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WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER |
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THIS SITE CONTAINS
1 to 5 - Winning the vote
Chapter 1: The Vote or Bust 1788-1908
Chapter 2: Who Were the Suffragists?Chapter 3: 'United and Representative Agitation'
Chapter 4: Anti-Suffragists 1900-1910Chapter 5: Onwards to Success 1884-1908
6 to 10 - Social Justice and peace
Chapter 6: Moving into the Public World
Chapter 7: 1914-18 War - Pro Peace, Pro and Anti War
Chapter 8: Women's Work in WW1
Chapter 9: 1919-1935 - Surviving
Chapter 10: 1935-1945 Still Surviving
11 to 15 - Finding our voice as women
Chapter 11: 1945 and after - In Our Own Right
Chapter 12: 1970's Protesting - Working Together Again
Chapter 13: Finding Our Voice - Women's Liberation
Chapter 14: Working Collectively
Chapter 15: The 1970's & 80's Broader Women's Movement
16 to 20 - Our legacy our strength our struggle
Chapter 16: In Our Own Hands - Our Bodies
Chapter 17: Whose Right to Choose?- Our Selves
Chapter 18: Environment Matters
Chapter 19: 1990's When the Women's Movement is Quiet
Chapter 20: What a Legacy We Inherit!
Appendix 1: Papers and Interviews
Appendix 2: Songs from the Women's Movement
WOMEN FROM THE
WOMEN'S MOVEMENT
MENTIONED IN THIS WORK.
Abigail Adams
Ada Brougham
Adela Pankhurst
Adrian Howe
Agnes Murphy
Aileen Goldstein
Ailsa O'Connor
Alayne Park
Alex Butler
Alice B Toklas
Alice Henry
Alice Moon
Alice Suter
Alice Walker
Alice Weekes
Alina Holgate
Alisa Burns
Alison Alexander
Alison Dickie
Alison Richards
Alix McDonald
Alma Morton
Alma Thorpe
Andrea Coote
Annie McKenzie
Alva Geike
Amanda Bede
Amanda Biles
Amanda Graham
Amelia Ceranas
Amelia Lambrick
Amira Ingliss
Amy Castilla
Angelina Austin
Angelina Wonga
Ann Jackson
Anna Brennan
Anna Howie
Anna Morgan
Anna Pha
Anna Shaw
Anna Stewart
Anne Barker
Anne Carson
Anne Conlon
Anne Gowers
Anne Phelan
Anne Riseborough
Anne Stewart
Anne Summers
Annette Bear-Crawford
Annie Lister
Annie Lowe
Annie McKenzie
Anthea Hyslop
Antonie Stolle
Ariel Couchman
Audrey Oldfield
Barb Friday
Barbara Creed
Barbara Hall
Barbara Jones
Barbara Kerr
Barbara Marsh
Barbara Van Meurs
Barbara Wishart
Beatrice Faust
Bella Lavender
Belle McKenzie
Bertha Main
Beryl Carter
Bessie Harrison-Lee
Bessie Rainer Parkes
Bessie Rischbieth
Bette Olle
Betty Richmond
Bev Kingston
Bon Hull
Brettena Smyth
Brienne Callahan
Brigid McCaughey
Bronwyn Pike
Candy Broad
Carmel Shute
Carmen Callil
Carmen Lawrence
Carole Ford
Carole Wilson
Caroline Huidobro
Caroline Landale
Carolyn Allport
Carolyn Jay
Carolyn Worth
Carrie Chapman Catt
Carrie Reed
Caryl Friedman
Cath Mayes
Cath Stone
Catherine Anne Spence
Catherine Blackburn
Catherine McLennan
Cecilia John
Charlotte P Gilman (Stetson)
Cheris Kramarae
Cheryl Griffin
Chris Cathie
Chris Chapman
Chris Sitka
Chris Zsizsman
Christina Frankland
Christina Stead
Christine Haag
Churls Kramarae
Claire Berry
Clara Weekes
Clare Wright
Claudia Wright
Colleen Hartland
Constance Stone
Cynthis Carson
Dale Dowse
Dale Spender
Daphne Gollan
Deb Schnookal
Deborah Jordan
Deborah Wardley
Di Fruin
Di Otto
Di Surgey
Diane Crunden
Diane Kirby
Diane Sonnenberg
Dianne Edwards
Dianne Scott
Dianne Wells
Dimity Reed
Divna Devic
Dominica Whelan
Dora Coates
Doris Blackburn
Doris Challis
Doris McRae
Dorothy Turner
Dr Adrian Howe
Dr Aletta Jacobs
Dr Clara Stone
Dr Clare Isbister
Dr Constance Stone
Dr Helene Stocker
Dr Georgina Sweet
Dr Gwen Fong
Dr Janet Bacon
Dr Jocelynne Scutt
Dr Lyn McKenzie
Dr Marie Stopes
Dr Mary Glowrey
Dr Mary Stone
Dr Tamara McKean
Duggie Silins
Edie Turnevich
Edith Hedger
Edith Morgan
Edith Taylor
Edna Ryan
Eileen Capocchi
Eileen Kampukuta Brown
Eileen Unkari Crombie
Eleanor Dark
Eleanor Harding
Eleanor Hobbs
Eleanor M Moore
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Coady
Elizabeth Hooke
Elizabeth Jackson
Elizabeth Ramsay-Laye
Elizabeth Reid
Elizabeth Rennick
Elizabeth Wallace
Elizabeth Wheelahan
Elizabeth Windshuttle
Ellen Julia Gould
Ellen Kleimaker
Ellen Ward
Elphinstone Dick
E McAllister
Emily Dobson
Emily Greene Balch
Emily Munyungka Austin
Emily Pankhurst
Emmaline Pankhurst
Emmy Evald
Ethel Barringer
Eugenie Davidson
Eva Eden
Eva Cox
Eva Figes
Eve Fesl
Eve Gray
Evelyn Gough
Evelyn Greig
Farley Kelly
Fiona Colin
Fiona Moorhead
Fleur Finney
Flo Kennedy
Flora Eldershaw
Florence Kelly
Frances Fraser
Frances Kissling
Fraulein Von Heymann
Freda Durham
Freda Gamble
Freda Steinberg
Frida Kahlo
Florence Miller
Gay Harris
Gayle Tierney
Gaylene Sneadon
Geraldine Briggs
Geraldine Robertson
Georgina McEnroe
Germaine Greer
Gertrude Bussey
Gertrude Stein
Gill Alecto
Gillian Waite
Gina Lewis
Gisela Kaplan
Glen Tomasetti
Greta Pearce
Gudren Drewsen
Gwendolen Swinburne
Harriet Taylor Mill
Hazel Donelly
Heather Jeffcoat
Heather Osland
Helen Anderson
Helen Caldicott
Helen Dow
Helen Durham
Helen Palmer
Helen Reddy
Helen Robertson
Helen Shardey
Helen Sexton
Hellen Cooke
Henrietta Dugdale
Henry Handel Richardson
Hetty Gilbert
Ilka Elkemann
Ina Higgins
Irina Dunn
Isabel McCorkindale
Isabella Goldstein
Isabella Martinis
Ivy Makinta Stewart
Jaala Pulford
Jacinta Allen
Jackie Fristacky
Jacqui Katona
Jan Armstrong Cohn
Jan Bassett
Jan Harper
Jan Mercer
Jan Testro
Jane Addams
Jane Alley
Jane Greig
Jane Mullett
Janet Bacon
Janet Bell
Janet Elefmiotis
Janet Lindsay Greig
Janet McCalman
Janet Michie
Janet Strong
Janey Stone
Janice Brownfoot
Janice Munt
Janine Bourke
Janne Reed
Jean Bedford
Jean Daley
Jean Henry
Jean McLean
Jean Melzer
Jean Sims
Jean Taylor
Jean Thompson
Jeanette Fenelon
Jeanette Powell
Jeanette Rankin
Jeni Thornley
Jennifer Clark
Jennifer Feeney
Jennifer Lee
Jennie Baines
Jenny Bacon
Jenny Barwell
Jenny Lee
Jenny Mikakos
Jenny Rimmer
Jenny Tatchell
Jesse Marlow
Jessie Ferguson
Jessie Henderson
Jessie Mcleod
Jessie Street
Jenny Pausaker
Jessie Street
Jessie Taylor
Jill Jolliffe
Jill Parkes
Jill Reichstein
Jill Roe
Jo Ellis
Jo MacLaine-Cross
Jo Phillips
Jo Wainer
Joan Coxsedge
Joan Curlewis
Joan E Basquil
Joan Goodwin
Joan Elkington
Joan King
Joan Kirner
Joan Rosanove
Joan Rowlands
Joanna Rea
Joanne Duncan
Jocelyne Clarke
Joe Dolce
Josephine Butler
Josie Lee
Joy Damousi
Joyce Barry
Joyce Johnson
Joyce Nicholson
