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SA still at forefront with women as elected representatives

Susan Grace Benny was Australia's first woman politician, becoming a member of South Australia's Brighton Council late in 1919 &endash; only weeks after Nancy Astor's celebrated election to the British Parliament.

Grace, as she was known, was born in Adelaide in 1872 and grew up on Yorke Peninsula.

She attended a boarding school in McLaren Vale after her mother died in 1881, returning to the family sheep station to teach her younger sisters.

She married Benjamin Benny, a solicitor in 1896 and moved to Seacliff where they had three daughters and two sons.

Benjamin served as Mayor of Brighton from 1903-05. Grace was active in community life during WW1.

She was involved with the Seacliff Cheer-up Society, a local spinning club, progress association and croquet club.

In 1916 she became South Australia's third woman Justice of the Peace.

In 1918 she became President of the women's branch of the SA Liberal Union. She was reported to have played a key role in the passage of legislation securing equality for women in divorce law in 1918.

In 1919 Grace was appointed to represent the newly created South Ward on the Brighton Council on petition of ratepayers. She served through two elections.

"She entered the Council from a sense of public duty, believing that there is work to be done in Municipal life which will not even be commenced unless a woman undertakes it" (The Adelaide Observer, 20 December 1919).

In November 1922 she stood for the position of Mayor but was defeated.

An unsung hero of the women's movement Grace was reported to have been small and fine boned &endash; a cheerful, energetic and courageous woman.

She took Local Government to the forefront in the representation of women in elected office &endash; currently, in June, 2000, a position retained by Local Government in South Australia with 27.3 percent of Council positions held by women.

Her husband served as an Australian Senator from 1919 to 1926 when he resigned due to ill health.

Grace died in 1944 and is buried at Scots Cemetery, Morphett Vale.

*Chris Russell is Director Policy & Public Affairs with the Local Government Association of South Australia

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