Editorial

The ACU National Women’s History, Theology and Spirituality Research Project (WHTS) is now in its second year of operation. The Central Project Team (CPT), Drs Sophie McGrath, Rosa MacGinley and Kim Power, have been working hard to prepare the way for the establishment of the projected Centre and have appreciated the support and encouragement which they have received both from within the University and beyond.

Each member of the CPT produces a monthly report and together these form the basis of the Team’s monthly teleconference. Each semester the CPT Coordinator sends a written report to Professor Coll, Pro-Vice Chancellor – Research and International .

From the CPT Semester Reports it is seen that among the chief activities of the Team for 2001 were: contributing to the scholarly ACU community through attending and presenting papers at the interdisciplinary or theological seminars organised on their respective campuses; attending and presenting papers at relevant conferences; enlisting the cooperation of scholars from other tertiary institutes in their first major research project – ‘The Catholic Community and woman suffrage in Australia’; publishing in refereed journals; serving the wider community, especially the Church, through responding to consultancy requests and giving popular lectures; assessing theses from other institutions; producing newsletters – to date three, an introductory one in November 2000 and two in April and November 2001; through the Newsletters keeping in contact with a growing number of official Friends of the Project within the wider community and the ACU community; organising colloquia for June 2002 bringing together scholars from ACU National. Macquarie, New South Wales, and Sydney Universities.

The CPT welcomed their first M.Phil. student in Brisbane in 2001. This year two Ph.D. candidates are commencing in Melbourne and a postdoctoral researcher in Sydney. There is a great deal of work to be done in the field of women’s history, theology and spirituality. We do encourage those people with the aptitude for research to discuss with a member of the CPT the possibility of their contributing in this field of study. Such work is vital to the revision of mainstream history, theology and spirituality, which are drawn upon daily by such influential people in our society as journalists, social commentators, dramatists and writers working in radio, film and television, as well as politicians and Church authorities.

ANZAMEMS Conference – Perth 5-8th July, 2001

ANZAMEMS (Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies) most recent conference was held at St George’s College at the University of Western Australia. The conference, which is convened biennially, aims to encourage inter-disciplinary discussion on research, issues and ideas which centre on the medieval and early modern period.

This aim was admirably met in the wide-ranging papers which were presented and in the rich ‘mix’ of delegates who came from all disciplines and from all points of the globe. In all, about 140 individual papers were presented, covering topics as diverse as the nun’s role in medieval secular society, the rhetoric and theology of Peter Abelard, witchcraft and wizardry, prostitution and harlotry, the politics of dreams in Tudor England and the gendered allocation of space in Early Iceland.

Keynote speakers were Associate Professor Beckworth from the English Department of Duke University, Professor Lyndal Roper from the History Department of the University of London, Professor Matilda Bruckner, Department of Romance Languages and Literature, Boston College and Professor Bob White, Department of English, University of Western Australia. Beckworth’s plenary address offered a new (and somewhat controversial) reading of the medieval Corpus Christi theatre as sacramental. Roper’s lively address also challenged entrenched, stereotypical views of witches in general and of the function of the early modern texts from which we currently draw our ideas about witchcraft in particular.

In part, Roper suggested that early modern audiences might have regarded such texts not as authoritative pronouncements designed to warn against the dangers of witchcraft and evil but as sources of entertainment, in much the same way as current movie audiences regard ghost stories and movies of the horror genre. A lively question and discussion time ensued. Animated discussion was also elicited by the panel discussion on ‘Medieval female mystical discourse: unitary phenomenon or a plurality of responses’, in which I participated with Francesca Bussey and Keiko Nowacka from Sydney University under the diligent chairing of Dr John Ward from Sydney University.

Further, and less formal, opportunities for stimulating discussion were provided by the associated events which the Conference offered. These included a major exhibition of early modern art works, maps and scientific instruments, a display of the Reid Library’s original and facsimile manuscripts, a concert of medieval music by the Melbourne group ACORD, a drinks reception at the Robert Muir Old and Rare Books bookshop and a day trip to the Benedictine monastery at New Norcia.

C. Bendon Davis

People, Earth, Spirit: Healing broken connections – ACU National 30th November 2002

This reflection day was presented by the ACU National Victorian Schools of Education and Theology. This one day conference was an exemplary example of ACU National’s philosophy. Not only did it bring people from diverse communities together, it also brought together what are popularly known as ‘the head and heart stuff’ with grace, sensitivity and warmth.