Joyce Stevens
Jude Perera
Judi Willis
Judith Smart
Judy Cassar
Judy Morton
Judy Power
Judy Maddigan
Judy Small
Julia Church
Julia So So
Julianne Fogarty
Julie McCrossin
Julie Shiels
Juliette Mitchell
Kamla Bhasin
Karen Bird
Karen Gillespie
Karen Milgram
Karen Overington
Karen Silkwood
Karina Veal
Kate Darian-Smith
Kate Gilmore
Kate Jennings
Kate Miller
Kath Williams
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Suzannah Prichard
Kathie Gleeson
Kathie Sarachild
Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Kathleen Maltzahn
Kathryn Sutherland
Kathy Gill
Kathy Wilson
Katrina Veal
Kay Daniels
Kaye Darveniza
Kay Hamilton
Kay Hargreaves
Kay Setches
Kaz Cooke
Keitha Carter
Kerry Blundell
Kerryn & Jenny
Kris Wilkinson
Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson
Lariane Fonseca
Laura Daniele
Laura Van Nooten
Laurie Bebbington
Lena McEwan
Lesbia Harford
Lesley Hewitt
Lesley Podesta
Lesley Stern
Lesley Vick
Leslie Cannold
Leslie Henderson
Lexie Methereall
Libby Brook
Libby Minifie
Lilian Alexander
Lilian Wald
Lily D'Ambrosia
Linda Aarchen
Linda Rubenstein
Linn Van Hek
Lisa Neville
Lisa Shuckroon
Liz Beattie
Liz Byrski
Liz Dowling
Liz Taylor
Lois Bryson
Lois Young
Lorri Manning
Louisa Lawson
Louisa Remedios
Louise Asher
Louise Walford
Lorna Scarles
Lucy Kowing Wilton
Lucy Paling
Lydia Becker
Lyla Barnard
Lyn Chambers
Lyn Hovey
Lyn McKenzie
Lynne Kosky
Mabel Drummond
Mandy Paul
Maree Gladwin
Margaret Bevege
Margaret Baskerville
Margaret Geddes
Margaret James
Margaret Mead
Margaret McKenzie
Margaret McLean
Margaret Roadknight
Margaret Thorp
Margaret Tims
Margaret Tucker
Margot Oliver
Maree Gould
Maria Mies
Marian Sawer
Marian Simms
Marian Vickers
Marie Kirk
Marie McInnes
Marie Rowan
Marion Harper
Marilyn Beaumont
Marilyn Hillgrave
Marilyn Lake
Marsha Thomson
Marylin Waring
Marilyn Wise
Marj Oke
Marjorie Barnard
Marjorie Barrett
Marjorie Waters
Mary Astell
Mary Bartlett
Mary Brodney
Mary Crooks
Mary Fullerton
Mary Gilbert
Mary Grant
Mary Killury
Mary Leigh
Mary Merkenich
Mary Murnane
Mary Owen
Mary Page Stone
Mary Rogers
Mary Salce
Mary Wolstonecraft
Mary Wooldridge
Matron Brown
Maxine Morand
May Brodney
May Langbridge
May Scheidt
May Smith
Megan McMurchy
Melanie Hall
Melinda Freyer
Melvina Ingram
Meredith Tax
Mesdames: Wallace; Baines;
Lavender; Webb; Singleton;
Morris; Gardiner; Reynolds,
Reid.
Mesdames Savage and Bella Lavender
Miles Franklin
Millicent Garrett Fawcett
Miss A Hume
Miss Anderson
Miss C H Thomson
Miss Cuthbertson
Miss D McRae
Miss E Goldstein
Miss E Hedger
Miss Effie Smart
Miss E Nesbit
Miss Geraldine Rede
Miss H Bridger
Miss H McGowan
Miss Harriet Newcomb
Miss Hilda Moody
Miss Jane Adams
Miss Janet Michie
Miss Jeanette Rankin
Miss Judd
Miss L Savage
Miss Lawler
Miss Lillian Locke
Miss Lillian Wald
Miss Mary Fullerton
Miss Miriam Geach
Miss Olive Gray
Miss R Smethurst
Miss Rapier
Miss Selina Cooper
Miss Simmons
Miss Wollen
Miss Stoddart
Miss V Bonner
Misses: Lewis; McMahon; Helsby;
Moody; Wise; Pascoe; Stewart;
Goodwin; Grant etc.
Misses: Mulcahy; Delaney; Townsend;
McGrath; Clements; Collins; Triffle; Cohen; McLean
Moira Rayner
Mollie Baine
Mollie Dyer
Molly Hadfield
Monika Wells
Morag Loh
Madame E Lorton Campbel
Mrs Anna B Howie
Mrs Bella Lavender Halloran
Mrs Beresford Jones
Mrs Bochinon
Mrs Brown
Mrs Catherine P Wallace
Mrs Chesterfield
Mrs Crawford
Mrs Crutchfield
Mrs D Irwin
Mrs D Monsbourgh
Mrs D Nankivell
Mrs Dwyer
Mrs E Hampton
Mrs E M Nimmo
Mrs E Pethridge
Mrs E Rothfield
Mrs Elliot
Mrs E W Nicholls
Mrs Emily Jackson
Mrs Evelyn Gough
Mrs F J Nicholls
Mrs F Williams
Mrs Florence Kelly
Mrs Fryer
Mrs Fisher
Mrs G Cameron
Mrs Goldstein (senior)
Mrs H A Dugdale
Mrs Harrard
Mrs Harrison Lee
Mrs Jamieson
Mrs Janet Strong
Mrs Jessie Vasey
Mrs Joan Rosanove
Mrs Josephine Butler
Mrs Kelly
Mrs Langdale
Mrs Laura Howie
Mrs Lister Watson
Mrs Lowe
Mrs Lucy Paling
Mrs M Hartley
Mrs M B Wollaston
Mrs M Mayall
Mrs Mabel Drummond
Mrs Malcolm
Mrs Martin
Mrs Mary Baird
Mrs Maudsley
Mrs M McGowan
Mrs Moody
Mrs Moore
Mrs Nance Wills
Mrs Naylor
Mrs O'Dowd
Mrs P Eden
Mrs Press
Mrs Pymm
Mrs Renwick
Mrs Robertson
Mrs Rosanov
'Mum' Shirl
Mrs Singleton
Mrs Smythe
Mrs Steele
Mrs Strong
Mrs Warren Kerr
Mrs Z Lees
Muriel Heagney
Myra Roper
Nan Chelsworth
Nancy Kessing
Nancye Smith
Narelle Dwyer
Nawal El Saadawi
Nettie Palmer
Nicole Steinke
Nina Bondarenke
Norma Grieve
Olive Gray
Olive Schreiner
Onnie Wilson
Pam Brewster
Pam Roberts
Pamela Branas
Pamela Curr
Pat Freeman
Pat Gowland
Pat Martin
Patricia Filar
Patsy Adam-Smith
Paula Trechler
Pauline Kennedy
Pauline Pickford
Peggy Cullinan
Penny Cooke
Penny Farrer
Penny Ryan
Peta Tait
Petra Munro
Philippa Hawker
Ponch Hawkes
Prof. Jo Wainer
Prof. Margaret Thornton
Rachel Avery
Rachel Hesley
Rae Walker
Raelene Frances
Ramona Koval
Rebecca West
Renate Howe
Renate Klein
Renee Miller
Renee Romeril
Rhoda Bell
Rigmor Berg
Rivka Pile
Roberta Meilleur
Robin Morgan
Robin Royce
Robyn Archer
Robyn Martin
Robyn Rowland
Romawati Senaga
Ros Bowden
Rose Scott
Rosemarie Gillespie
Rosemary Brown
Rosie Ferber
Ruby Rich
Ruby Tuesday
Ruth Bermann
Ruth Crow
Ruth Ford
Ruth Schnookal
Sabine Fernheicher
Sadie Kirsner
Sally Mendes
Sally Wilkins
Sandra Bloodworth
Sandra Onus
Senator Olive Zakharov
Sharon Jones
Sheila Bayard
Sheila Ricci
Sheila Wynn
Shirley Andrews
Shirley Swain
Sister Gladys Sumner
Sister Blake
Sister Brown
Sister Hannah
Sophie Slater
Stephanie Moore
Sue Jackson
Sue Mountford
Sue Pennicuik
Sue Reid
Sue Russell
Susan Anthony
Susan Hawthorne
Susie Grezik
Susy Potter
Suzane Fabian
Sylvia Azzopardi
Sylvia Plath
Sylvie Leber
Sylvie Shaw
Tammy Lobato
Tanya McIntyre
Teresa Magna
Terri Jackson
Terry Carney
Tess Lee-Ack
Tess Maloney
Thelma Fry
Thelma Lees
Thelma Prior
Thelma Solomon
Therese Radic
Theresa Lynch
Tjunmutja Myra Watson
Tjuta Ivy Makinti Stewart
Tracey Gurd
Tricia Caswell
Tricia Szirom
Trish Crick
Trudy Wise
Una Stannard
Val Ogden
Val Osborne
Vandana Shiva
Verity Bergmann
Vweronica Shwarz
Vida Goldstein
Virginia Geddes
Virginia Woolf
Vivien Brophy
Vivienne Binns
Wendy Lovell
Wendy Lowenstein
Wendy Poussard
Win Graham
Winsome McCaughey
Yolana Sutherland
Yosano Akiko
Yvonne Margarula
Yvonne Smith
Zara Wildenaur
Zelda D'Aprano
Zoe PhillipsThis work is copyright.
