Mary Powell (suffragist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Powell
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Mary Sadler Powell
1854 Gloucestershire, England
|
| Died | 8 March 1946 (aged 91–92) Dunedin, New Zealand
|
| Nationality | New Zealander |
Mary Sadler Powell (born around 1854, died 1946) was an important person in New Zealand. She worked to encourage people to live a good life. She also fought for women's right to vote.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to New Zealand
Mary Powell was born in Gloucestershire, England around 1854. When she was about 31 years old, in 1885, she moved to New Zealand. She lived there with her brother.
Working for Social Change
Mary became very involved with a group called the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand (WCTU NZ). This group worked to promote good living and strong families. Mary was a leader in the Invercargill branch of the WCTU. This branch grew to be very large.
Her Role in the WCTU
Mary worked for the WCTU for over 30 years. She held many important jobs, like corresponding secretary and organiser. She went to her first national meeting in 1890. In 1900, she even attended a big WCTU meeting in London, England. Later, in 1919, she was made a special lifetime member of the group.
Writing for Young Women
Mary also wrote a regular column for a newspaper called New Zealand Methodist. She used the pen name "Aunt Kate." In her column, she shared advice and promoted Christian values for young women.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Besides her work with the WCTU, Mary Powell strongly supported women's right to vote. She was known as a suffragist, which means someone who worked to get voting rights for women.
Later Life
Mary Powell never married. She passed away on March 8, 1946, in Dunedin, New Zealand.
