882 in the Temperance Hall in Pitt Street, Sydney. The meeting was hosted by Mr Eli Johnson, a visiting American temperance lecturer.
1884
Other local Unions were started in the suburbs of Sydney as well as in country areas of New South Wales.
Mary Clement Leavitt was sent out as a white ribbon missionary from the U.S.A. to Australia. During her visit,
she formed five branches in Queensland, one in New South Wales, one in South Australia and three in Tasmania.
1885
The first branch of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in Tasmania was formed in Hobart.
1885
The first local Union in Queensland was formed in Brisbane in September, inspired by the visit of Mary Leavitt. Mrs W. Steele was elected first president.
1885
The first local Union was established in Victoria and the movement grew rapidly. The Victorian Union was founded largely due to the efforts of Marie Kirk and the Rev. Philip Moses who arranged the first Organising Conference in 1887.
1886
Queensland The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Queensland was formed at the first Colonial convention.
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Tasmania Influenced by the visit of the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union missionary Mary Leavitt, three new branches were established in Tasmania.
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South Australia The WCTU in South Australia was started in Adelaide with 57 members on the afternoon of Thursday April 8, in the rooms of the Y.M.C.A., Gawler Place, by Mrs Mary Clement Leavitt of America. An adjourned meeting was held in the same place on April 9, and it was decided to form a local union, and the rules and plan of work, outlined by Mrs Leavitt, who presided, were adopted. Mrs Leavitt presided at a further meeting on Monday April 12, when officers were elected as follows: Local President - Mrs W.E. Rice; local secretary - Miss Papualin [who was also secretary of the Y.W.C.A.]; local treasurer - Mrs Matthew Goode.
1887
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Victoria was founded when the 12 existing local branches in Melbourne suburbs and regional Victoria joined together to form a Colonial Union.
1889
The movement was reinvigorated by visits from the
American Union’s second world missionary, Jessie
Ackerman. She particularly ensured that women's suffrage was high on the agenda in the early activities of the Australian Union.
1889
The first Colonial Convention of the WCTU of South Australia was organised by Miss Jessie Ackerman, with a membership of 1112 and 23 local unions. Elizabeth Webb Nicholls was its first state president
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A Colonial Union, to be known as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New South Wales, was formed.
​Encouraged by visits from America the fledgling organisation had a broad agenda of 'home protection' and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. They were very interested in the welfare and protection of women and children and becamea key supporter of women's suffrage. They realiased that their influence at the ballot box was the best wayto achieve their goals. They also advocated for equal pay and working conditions.
1890
1891
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) of Western Australia was founded, inspired by the visit of Jessie Ackerman. The first local Union In Western Australia was formed in York, with another five soon following. By August 1891, a Colonial Union with 155 members had been established.
1891
Tasmanian State Union formed.
1891
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Australasia (later renamed the National Women's Christian Temperance Union of Australia) was formed on the 25th May, 1891 at a meeting held in Melbourne for the purpose of federating the existing Colonial Unions. This was probably the first interstate gathering of women’s organisations held in Australia and the Union was the first national women's organization in the country.
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There were 14 local Unions in Tasmania with a membership of 280. In the 1890s the Hobart Branch worked with the Chinese community and prisoners and advocated broad ranging social and political reforms including women’s suffrage.
During World War I they fought for early closing and distributed literature on venereal disease. They also fought for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.
1894
1900
WCTU CONVENTIONS
1900- 30 March-6 April, Adelaide, South Australia - 4th Convention
1903 - 28 April-1 May, Melbourne, Victoria - 5th Convention
1906 - 26 February-2 March, Hobart, Tasmania - 6th Convention
1909 - 29 April-8 May, Sydney, NSW - 7th Convention
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When the Commonwealth Franchise Act, 1902 (now the Commonwealth Electoral Act) was passed, 12th Junes 1902, women achieved the right to vote in Federal Elections. WCTU women had been active working toward franchise in each colony. Petitions from the WCTU had been circulated among women’s and kindred societies, praying for women’s suffrage and against wine bonuses (a subsidy to grape growers).
1902
1903
Prayer and intercession to God was encouraged, from earliest days, as a vital part of WCTU work. The 1903 Convention advocated that more meetings be held for prayer, Bible study and that prayer circles be formed to reach out with the Christian Temperance message. The President, Mrs Rookes and the Corresponding Secretary toured Queensland, NSW and Victoria after Convention urging prayer circles to be formed.
1906
There was ongoing concern for Australia’s Aboriginal population, with the 1906 Convention wishing to: ‘record with deep sorrow and regret at the deplorable condition and treatment of aboriginal women in the north-west of West Australia as revealed by Commissioner Dr Roth in his “Report on Aboriginals of Western Australia”.’