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CHAPTER 17: Whose Right to Choose?'Our reproductive freedom is at stake.'
Ruth Schnookal
Private papersNational Abortion Action Coalition: 'Throughout history, few things have been more universal or known fewer national boundaries than the suffering of women from the denial of our rights to control our own lives, our own bodies. The right of women to abortion, to full control of their bodies, is perhaps the most fundamental democratic demand of women. Without this women are denied the right to decide when and if they will have children and if they will drop out of school or give up a job. Without this, women are often forced to become economically dependent on a man in order to support a child ... The right to control our own bodies is the first step on the way to controlling our lives.' Women's Health Collective papers, University of Melbourne
Abortion has a tragic history. For example, in one six month period - January to June 1930 - in Melbourne, the Argus documented under the heading 'Illegal Operations etc' -
Loader, Edith LP: Alleged illegal operation
Robertson, Susan: Alleged operation
Crips, Elizabeth E: Allegedly assisting
Jones, Marcella: Death at herbalists home
Ryan, Ethel J: Acquitted of murder: Dying declaration not admitted
Alexander, Joan: Death in Richmond
Police Inquiries: March
McNeil, May: Charged with murder
Ruddle, Bessie: Alleged murder of Elizabeth A Whittington
Wilson, Joseph and Ellen: Five years imprisonment
Aubrey, Sard: Alleged Murder of Alvina Holleban - and these were the just the illegal abortions that made the Argus.Janet McCalman: At that time in the Women's Hospital in Melbourne 'Between 1930 and 1933 inclusive, the hospital treated 4424 women for abortion, of whom a massive 1069 were septic ... No-one who ever saw a woman die of Cl. welchii infection ever forgot the horror of it ... The Women's was the place where 'all the abortions went', where 'they all died from gangrene'. The smell of the septic ward was notorious: all public hospitals had stinking gangrene wards, but only the Women's was talked about. The Queen Victoria Hospital treated septic abortions also, but its image was always was always more ladylike and respectable. The abortion victims were all assumed to be 'tarts' or unmarried girls who had been tragically seduced; but most were married women who could not afford either financially or personally to have another baby ...
Dr Ronald Rome: 'One of the interesting things that took place was that if a lady had had an illegal operation and she came in and we thought she was going to die, she was asked unfortunately, would she like to make a dying deposition. In many cases the answer was yes. Now we had to ring up the CIB and two of them would come up and very nicely and quietly talk to this girl about the circumstances ... We were bound to do this otherwise you became a party to the offence and we built up a remarkably good relationship with the Victoria Police.'
Evil back-yard butchers were depicted as the perpetrators, but most women aborted themselves ..
Between 1931 and 1960, 147 women died of Cl. welchii infections, 136 post abortal and 11 puerperal, ... 101 from haemolytic streptoccal infection ... In just four and a half years to early 1937 there were seventy seven cases with forty nine deaths. The last woman to die this way was in 1970, twelve hours after admission, for it remained a danger even into the antibiotic age .. Death rates, of course, tell only part of the story.' pp 216-218 Sex and Suffering Women's Health and a Women's Hospital Melbourn University Press 1998
2...STOP HER SCREAMING AND DISTURBING THE NEIGHBOURS
Prof Jo Wainer: 'Before 1969 and the Menhennit ruling abortion was completely illegal. It was conducted clandestinely. There were twelve doctors who provided reasonably safe, reasonably competent abortions, but at a very high price. You found them through an underground network - taxi drivers, pubs, mates (it was the usually the responsibility of the man involved to find the abortion provider and to pay for the abortion. The woman just risked her body, her life and her dignity). In addition to that there were non-medically trained abortion providers, the most famous of whom was a butcher by trade who operated on kitchen tables around Footscray. Of course, not being a doctor he didn't have access to anaesthetics so he used to stuff a rag in the woman's mouth to stop her screaming and disturbing the neighbours.
IIf the providers got into trouble, they couldn't call an ambulance and have the woman admitted to hospital because they would have gone to jail for fifteen years or longer, whether a doctor or not. Women died. We will never know how many as they all had body disposal systems - dump them in Port Phillip Bay, bury them in Sherbrooke forest, arrange with the local undertaker to bury two bodies in one coffin. It was a very dangerous and totally humiliating experience. It didn't stop women from having abortions, but it was very, very bad and a lot of women died. There was a whole ward at the Royal Women's Hospital devoted to women who were there as a result of damage from abortion - they had a thirty bed ward dedicated to it. There was a special room set aside for women who were dying. Septicaemia and gangrene were the major risks in the pre-antibiotic era.
Women's Web 'Abortion' page: 'In 1969 Mr Justice Menhennit had to give direction to the jury who were trying Dr Ken Davidson who was charged with unlawful abortion. Dr Davidson defended himself by saying he had done the abortion but it was necessary to protect the woman's life. Justice Menhennit had to direct the jury what a legal abortion was, because you only went to jail if you had done an illegal abortion. This was the law passed in 1862 in the UK - a previous century and another continent. It was desperately, desperately out of touch. He directed the jury that it was legal to terminate a pregnancy if it was to protect a woman's life or health from dangers other than the normal dangers of pregnancy. The jury acquitted him and that became the de facto law.' Women's Web Women's Stories, Women's Actions Union of Australian Women www.womensweb.com.auHowever, Suzane Fabian, Morag Loh: 'A mid-1971 estimate that 100,000 Australian women would have illegal abortions within a year or so made (Union of Australian Women) aware of the public health dimensions of unwanted pregnancies. They already knew of the social pressures affecting women. Helen Dow recalled: "I was in Collins Street once, and there was a crowd of people, all looking up towards a window. I asked what was going on. I was told that a girl had jumped out. She was pregnant." Left Wing Ladies
Eileen Capocchi: 'We were also very active on the abortion issue and supported the right of women to choose whether to continue a pregnancy. That was a very hard, long, bitter campaign. At one time some of our women (and other women for the UAW) stood up at a Right to Life meeting and stated they had had an abortion. If it had been pursued they could have gone to jail - there were some very brave women there. They were courageous. They just stood up and said 'I have had an abortion. Arrest me!'
They were just absolutely wonderful. I never had that courage, the whole campaign was courageous. The things they - Right to Life - did to the Wainers, and to the other clinics, and the poor women! Right to Life did some dreadful, terrible stuff. ... In our time, it was such a risky thing if you couldn't deal with a pregnancy. I was in the Women's Hospital for three weeks with what they called a 'missed abortion'. The foetus had developed normally to ten weeks and then just stopped developing, but I didn't abort. There wasn't the technology then to confirm that this had happened sao we tried to maintain the pregnancy. For two weeks I was in the abortion ward. Everything that was a miscarriage, whether spontaneous or induced, went there. I was the healthiest person in the ward and it was horrific. It was absolutely horrific. It had a padded cell. You would wake up in the night to find doctors and nurses around a woman who had obviously induced and abortion and was in strife - haemorrhaging and septicaemia and so forth. You would go back to sleep and the next morning when you woke up the woman would be gone - another woman dead.
There was one woman in there who was in a terrible condition. She was young; she had two children and couldn't cope with a third. When she told the doctor how they had no money, couldn't cope and couldn't afford this pregnancy and couldn't cope with another child, her doctor apparently said he would send her to the Women's Hospital where she would get help. He actually sent her there because he knew they would keep her in so she couldn't induce an abortion. There was even a woman in the padded cell - a migrant woman. I don't know what happened there. Being in there (the abortion ward) was the worst experience in my life.' Women's Web Women's Stories, Women's Actions Union of Australian Women www.womensweb.com.au
"We must not let our foremothers down. We must not allow Far Right forces to erode all our gains. We must preserve our democratic right to individual choice. Our reproductive freedom is at stake." Private papers
CONTRACEPTIVES SO WE DON'T ABORT,
FREE SAFE ABORTION SO WE DON'T DIE
6...NOT THE CHURCH, NOT THE STATE
NOT THE CHURCH, NOT THE STATE, WOMEN MUST DECIDE THEIR FATE
Zelda D'Aprano: 'The Women's Action Committee decided it was time to take a more positive action on the abortion question. It was almost a year since we had organised a petition in support of abortion law reform, and we now decided to use the advice of sisters in other lands. We obtained a poster of an obviously pregnant man's body, and superimposed the head of our state premier, Henry Bolte, on the body. We had thousands of these posters printed calling for abortion law reform.
