Margaret Battye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Battye
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| Born | 9 August 1909 |
| Died | 16 November 1949 (aged 40) Subiaco, Western Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Margaret Battye (born August 9, 1909 – died November 16, 1949) was an Australian lawyer. She was a very important woman in politics, business, and law in Oceania.
Margaret Battye was the first woman to represent a client in court in Western Australia. She also started her own law firm there. She held many important roles in the early days of the Liberal Party of Australia in her state.
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Margaret Battye's Life and Achievements
Margaret Battye was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, on August 9, 1909. Her father, Charles Battye, was a librarian. She was the only daughter of Charles and Nellie May Battye.
Early Life and Education
Margaret went to Perth Modern School. After that, she studied law at the University of Western Australia. In 1931, she earned her first law degree. She got a higher degree in 1933. That same year, she was allowed to practice law.
Margaret was one of only four women who graduated from law school in 1930. Her first court case was a big moment. She won the case for her client. This was the first time a woman represented someone in a West Australian court. The judge and the other lawyer praised her work.
Margaret and another female graduate, Mary Hartney, started their own law firm. This was another first for women in Western Australia.
Working for Women's Rights
In 1934, Margaret joined the Australian Federation of University Women. This group supported women who went to university. Three years later, she became its president. She continued to help women at the university. She even helped write the rules for St Catherine's College, a college for women.
From 1936, Margaret worked as a lawyer on her own. She also worked for the Council for Civil Liberties starting in 1939. This group helps protect people's rights. She was also a legal advisor for the Women's Service Guilds.
In 1939, she started the Business and Professional Women's Club. She was also a member and president of other important clubs for women, like the Soroptimists' and Karrakatta Clubs.
Making a Difference in Politics
Margaret was very involved in politics. She helped create the Liberal Party of Australia in Western Australia. She was also a founding member of important committees within the party, both at the state and national levels.
In 1946, Margaret led the first State Woman's Council in Western Australia. She also chaired the Federal Women’s Committee. These groups focused on issues important to women within the Liberal Party.
In 1949, she worked on a special bill called the 'blanket bill'. This bill aimed to stop unfair treatment of women in Australian law. She helped organize reports, meetings, and even a petition to the Prime Minister, Ben Chifley. The bill was later changed to focus on state laws, where most of the unfair rules were. However, it took another thirty years for a similar law to pass.
Margaret Battye passed away in 1949 due to a health issue.