The passing of the ‘Amending Licensing Act’ in NSW was praised as a great victory at the 1906 Convention. Two of the provisions of the Act included -
• That it be unlawful for a licensee to supply liquor to any person under the age of 18
• No person under 17 to be allowed in a hotel bar
Thanks were given at the 1906 Convention for the passing of the Commonwealth Act - ‘to prohibit the sale and importation of opium except for medicinal purposes.’ WCTU had agitated for this for some years before.
The Victorian Union regretted at the 1906 Convention the fact that: ‘there were many other interests that now attract women who would otherwise unite with us.’
Queensland WCTU distributed Anti-cigarette pledge cards. The use of tobacco, that ‘filthy weed’ was a focus of education and agitation against by the National WCTU.
1909
White Ribbon Recruits was the new name for the Cradle Roll department of WCTU. It became one of the most essential for all local Unions. LTL or Loyal Temperance Legion for the juveniles revived again.
The Boer War had ended and the National Union in 1909 urged the abolition of wet (ie alcoholic), military canteens.
WORLD CONVENTIONS
1912 - 23 May-1 June, Brisbane, Queensland - 8th Convention
1915 - 8-18 May, Adelaide, South Australia - 9th Convention
1918 - 30 August-10 September, Perth, West Australia - 10th Convention
1914
The chilling announcement of war came on August 4, 1914. With Australians fighting overseas, hotel trading hours in Australia were reduced to such an extent that 6 o’clock closing became part of the Australia way of life, for the next fifty or more years.
1915
A letter was sent from the 1915 Convention to the Prime Minister. It congratulated the Federal government on the foundation of the federal capital, Canberra and asked that it be a ‘prohibition city’. This followed up requests by earlier Conventions. The sale of liquor was, in fact, prohibited in the Australian Capital Territory until 1928.
1918
The WCTU strongly disapproved of cigarettes, which members saw as the cause of much physical and moral deterioration, and a Resolution to that affect was passed in 1918.
At the 1918 Convention a resolution was passed asking that the sale of all alcoholic beverages be prohibited on the Kalgoorlie train, known as the ‘drunks train’, as in other trains in the Commonwealth. It was prohibited and the WCTU rejoiced.
At the Convention the members enjoyed a Town Hall reception from the Mayor of Perth, a Platform night at Wesley Church and a Juvenile demonstration on the Saturday afternoon at the Town Hall, preceded by a Grand March. Prohibition meetings are held in Kalgoorlie and Boulder City.
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The WCTU of the Australian Capital Territory was incorporated into the New South Wales Union.
​Networking has been important part of our organisation. WCTU was an original member, and remains a member, of the National Council of Women throughout Australia as well as being involved with other organisations.
1965
2008
The WCTU of New South Wales changed direction and formed the WCTU Foundation to provide funding for initiatives in drug and alcohol education and work.
2009
2009
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union of
Australia Ltd changed its name to WCTU Australia Ltd and took the name WOW Unlimited for use in Drug Education, Facebook and Youth Group activities.
2013
The 39th World WCTU Convention was held in Glenelg, South Australia from May 3 - 8. Over 180 members from more than 20 countries met to share reports, discuss business, share fellowship and receive inspiration to share the vision of a drug-free world.
2015
Introduction of FASD band aid packs with the message: “NO Band aid for FASD. For your baby’s sake – No alcohol while pregnant.” 5,000 bought for distribution.
2016
41st National Convention – at Foothills Conference Centre, Mooroolbark, Melbourne. Theme – ‘Make Me a Woman You Can Use’.
2016 – Special outreach to indigenous women with a further 5,000 band aid packs with the message, “Babies and grog don’t mix. Band aids won't fix”, being bought, along with an appropriate leaflet, “About FASD”, which was obtained through Catholic Health in the Northern Territory. 5,000 sticky notepads with the message, “Take note! Babies and booze don’t mix. No alcohol is the best fix" were distributed widely through Infant Welfare Centres, medical centres, play groups, libraries and other contacts.
2018
42nd National Convention - at Newcastle, NSW Theme - ‘Agitate, Educate, Organise, Legislate’ Joy Butler elected president.
FASD advertising on buses commenced with a large advertisement on the side of a bus on the NSW Central Coast. This was followed by an advertisement on the side of a bus in Newcastle. Victoria has also placed a similar ad on a bus in Geelong.
2019
‘Connector’ as a once-a-month National online newsletter commenced.
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41st World Convention - at Helsinki, Finland Theme - ‘Going Forward, Thinking Globally, Acting Locally’
2019 - 2022 new FASD warnings were given through short ads on TV screens in 10 doctors’ waiting rooms in WA, QLD, and NSW as well as ads on the rear of buses for 12 months in Blacktown, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, and Kempsey,
2020
‘Women of Purpose - Australian women who cared for God-Home-Humanity’ book was published. Edited by Joy Butler
2022
43rd National Convention - at Adelaide, South Australia Theme - ‘Come Alive’
2023
Citizen Advocate position installed for National Australia
2023