Several of the women who had cars volunteered to drive women around to stick up the posters and, there they were, pasting the posters up all over the city shops and walls. These women had never before carried out such tasks and, although they were made aware of the risks involved, they were not deterred. The people of Melbourne arose to find their city plastered with these posters. By coincidence it happened to be the Premier's birthday and the evening Herald featured the poster in its Black and White column as a birthday greeting to the Premier of the state.' Women's Web Women's Stories, Women's Actions Union of Australian Women www.womensweb.com.au
Zelda D'Aprano :'First public meeting and march by women calling for abortion reform on 20 November in the City Square, Melbourne. Our first demonstration was planned for 20 November 1971. There we were, gathering at the City square and wondering how many women would be brave enough to take to the streets of Melbourne in support of the abortion issue.' State Library of Victoria
Vashti's Voice: 'This Saturday will probably mark the first sizable demonstrations in Australia organising around, and demanding, women's rights - in this case the repeal of all abortion laws. ... In demanding change, we are not a small, isolated group. A survey conducted by the Department of Demography at the ANU showed that, of married women, 84% in metropolitan areas want at least some change in the present legislation, and 82% in country towns. Our demand is not one which attempts to impose a principle on anyone - women who choose not to have an abortion already have that right, women who want an abortion are denied that choice.'
Zelda D'Aprano: 'On November 20th, 1971, 500 women took to the streets (to demonstrate on the abortion issue ...) ' State Library of Victoria
Women's Liberation Co-ordinating Committee:
'DEMONSTRATE TO REPEAL ALL ABORTION LAWS
10am City Square Nov 20
A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
Neither the Church nor the State has the right to determine when, where or how we should bear children. In the interests of human liberation - of wanted, loved, children, and of building a society in which human relationships can flourish on an equal, independent basis, we insist that it is our right to choose.
NO MORE UNWANTED CHILDREN !
AN END TO BACKYARD ABORTIONISTS !
REPEAL ALL ABORTION LAWS !
UNITE WOMEN FOR FREEDOM !'
University of MelbourneVashti: 'RALLY - About 200 women marched through Melbourne on May 11 to demonstrate against the existing abortion laws and in favour of freely available safe contraceptives.
Speakers:
Dr Janet Bacon - need for women to educate themselves and each other, the WAAC campaign in different languages.
Joan Coxsedge - spoke disparagingly of the ALP 'conscience' vote when the Liberal Party members voted on party lines.
Elizabeth Wheelahan, Leslie Vick and Mary Merkenich.' University of MelbournePREGNANCY BY CHOICE NOT CHANCE
Exposing the hypocrisy of the State - WEL Broadsheet: On May 10th, a group of women roped themselves together in the City Square under placards reading "I have broken Section 5" and "I have had an abortion". Police invited to take action said that the women should present themselves at Russell Street Police Station. On June 30th the Women's Abortion Action Campaign did just that. And Russell Street police turned them away ... The true motive of the Right to Life Association is not to prevent abortion, or to punish the crime when it occurs, but to maintain the unequal system by which some individuals become scapegoats for an activity which many undertake.' University of Melbourne archives
July/Aug 1973 ALRA Newsletter: 'We believe that no section of the community has the right to dictate to another section of the community its moral views'.
Children by Choice: "I Have had an abortion" - On Sat 30 June twenty five women and about sixty supporters marched to Russell St Police Headquarters to present statutory declarations saying that they had broken section 65 of the Crimes Act, either by procuring abortions for themselves or by conspiring to help other women procure abortions. They were met on the steps by an imposing group of policemen and women, led by Chief Inspector Holland. CI Francis Holland was manifestly confused when the purpose of the call was explained to him. The first declarations presented included seven from people who were unable to attend. He folded and unfolded these like tram tickets before deciding to admit the women, in pairs, to present themselves at the office. And that was the order given, while the CI tried to figure out what to do next.
After two pairs had been admitted, Jean McLean of 'SOS' refused to be photographed. The younger police on the steps said that citizens had a right to refuse to be photographed, while CI Holland saw this as a good opportunity to rid himself of the 'monstrous regiment'. No photo, no parley! The women were, naturally, aggrieved; how often do twenty five acknowledged law-breakers get sent away from police headquarters with no questions asked? A brief scuffle ensued - much enjoyed by several preschoolers, all wearing large yellow badges with the ALRA symbol and motto:
ABORTION IS A RIGHT; CONTRACEPTION A RESPONSIBILITY
And the marchers went home.' Women Against Rape papers, University of Melbourne archives
Right to Choose Newsletter No 1 1973: 'About 200 people marched in Melbourne on 30th June. A number of statutory declarations were handed to the police by women who had had abortions. But no arrests have been made for this.
9...MELBOURNE WOMEN'S HEALTH COLLECTIVE
Bon Hull: 'When the Medical Practice Clarification Bill (1973) was rejected by 98 male votes to 23, and among those 98 were Labor politicians, who, when allowed a conscience vote, voted with the entire Liberal and Country Parties who voted on party lines, on that day, we knew exactly where we stood. Women knew then that any changes that were made in gaining control over their own bodies, their own fertility, could only be achieved by their own action.
The most urgent contacts to the Women's Liberation Movement in Melbourne were always from desperate women who were unwillingly pregnant. From the first few days this was the reality and so it was not the movement women who determined that sex-education, contraceptive knowledge and free, safe abortion - whether contraceptives failed or not - was to be the strongest stand taken by the Women's Liberation Movement in Melbourne, as all over the world. It was the needs and demands of women everywhere in the community, regardless of status or class, that determined our stand. As our awareness of the situation grew we knew that it was not only our ignorance that was the problem. The ignorance and uncaring attitudes of many people in the medical profession became apparent. As we struggled to increase our own knowledge about ourselves and our bodies, which, in a strange way, seemed separated from us as people, and we questioned the reasons why, we came up against those formidable enemies to woman's emancipation - the church and the state.
We found that within limits we could demand equal pay, equal education, and equal job opportunities, but to demand control of our own fertility was more than the church and the state could tolerate. And so began the struggle for our own health care and education services, our own abortion referral clinics.' Women's Health Collective papers, University of Melbourne archives
Germaine Greer at the National Press Club, Canberra: 'I hope that anyone in this room with enough money, power and influence has the simple guts to establish a clinic for abortion and to wait and see what kind of action they must put up with the wowser dominated government.' ALRA newsletter 15 February 1972, University of Melbourne archives
1973 - Huge abortion demonstration in Melbourne, 30 July.
1974 - Planned Parenthood Clinic started by Women's Action Group of Prahan College of Advanced Education ... They provided advice and general gynaecological, contraception and abortion services.
1975 - Women's Abortion Action Campaign national conference on abortion and contraception held 6 December.' p 30 Taking Time A women's Historical Data Kit compiled and edited by Yvonne Smith, Union of Australian WomenIF MEN HAD BABIES, ABORTION WOULD BE A SACRAMENT
Prof Jo Wainer: 'Bert (Wainer) continued to challenge the abortion laws (he did get to do his test cases) and to force the Victorian Government to hold an inquiry in to the relationship between police corruption and abortion, the Kaye Inquiry. It blue the lid off abortion in Victoria. For the first time ever the media started using the word, and for eighteen months abortion was on the front page pretty well every day. No longer could Melbourne, and Victoria, pretend that this didn't happen. It was very confronting: Melbourne sees itself as such as respectable place, but for the first time ever women told their stories and that, basically, changed the climate. It was pretty hairy for us, we were disturbing a very lucrative industry. People were sent to kill us and we lived a cloak and dagger existence.' Women's Web pub. UAW www.womensweb.com.auVashti: ''If you want an abortion the only people who will help you are the vice squad".
Zelda D'Aprano: 'A great deal of publicity had been featured in the press about the graft and corruption within the Victorian Police force. This corruption was due to the laws of the state which made abortion illegal. However, people were no longer shocked when hearing of such corruption, and the laws remained on the statute books. The word 'abortion' was known and understood by all, but was still a closet term and experience. Here we were on this Saturday morning waiting for and expecting women to march through the city in support of the right of women to obtain abortions.
Five hundred women gathered. We were elated as we took off on this historic event. The bystanders were no doubt shocked by our guts - or lack of shame - but we were encouraged by the few women who were game enough to indicate their support. The Herald that evening published the following sentence in one of their inside pages: ''Dozens of barefoot women took part in an abortion law reform march in the city today." This was the sum total published in the media of this historic event!' Zelda by Zelda D'Aprano Spinifex Press 1995
Private papers11..ABORTION LAW REFORM ASSOCIATION (ALRA)
Prof Jo Wainer: 'When I was still at university, as part of my student activism I went along to the inaugural meeting of the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA). Abortion had come up as an issue in the mid 1960's as part of the student rebellion which had emanated from Britain and Europe. I turned up to the meeting held, I think, in the Uniting Church in the city. There were about 400 people there. I can't recall the detail but I ended up elected secretary. I was young - wet behind the ears at one level but at another level I had years of student activism behind me.
