About Us and History of the Brisbane Women's Club

• History
• Our Patron
• Our Committee Members
• Pets in Crisis Sponsor

About Us

The Brisbane Women’s Club was founded in 1908 by Margaret Ann Ogg (1865-1953) – an extraordinary woman and ardent feminist. She was instrumental in co-founding the Queensland Women's Electoral League in 1903. She became known as a pioneer of Women's Rights. In 1905 her tireless efforts helped to obtain the Right to Vote for Queensland women, thirteen years before Women's Right to Vote in England. In 1908 she saw the need for a Club for Brisbane women and so the Women's Progressive Club was born. In May 1912 the name had changed to the Brisbane Women's Club but the same values remained.

History

Community involvement

In the early 1900s, under Margaret Ogg’s guidance, members became a driving force to create a better place for women to live and work in this young city. Margaret Ogg was dedicated to increasing women's awareness of public affairs and community involvement.

The Club has had a strong connection with the National Council of Women, the Queensland Women’s Electoral League, the Brisbane Lyceum Club, the Queensland Deaf & Dumb Mission, the Queensland Bush Book Club, the Mission to Seamen, the Country Women’s Association and the Crèche and Kindergarten association. Many Club members have followed in the path of Margaret Ogg with active memberships and voices in various charitable and community organisations.

Some of the BWC's greatest achievements have been lobbying Brisbane City Council and the State Government for the betterment of the Community. The numbering system of bus and tram stops and shelters around Brisbane and being responsible for changes to the law so that a wife and her children cannot be disinherited from an estate.

Continuing on the traditions

Today, the Club continues to provide a venue for support, friendship, mentoring and psychological health together in music bursaries for women at the Conservatorium and supports a number of Brisbane charities on a regular basis.

"In spite of all the things that you have won

You can do one thing more

stand up and wave the younger generation ON"

Margaret Ogg, Patron of Brisbane Women’s Club

Our Patron

Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO the Governor of Queensland

Ms Wensley was appointed the 25th Governor of Queensland in July 2008.

Preceding this, Ms Wensley has been a significant contributor in Australia’s international relations and the development of Australian foreign policy across a diverse range of issues.

Ms Wensley was born in Toowoomba on 8 October, 1946. She was educated at Penrith High School in New South Wales, the Rosa Bassett Grammar School in London and graduated from The University of Queensland in 1967 with First Class Honours in a Bachelor of Arts. Ms Wensley went on to apply for work with the Australian Foreign Service in 1968 where she was the only female chosen in a selection of 19 people. Here she served as an officer for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Trade until 2008. Throughout this period, Ms Wensley represented Australia in a variety of positions overseas.

In 1986, Ms Wensley became the first female Head of Mission and served consecutively as Consul-General in Hong Kong, Ambassador for the Environment, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Bhutan, Ambassador to France, Algeria, Morocco, Monaco and Mauritania. Throughout this time, Ms Wensley achieved every position as the first woman appointed, representing Australia.

For further information on the Office of the Governor, please visit the Government House website.

Committee Members

Pets in Crisis

The Brisbane Women's Club is a proud sponsor and donor of the Pets in Crisis cause.

Please visit and donate to the RSPCA of Queensland and donate to the Pets in Crisis program at the RSPCA website.