After that ALRA used to meet at my home. ... We were very middle class and a reform group. One of the things we decided to do was to brief the parliamentarians in the Victorian Parliament. Gareth Evans was a member and he drew up a model Act, which we put before the politicians. We put together a series of Fact Sheets called "A for Abortion" and we gave them to each of the politicians to use if the topic should arise and they needed some data. There wasn't much data around at the time, I have to say, but we gave them what there was.' Women's Web pub. UAW http://www.womensweb.com.au
ALRA (Vic) believes in quality of life; laws must protect
- the right of the foetus, if it is to be carried to term, to be born wanted, healthy and adequately cared for.
- the rights of the family to a stable and adequate standard of living.
- the woman's right and responsibility to control her own reproductive destiny.
- the responsibility of the community to preserve the environment and to conserve resources by negative population growth.Abortion Trust Fund established by: Keitha Carter; Bon Hull; Chris Zsizsman; Jan Armstrong Cohn.
Leaflet: 'In 1972 ALRA acquired a PO Box, now we have an address. ALRA finds a home in the benevolent shadow of the Uniting Church of Fitzroy (our landlord), the Brotherhood of St Laurence Family Project, and the Fitzroy Legal Service. We are all in the malevolent glare of the Housing Commission. Initially we will use the premises for pregnancy crisis counselling and as an information centre on abortion. Later we hope to organise self-help sex education by and for women (and men if they want it - they certainly need it).'
Exposing 'Right to Life' -
WEL Broadsheet: 'ALRA led a group of men and women to disrupt a Right to Life meeting at the Church of the Holy Family, Glen Waverly, during the hysteria preceding the Federal abortion debate.' University of Melbourne archives12..VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE REPEAL OF ABORTION LAWS (VARAL)
VARAL is a loose-knit organisation of individual and affiliated organisations which believe the following:
a. Every child should be wanted.
b. The only laws on abortion should be those existing laws which ensure the safety of patients undergoing any medical procedures.
c. Society has no authority to legislate by criminal code to enforce morality on any individual.
d. No woman should be forced to continue an unwanted pregnancy, nor should any doctor or nurse be forced to assist at any operation to which she or he is morally opposed; but a doctor should be legally liable if she or he fails to refer a patient for such an operation, or refuses to prescribe contraceptives.' University of Melbourne archives13..WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ABORTION COALITION (WMAC)
Alva Geike for WMAC: 'Press Release 1973 (or5) - The Women's Movement Abortion Coalition has been formed to fight for the repeal of all existing abortion laws, for freely available safe contraception and for universal sex education. The coalition includes the WLM, WEL and the Abortion Action Repeal Association. We believe that women should have the right to control their own bodies. No person or government has the right to force women to carry and bear children against their will. Even if sex education and free contraception was available there would be cases where abortion was wanted.
- We do not believe in forcing women to have abortions if they do not want them. Neither do we wish to force doctors or nurses into participation in abortion operations if it is against their conscience. In other words, every pregnant woman should have the choice of either having the child or not having the child.
- We also feel that to bring children into the world when they are not wanted is immoral. Institutions are filled with children who are either not available for adoption or whom nobody wants to adopt.
- We bitterly resent the lies, distortions, falsifications and hypocrisy of the expensively mounted propaganda machine of the Right to Life Association which seeks to impose their minority view on all other members of the community. We believe that the quality of life is more important than the preservation of a foetus.
- We call on all those who support these rational beliefs to support the following demonstration: May 4 City Square 6 pm; May 10 City Square 5 pm.Right to Choose - 'There is a woman who lives in a shoe
/ She has so many children she doesn't know what to do
/ She's pregnant again, but what can she do?
/ The law says 'abortion for only a few'.
Sally Mendes papers University of Melbourne archives14..WOMEN'S ABORTION ACTION COALITION (WAAC)
ALRA Newsletter: 'Women's Abortion Action Coalition was set up ... to fight for the repeal of all abortion laws and for freely available, safe contraception. From its inception WAAC has had as its aim the building of a women's campaign which would project through its activities the concept of abortion as a woman's right to choose. We saw the collective power of women as being the most important factor in winning repeal of all abortion laws and in proving to the mass of women that abortion is not a subject of shame and secrecy but a fundamental right. Through demonstrations, public meetings and all kinds of educational material and activities we hoped to build up the consciousness and support of people on this issue. It will be the collective efforts of women which will be decisive in forcing the repeal of the laws and not the good nature of the politicians. We must remove all laws that make women criminals!' Women Against Rape papers University of Melbourne archives
Deb Shnookal, 1974: 'The Melbourne Women's Abortion Action Coalition has an important year before it ... Many in the movement are inclined to regard abortion as a non-issue because abortions are being done all the time. I think they fail to understand the significance of the abortion issue to the women's movement as a whole. Liability to unwanted pregnancy is used to discriminate against women in the workforce and in educational opportunities. The family, the mainstay of our society, is based on the oppression of women through limiting them to the role of baby making machines. With winning control of their biology, women would no longer be sexually repressed and this would involve radical psychological changes for women, as new prospects would be open to them.
The 'Right to Life' understand this very well. That is the reason why they have chosen the abortion issue with which to challenge the whole Women's Liberation Movement.
But the abortion campaign is more important than just winning the repeal of all abortion laws. one of the major obstacles the abortion movement must overcome is the terrible stigma involved in this operation. This, of course, is overtly encouraged by the 'Right to Lifers', the bulk of whom are young unmarried women who can have no conception of the trauma involved in an unwanted pregnancy. To destroy this stigma and guilt it is important to build a loud, determined and MASSIVE movement around this issue ...
Our first activity planned this year is a public meeting on March 21st ... Speakers: Dr Janet Bacon, Delys Sargent, Joan Coxsedge and Bon Hull. Sisterly, ...' Vashti's Voice Issue No.6 March '74 in Barb Friday papers, University of Melbourne
15..1975 WOMEN'S ABORTION ACTION ALLIANCE COMMITTEE (WAAAC)
'Resolutions to be presented at the Queen Victoria Hospital General Meeting on Monday 29 September, under item 5 of the agenda.
1. This meeting supports the policy of the Queen Victoria Hospital to make abortions as safely and freely available as possible under present laws. It further encourages the initiative of the Queen Victoria Hospital in concentrating on women's specific health problems, including the renewed research into prostaglandins. Moved: Ms B Hull; Seconded: Ms Diane Crunden.
2. This meeting endorses the right of each woman to control her reproductive processes by means of freely available and safe contraception and abortion and therefore supports the repeal of all abortion laws.
Moved: Ms Deb Schnookal; Seconded: Ms Mary Merkenich.' Bon Hull papers, University of Melbourne archivesCRAC Monash Jan '81:
- 'She had no right to life, she couldn't afford a specialist.'
- 'You've been found guilty of pregnancy. You're sentenced to life imprisonment in unhappy marriage, or death by coat hanger.'
- 'Right to Life? Right to run everyone else's life!'
- Bishop - 'I, myself, personally, would never have an abortion.'
- Politician - 'We cannot allow funds for abortion. We must protect human life. Now on to important things like my vote for extending nuclear arms.'
- Policeman, Bishop, Politician - 'You will bear our children come hell or high water.'
- Private Abortion Clinic - 'NO WELFARE PATIENTS - scalpel, sponge, suture - '
Otherwise: pocketknife, string, coat hanger.
University of Melbourne archivesVashti's Voice June-July '74: 'About 2,000 people marched through Melbourne's streets on May 11 to demonstrate against the existing abortion laws and in favour of freely available safe contraceptives...
- The Women's Theatre Group staged a parody of a beauty contest to dramatise the hypocrisy at society's attitudes, which expects women to be seductive, yet virtuous, then denies them the right to abortion and adequate free contraception.
- Dr Janet Bacon spoke of the need for women to educate and help themselves and suggested a massive campaign by WAAC in different languages to inform women on anatomy, contraception and abortion methods.
- Joan Coxsedge of the ALP spoke disparagingly of the 'conscience' vote on abortion and said that the ALP must be forced to respond to the demands and needs of Australian women. Elizabeth Wheelahan, speaking of behalf of the Secondary Students Women's Group, pointed out that many students have been expelled from school after becoming pregnant although there is little or no contraceptive information available to them. She called for an end to this double standard.
- Mary Merkenich of WAAC said that women must demand the basic democratic right to control our own bodies before we can realize other demands.The marchers moved off through the streets to the Treasury gardens - spirits were high and the demonstration received a sympathetic response from onlookers, many of whom clapped or joined in. Some marchers carried large banners giving the telephone number of the centre for women who wanted information on how to get an abortion. The demonstration ended with a few short speeches in the gardens - Jenny Pausacker spoke about the work of the Fertility Control Centre in East Melbourne and Deb Schnookal called for women to take part the following day in a silent vigil at the Right to Life demonstration.' Sally Mendes papers, University of Melbourne archives
17..MELBOURNE TOWN HALL SEXUALITY/CONTRACEPTION CONFERENCE - WOMEN'S ROLE
Bon Hull; Janet Bacon; Delys Sargent; Joan Coxsedge: 'We must begin with ourselves, by consciously realising where our oppression comes from and why; by understanding and personally discarding all the ancient myths that surround our bodies, our sexuality and reproductive processes. ... We must learn to love our body instead of hating it, understand how it works and why; use it for our pleasure, too, and not just for the pleasure of men and for reproduction ... to make beautiful children when we want to for the right reasons.
Our bodies belong to ourselves, and by knowing ourselves, by determining what we want and knowing why, discarding what we don't and what is not good for us, will make us strong and whole. If sometimes, for one reason or another, we wish to change the physiological action of that body, it must be our 'Right to Choose', and not the concern of some priest, politician or policeman.' Bon Hull papers Melbourne University archives
18..1975 WOMEN'S ABORTION ACTION CAMPAIGN national conference on abortion and contraception held 6th December, including a demonstration and march from City Square.' Union of Australian Women newsletter Dec 1975
Bon Hull: 'Melbourne Women's Health Collective sees abortion as still an "under the counter" procedure, which it deplores, and we see it remaining that way until each woman can some to regard herself as a unit of strength in this viscously exploitative, sexist society. When we look at abortion, contraceptive, sexuality, as it affects us all ... then, and not until then, the balance of power will change.' University of Melbourne
19..THE REACTION FROM THE 'RIGHT TO LIFE' ASSOCIATION
Transcript of talk organised by WAAC and given on the 6 Dec '75 at Fitzroy - Bon Hull: 'We have been seeing and hearing a lot of those hysterical organisations, the Right to Life and their fancy friends the Festival of Light, and the lines they are trying to sell. Like all commercial advertisers working for the big boss, they over-enlarge, over-colour and over-sell their product in the hope you will be emotionally induced to buy their line of goods. The trouble is we have been the victims of their over-sell for too long. The churches, from which most of them spring, are simply, once again in modern times acting out their old role of the Inquisition as they did for 400 years in Britain, Europe and North America - when in that time they burnt and murdered 6 million witches (wise women?), so history tells us.
... The witch hunts are with us again in the shape of Right to Life, Pro Life etc, stirred up and funded by a desperate male church, but this time, hopefully, we will not be intimidated. Now we are beginning to question the institutions which have threatened us for too long. The hierarchal institutions of religion, of medicine - which is an offshoot of the church, the law - which is also based on religion; education is another, and women are questioning them all. These institutions have good reason to feel threatened, for 52% of the world's population has suffered too long under them all. The message is ringing around the world - Enough! ...'
'Women mean to move, and the first thing they are going to do, so they can achieve all others, is gain control of their own fertility and the free choice to bear children or not. The others will follow after. Into our hands, sisters, we will gather a personal strength and power, never to be imposed on others, but we will show that in sisterhood and struggle we can and will be powerful, with insight and understanding.' Bon Hull papers University of Melbourne
20..A TALE OF TWO DOCTORS, ONE IS 'RIGHT TO LIFE' (sic), ONE IS FEMINIST
First doctor - Right to What Life? - WEL Broadsheet: 'Members will be interested to note ... from the Age, June 21, 1973: A group of Kew residents is campaigning to have three local special schools for handicapped children moved from their area. In a recent circular, signed by a prominent Melbourne doctor, the residents were said to want "to preserve the residential environment in which they live." Dr Frances J Hayden, a gynaecologist, who is also vice-chairman of the Right to Life Association, said in the letter: "All residents of the area are being, or could be, adversely affected in terms of the real estate value and peaceful enjoyment of their homes." University of Melbourne
Second doctor - 'An indefatigable supporter of abortion law repeal' - WEL Broadsheet: 'Obituary - We regret to announce the death of Dr Charlotte Wells (psychiatrist). Dr Wells was not well known, except to those who set up the (Melbourne Women's Health Collective) counselling service, but for them she remains a memorable figure ... taking an academic as well as a personal interest in her patients she estimated that 95% of all single girls who become pregnant consider suicide as one of the alternatives available to them. Further, Dr Wells noticed that the effects of the Right to Life campaign was not to stop women presenting for termination, but to exacerbate their anxiety ... the Right to Life did not deter women, it merely made them distressed. Dr Wells' combination of warmth, intelligence and strength was certainly challenged by the new problems arising from the Right to Life campaign. In the last few years she saw many girls with unwanted pregnancies and was most scrupulous in treating the whole patient, even when ongoing psychiatric treatment was not possible.
We remember her as a charming and witty lady, who recounted with modest amusement how she was fitted with a (contraceptive) ring by Grafenburg himself, and when it failed he was gentlemanly enough to terminate the pregnancy also. We remember her as a brave woman who arrived in Australia as a refugee from Nazism and recommenced her professional career from the beginning when already middle aged and poor. We may remember her as a devoted doctor, who may possibly be replaced with other doctors, but never forgotten.' University of Melbourne
The Right to Choose; Free, Safe Abortion; Free, Safe Contraception; No Forced Sterilization; Control Over Our Bodies.' Bon Hull papers University of Melbourne
This anti-feminist bill would have meant the end of medical benefits for most abortions. The National Civic Council supported it - 1978 LUSHER MOTION -
Stephen Lusher: 'I feel sorrier for the rich. Poorer women have the advantage of having to stop and think'. Melbourne Age March 3.
Newsletter of the National Civic Council Youth Group Victorian Division p 27: 'Support Moves to End Abortion' Stephen Lusher MHR (National Country Party - Hume NSW) has introduced a motion to the Australian Parliament to stop funding for abortion through the Medical Benefits Scheme. He deserves your support. Write to ...' Melbourne University
Response from the Women's Movement -
women's Abortion Action Campaign: 'Sample letter to write to Mr Ralph Hunt, Minister for Health, Parliament House, Canberra - Dear Mr Hunt, The Women's Abortion Action Ccampaign condemns your move to allow private health funds to eliminate refunds for abortion. Women must have the right to choose what they will do with their bodies and their lives, regardless of financial or social status. With the changes to Medibvank, effective in November, coupled with the removal of benefit payments for abortion from some private health funds, the right to safe abortion is placed beyond the reach of most women. We all know that abortion will always be available - for a price.The despair and suffering of women bearing an unwanted child cannot be ignored. Women will be forced to seek out backyard abortions. There are enough horror stories of the butchery to be found in such places, to say nothing of the emotional trauma. Let us hear no more.
Ultimately, safe contraception is the ideal but as yet there is no safe, sure, contraception available. Women must have the right to free and safe abortion on demand: the right to determine the course of their reproductive lives. The consequences of the refusal of this right are horrifying ...' Lesbian News December '78 University of Melbourne
The Bill was defeated by 10 votes.
Other feminist responses -
Rouge: 'Needless to say the National Civic Council (NCC) Women's Action Alliance (WAA) works closely with a number of christian groups in this area, especially "Right to Life." Tactically they have been clever - reversing the emphasis of the campaign from "abortion to murder" to "abortions cost the taxpayer money." The Lusher motion ... was designed along these lines. Internal "youth group" newsletters of the NCC exhorted members to write letters and take action. Women's Action Alliance called for the abolition of the National Women's Advisory Council (NWAC:) after it opposed the Lusher motion :(eg Newsweekly Letters to the Editor July 25 1979). An interesting piece of propaganda was distributed nationally on tertiary campuses. Entitled "Abortion: A Tool of Male Oppression", it was authorised by two male members of the NCC ... It argued that abortion "only attacked the symptoms of male oppression, not the cause" and "babies don't oppress women - men do." This cleverly twisted "feminist" propaganda sought to deny women the right to control our own bodies - a basic women's liberation demand.'Snippets: 'Right-to-Life in Schools' - The Union of Australian Women has sent letters to members of State and Federal Parliament protesting against any plan by the Right-to-Life to show the film 'The Silent Scream' in schools. The letter says, in part:
"While we agree that contentious issues, including abortion, should be discussed in schools in a reasoned and informed manner, we are concerned that 'The Silent Scream' is an offensively hysterical propagandist film based on falsehood and misinformation. It does nothing to further reasoned debate on the subject and has no place in our schools. Accordingly, we urge you to investigate claims that the film is being shown or is planned to be shown in schools and to do all you can to prevent this development."
Individual women are urged to write to their local member or to the Minister for Education (Mr Ian Cathie) opposing any plan to allow this film to be shown in schools.' Women's Social and Political Coalition Newsletter Jan 8
Zelda D'Aprano: 'The Catholic church was becoming concerned at the audacity of women fighting for the right to have abortions and retaliated with the establishment of an organisation called 'The Human Life Research Foundation'. The president of the Victorian branch of this organisation, Dr Billings, was reported in the Herald as saying, "Life is being devalued by pre-marital sex, drug taking, homosexuality, easy divorce and abortion." Although these issues were promulgated, abortion was the only issue they actively took up. The reason for this is obvious. The other issues would have interfered with the pleasures of men.'
Community Research Action Centre Jan '81: 'Who are the anti-abortionists? - It is not a great mystery who the anti-abortionists are. They are the right wing and the Church. Since the early 1970's they have carried out an intensive and co-ordinated international campaign against abortion. In Australia, as elsewhere, their activities have not been without consequence ... The 'Right to Life' has developed into a formidable pressure group, making up for what it lacked in mass support by its ability or organize through the Church and the right wing political groups. It has also been able to draw substantial financial backing from these groups.' Ilke Elkemann papers University of Melbourne
22..CATHOLIC WOMEN ABORTION SURVEY
Sun-Herald March 18 '79: 'Pro-birth Fighters Having Abortions - Overall the survey (carried out by the Catholic Church) showed that Catholic women seek abortions at the same rate as other women, and that most would resort to illegal methods if they could not obtain safer legal abortions.'
Dr Johnson: 'Abortion Rate No Lower for Catholics - They don't request abortion - they demand the service for what to them is such a cogent and pressing need that they're prepared to disobey the church's teaching and usually their own moral convictions.' 'We spoke to no women who took abortion lightly or who was prepared to consider any other alternative. Four Catholic women in every ten seeking abortions practice their faith actively and nearly one in three is married.' Women's Liberation archives, University of Melbourne
23..1979 ABORTION CLINIC FIRE WATCH
Age March 13: 'Wainer Fire Watch - Security has been increased at Dr Bertram Wainer's East Melbourne clinic following a fire early yesterday which destroyed a $20,000 operating theatre. A night watchman has been appointed to try to prevent further damage to the clinic. ... the fire was the third in four days. Dr Wainer said he thought the fires had been lit by someone opposed to abortion.'
24..EXPLODING A POLITICAL MYTH
''A' for Abortion: On Wednesday, March 10 1982, the Right to Life Association nominated Mrs Jean Langworthy as a candidate for the seat of Monbulk in the Victorian state election. They stated that their aim was to unseat the Minister for Health in the Liberal government, Mr Bill Borthwick. He held his seat in the 1979 election by a majority of only 2.2%. On Friday, March 12, Dr Bertram Wainer also nominated for the seat of Monbulk. He stood on a Right to Choose platform and received the unanimous support of the Right to Choose Coalition ... Wainer's objective was to give voters a means of expressing their opposition to the Right to Lifers. There was no intention of supporting either the Liberal candidate ... or the Labor candidate.
Conclusion:
- Wainer out-polled the Right to Life by 4:1
- Right to Life were unable to control more than 64% of their preferences
- The swing to the ALP in Monbulk was the same as that across the state
- The outcome in a marginal electorate was unaffected by the Right to Life campaign
- If there are votes in abortion, they are in favour of a woman's Right to Choose.
Private papers25..THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE COALITION was formed by:
- Women's Abortion Action Committee
- Australian Union of Students (Women's Committee)
- Working Women's Centre
- Melbourne Unitarian Church
- Australian Labor Party Status of Women Committee and
- Women's Right to Abortion Committee.'Right to Choose' was a campaign for the means and right of women to control our fertility and repeal of Section 65 of the Crimes Act. It produced a monthly newsletter entitled Freedom to Choose:
Karina Veal: 'The "Right to Choose" coalition passed the following motion at our initial meeting: "That the meeting supports the principle of abortion as a woman's right to choose, and any attempts to further restrict the availability of abortion for women in Victoria should be opposed. The current Menhennit ruling should be reformed to increase that availability. We support removal of all mention of abortion from the Crimes Act. Yours sincerely, WAAC; UAW; WEL; AUS Women's Dept.; Communist Party of Australia Women's Coalition; Working Women's Centre; Melbourne Unitarian Church.
Ruth Schnookal was convener and mainstay for many years, and to give an idea of the thinking that produced the coalition I reproduce a small section of a paper Ruth presented to the 1981 WEL National Conference:
Ruth Schnookal: 'To Friends of 'Right to Choose' the following letter is self explanatory. "Dear (Mr /s I Miller AO, LVO, QPM, - Chief Commissioner of Police; The Honourable Race Mathews, MLA - Minister for Police and Emergency Services; The Honourable J H Kennan, MLC - Attorney-General)
A member of staff of the Family Planning Association's 'Action Centre' for teenagers was arrested in December 1986 on ten charges of conspiracy to procure unlawful abortions. I ask that this matter be dropped immediately and that the charges be dropped, as there is no evidence to suggest conspiracy nor breach of the law.
The member of staff (a trained nurse and counsellor) was working within the Family Planning Association's guidelines in providing non-judgmental, non-moralistic and professional counselling to teenagers with unplanned pregnancies. In providing this professional counseling service the nurse was following the Menhennit ruling (1969). The final decision for an abortion always lies with the doctor performing the operation. It would appear that the police are using this arrest as a lever to indict a particular doctor on similar charges. The Family Planning Association has never had an affiliation nor arrangement with any doctor or clinic, and no fees are charged for their pregnancy counseling service - therefore the charges of conspiracy are ludicrous. As a concerned citizen I strongly urge you to do all in your power to have these charges dropped, and to ensure that the police be briefed on the interpretation of the laws they are required to enforce. Yours sincerely, ... " Right to Choose newslette,r University of Melbourne
Geraldine Robertson: 'The young women who were police witnesses at this trial presented an extraordinary picture. They seemed to tell the same story of not being advised they had to have the abortion (therefore the lack of instruction was potentially breaking the law), and used the same, artificial language in the same way. My impression was that except one who was older they seemed confused when the Magistrate asked them anything, usually looking to their fathers for help. When the Magistrate presented his "not guilty" verdict the whole courtroom, except Margaret Tighe from the Right to Life Association, spontaneously cheered.' I recall the Magistrate qualified his verdict with an admonishment to the Action Centre to direct the clients more forcibly and clearly.'
Right to Choose leaflet: Private Papers27..REACTION TO 1980 RESTRICTIONS IN QUEENSLAND
Women's Liberation Newsletter: 'Special Meeting on Abortion (8.00 pm Wed 23rd Jan at the Women's Cultural Palace, 74 Moore Street, Fitzroy) to discuss the current situation regarding abortion in Victoria - availability, the law, the 'Right to Life Association', etc - and what we should be doing about it. It is important not to see the current restrictions in Queensland (and NZ) as isolated attacks, but as having real implications for the rest of Australia. To organize opposition we need to fully understand what is happening with abortion in Victoria and re-examine what our response should be.' Karen Bird papers, University of Melbourne
28..CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE 1983
Freedom to Choose No 1 Vol ll February 1984: 'Reviewing 1983, undoubtedly the most important public education exercise for abortion choice in 1983 was the visit of Ms Frances Kissling, Executive Director for Catholics for a Free Choice, Washington DC ... Some pithy points from Catholics for a Free Choice -
- To Margaret Tighe of Right to Life Association (on 3DB) "Why are you anti-choice people so foetus-centred? Why don't you raise your eyes from a woman's stomach and look into her face?"
- At the Melbourne public meeting "The penalty of automatic excommunication in Roman Catholic Law applies only to the commission of two sins against life - assassination of the Pope and abortion. No other are afforded an inviolable right to life. Murder, terrorism, massacres, infanticide - even killing in nuclear war - none of these carry the same penalty."-To a meeting of religious women organised by the YWCA "Powerless people find it easy to identify with the powerlessness of the foetus." "Extreme right-wing leaders perceive this clearly and use it quite ruthlessly to promote what they term 'the family' and 'moral values' when they are in fact (I have to be blunt here, but I believe it) promoting fascism." Women's Liberation Archives, University of Melbourne
Germaine Greer 1970: 'The cage door had been opened but the canary had refused to fly out. The conclusion was that the cage door ought never to have been opened because canaries are made for captivity; the suggestion of an alternative had only confused and saddened them.'
WEL leaflet University of Melbourne29..DISTURBING DEVELOPMENT 1984 From the Autumn 1984 Abortion Rights Coalition Quarterly, edited Jo Wainer:
Abortion Rights Coalition Quarterly: 'In Victoria a most disturbing development. On Monday 2nd April the Fertility Control Clinic was served with a warrant for production of a patient's history so police could investigate whether the abortion came within the Menhennit ruling. If they decided it did not, the next step is a charge of unlawful abortion. And politicians keep asking us why it is necessary to change the law!' University of Melbourne
30..SHOCK IN MELBOURNE July, 1986:
The Age: 'Shock in Melbourne - Abortion Charge - Police have charged a 41-year-old doctor with unlawfully using an instrument to procure a miscarriage after a raid on a city clinic about two weeks ago. The doctor has been released on bail and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on 122 November. In a second raid, about 5 police last Friday visited the Action Centre, a pregnancy counseling service run by the Family Planning Association of Victoria, and obtained documents.' The Age 3/6/86
Undated International Women's Day leaflet:
'Women must have the right to choose!
No forced reproduction, No forced sterilization!
Women are not incubators!
Foetuses are not children, Abortion is not murder!
Outlawing abortion was - and is - a Nazi program!
Break the chains! Unleash the Fury of Women as a Mighty Force for Revolution!A woman who is forced to bear a child against her will is assaulted and degraded in both body and spirit. On the other hand, a woman who can control her own reproduction and decide when and where to have children will be stronger, more independent, and better able to deal with the world at large, outside the confines of her family. She will become better able to lift up her head, better able to dream and visualize the way the world could be. And she will be better able to act to realize these reams. Stronger women make stronger fighters, for themselves, for their children, for all the women, men and children everywhere who have known conditions of oppression.' Sabin Fernhacher papers University of Melbourne
Women's Liberation Newsletter Sep. '89: 'Abortion Rally a Success - On the morning of Saturday 12th August, outside the United Airlines office on Collins Street, a very successful rally was held to sent a clear message to Federal Parliament that women will fight any attempts to erode our right to free, safe, abortion. (Sen.) Harradine's private member's Bill attempts to remove Medicare rebates for abortion, effectively preventing many women access. This privatisation of abortion clearly has radical consequences for poorer and working class women. We must rally in order to avoid a return to the backyard butchery of the past. Septicaemia, P.I.D; the use of coat-hangers and other make-do instruments, not to mention death, are a reality from which we in Australia have moved. Don't let them bring it back. If you don't fight you lose. signed Ange.' Ruth Bermann papers, University of Melbourne
Suzane Fabian, Morag Loh: 'In 1989 (the Right to Choose Coalition) campaigned successfully against attempts by Senator Brian Harradine to withdraw termination of pregnancy payments from the Medicare Schedule.' p142 Left Wing Ladies, Union of Australian Women
33..BISHOPS AND ABORTION LOBBYING Response by Senator Olive Zakharov
Senator Zakharov wrote directly to the Archbishop of Sydney, the Acting President of the Australian Episcopal Conference:
'I share your concern with the human rights of every human being, but do not accept your definition of 'human being'. I value the rights of women to control their own lives and the right of every child to be wanted and properly nurtured above the rights of a small collection of cells which may be a potential human being but is not, in my view, 'a human being'. ... I regard my 'commitment to justice and human rights' as demonstrably as realistic and strong as any supporter of the so-called 'Right to Life' view.'
34..REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE AUSTRALIA
MEDIA ALERT:
Who: A Reproductive Choice Australia event
When: Monday 23 October 2006 - 6pm for 6.15pm start
Where: Former Melbourne City Watchhouse
Russell Street (between La Trobe and Victoria Streets) Melbourne
Why: For many years Victorian governments have shied away from addressing the problems associated with the state's criminalisation of abortion. The event provides a forum for respected community leaders to examine the issues surrounding law reform, and the social, legal and medical costs of not repealing abortion from the Crimes Act.
Cost: $5 donation appreciated
RSVP: Limited seating – RSVP essential - info@reproductivechoiceaustralia.org.auLesley Vick: “Women's reproductive health is inextricably linked to their reproductive rights. A woman’s reproductive health is compromised or adversely affected if she is denied access to reproductive information, services, choice and support.”
Dr Leslie Cannold: “Abortion must be repealed from the Crimes Act. This is because as recent events in WA, NSW and Victoria make clear, doctors and women involved in abortion are still at risk of legal harassment and criminal prosecution. Repeal is also needed because the health aspects of abortion are best regulated like all other medical procedures, while the moral aspects of abortion are best managed by individual women and couples.”
35..AT LAST! PREGNANCY TERMINATIONS OUT OF CRIMINAL LAW IN VICTORIA
At 10.30 pm 10th October 2008, a century after women won the vote in Victoria, women won again. For pregnancy up to 24 weeks gestation women's consciences are finally given due respect. Women now have the right to choose to terminate a pregnancy free from the threat of criminal prosecution. Medical staff can perform terminations free from the threat of criminal prosecution.
Those in Parliament who voted 'aye', that is, for women's consciences over politicians' consciences in the Legislative Council, were:Greg Barber; Candy Broad; Andrea Coote; Kaye Darvenize; David Davis; Phillip Davis; Khalil Eideh; Peter Hall; Colleen Hartland; Gavin Jennings; David Kock; Shaun Leane; Wendy Lovell; Justin Madden; Jenny Mikakos; Martin Pakula; Sue Pennicuik; Jaala Pulford; Johan Scheffer; Brian Tee; Evan Thornley; Gayle Tierney; Matthew Viney.
In the Legislative Assembly the 'ayes' for the third reading were: Jacinta Allen; Daniel Andrews; Louise Asher; Ted Baillieu; Ann Barker; Peter Batchelor; Liz Beattie; Colin Brooks; John Brumby; Carlo Carli; Michael Crutchfield; Lily D'Ambrosio; Joanne Duncan; John Eren; Martin Foley; Danielle Green; Ben Hardmann; Alistair Harkness; Joe Helper; Steve Herbert; Tim Holding; Rob Hudson; Craig Ingram; Lynne Kosky; Craig Langdon; Hong Lim; Tony Lupton; Judy Maddigan; Maxine Morand; David Morris; Janice Munt; Don Nardella; Lisa Neville; Wade Noonan; Karen Overington; Tim Pallas; John Pandazopolous; Jude Perera; Bronwyn Pike; Jeanette Powell; Fiona Richardson; Tony Robinson; Robin Scott; Helen Shardey; Bob Stensholt; Marsha Thompson; Ian Trezize; Mary Wooldridge; Richard Wynne.
Tammy Lobato voted 'no' because she wanted women's right to choose and decriminalisation to be complete and this Bill only covers up to 24 weeks.
This is from the Women's Health in the West WHW News edition 3 2008 -
Marsha Thomsom MP: 'I think we are demeaning women if we believe we cannot leave it to them to make that decision'.
Colleen Hartland MP: 'It is my view that the woman having the abortion should be the one to make the choice, because it is quite obvious she is capable of making such a decision.'
Judy Maddigan MP: 'I would find it ironic if, 100 years later, this still male-dominated house made the decision that this house has the right to tell women in this state what they should do.'Some support from men was -
Martin Paluka: 'I have always believed that the termination of pregnancy is a matter for a woman to decide.'
Don Nardella: 'I believe it should be the woman's right to choose. Women should have control over their own bodies.'
Khalil Eidah: 'A law which gives women a choice about their own bodies when faced with one of the hardest decisions they most probably will ever make is a good law in my view ... I support women's freedom, their choice and their decisions.'All these parliamentarians received abuse and harassment for their position, as did our previous Premier Joan Kirner, Kay Setches and Marilyn Beaumont, the Executive Director of Women's Health Australia, who were in the visitors' section of the House during the debate.
Joan Kirner: 'This has been 35 years of hard work ... and it is very moving to see it finally happening.' The Age October 11 2008
Dr Jo Wainer: 'Today the parliament has taken this huge decision and had this courage ... and they've done it. It's been a huge achievement.' The Australian October 11
Colleen Hartland: 'The first thing I thought of was I am no longer a criminal and other women in Victoria can no longer be branded as criminals because we want to take control over our lives.' The Age October 11 2008
THE ABORTION LAW REFORM BILL 2008 was passed in the Legislative Council.
Cath Mayes: 'Summary of the New Abortion Bill -
- Abortion will be regulated like any other medical procedure up to 24 weeks gestation.
- After 24 weeks, women must gain the approval of two medical practitioners who will take into account all relevant medical circumstances and the woman's current and future physical, psychological and social circumstances.
- Doctors are required to inform women if they have a conscientious objection to abortion and to provide contact details of a doctor or organisation unopposed to abortion.' Women's Health in the West WHW News Edition 3 2008Colleen Hartland: 'In fact if you sit in this chamber and look up you can see what the founders of Parliament thought of women. There are statues of half-naked women representing different virtues and no doubt having an incredibly important meaning. They are decorative, but are they really the way we want women to be viewed not? This is a setting in which we will discuss abortion law reform, but fortunately society has moved on since this place was fitted up and decorated.
IIt is appropriate that our laws should reflect the place of women in modern society - our education, our intelligence, the responsibilities we shoulder each day and the fact that we are obviously equal with men.' Women's Health in the West WHW News Edition 3 2008
Celebrations continue.
IIn the next chapter we look at nuclear issues and our environment in the context of the women's movement.