Participants were welcomed onto Wurundjeri Country by Joy Murphy Wandin, a Wurundjeri Elder, and then by ACU Professor Muredach Dynan, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Quality and Outreach) McAuley Campus, Brisbane.

Joy Murphy Wandin presented the first paper which was on ‘Renewing our culture and spirit’. Ms Wandin’s presentation did not dwell on her people’s experience of the stolen generation but at all times her paper was informed by it. Rather her emphasis was on our connections to our people and how they help define us - on indigenous connections to the land, and the reciprocity inherent in traditional culture. She distinguished between spirit and soul, suggesting that Australia has Spirit but has lost its soul, because her people have lost touch with the land. It is this Spirit who enables the healing of broken connections with both people and land, reinserting the marginalised, such as indigenous ex-prisoners, back into their communities.

The second speaker, Rev. Dr Frank Fletcher, reviewed Australia’s colonial history, and the cultural values which flow from that, in a paper entitled ‘Healing

broken relationships through reclaiming spiritual values.’ His presentation was structured around the philosopher Kierkegaard’s assertion that ‘the crowd is untruth’, as a way of challenging his audience to adopt a critical stance towards socio-cultural assumptions, which Australians tend to take for granted. There were three important subsections to this paper: treatment of the Aboriginal Peoples by colonisers; psyche and the land; and mysticism.

The final paper was presented by Wendy Chew, a disciple of Thomas Berry, one of the first eco-theologians. Wendy Chew is a vivacious speaker, passionate about her topic: ‘Re-imagining Australia: perspectives for education – or, hanging out with the planet.’ Chew’s paper emphasised the delicate checks and balances of the universe, which keep it in existence and in which she and Berry perceive the creative hand of God. To restore our souls we need to rewrite our cosmologies so that they are not detached from creation. We need to remember that the Judeo-Chrsitian story begins with the story of creation and its goodness and that we are called to be its carers, rather than its exploiters.

K.Power

Celebrating 100 Years
of Womanhood Suffrage!

South Australian women were given the vote in 1894 followed by Western Australia women in 1899. This situation facilitated the passing of the Commonwealth Franchise Bill on 12 June 1902, giving all adult British subjects in Australia the right to vote. The Enfranchisement of Women Bill was passed in NSW on 14 August 1902. The enfranchisement of women in the other States followed: Tasmania 1903; Queensland 1904; Victoria 1908.

Deputation waited on the premier

From The Catholic Press, especially around the period 1901 – 2, it is clear that at least some of the Catholic population were vitally interested in the woman suffrage campaign. The Catholic Press of August 10, 1901 carried an article entitled ‘ Cry of the Women’. It began: ‘A deputation re womanhood suffrage from the combined branches of Newtown, Annandale, Toxteth, Erskinville and Darlinghurst, waited on the Premier on Saturday to bring under his notice the necessity of introducing a Woman’s Suffrage Bill as early as possible. It was the largest deputation that has waited on the Premier or any other Premier, as it numbered upwards of 100.’

The reporter elaborated with gusto: ‘The attendance was a representative one consisting of every phase of womanhood from 18 to over 60 years of age. Mrs Henry Lloyd and Miss A. Golding (as president and secretary), represented Annandale; Mrs Neil Hansen and Miss Belle Golding Newtown; Mrs M’Donald and Miss M’Donald Glebe; Miss Reilly and Mrs M.Dwyer, Camperdown; Mrs Betts and Mrs Parkes, Toxteth; Mrs Adrian and Mrs Chapman, Redfern; Mrs Hamilton and Mr Higgins, Erskinville ….’ The reporter was determined to mention as many names as possible and added: ‘Among others present were: Mesdames Smail, W. Bardalev, Miss Gordon, Mesdames Goodall, S.P. Bray (Goulburn); Mrs Gaines Clark (Mayoress of Erskinville), Mrs Foley (Drummoyne), Frank Osborne, the Misses Hughes …’ A number of other women were mentioned and a few more men including ‘Andrew Stewart, representing Peak Hill’ as well as some politicians, who had apparently aligned themselves with the cause.

Mr Robert Hollis M.P. presented the deputation to the Premier. It was reported that Miss A. Golding pointed out that the deputation had been organised ‘to show the public and the Upper House that the demand for the suffrage was not confined to the city but an extensive suburban and country movement also.’

Reception by Premier See

Premier, Sir John See, told the deputees that ‘he was overwhelmed with the magnitude of the deputation. When his messenger told him half the city had called to see him he felt nervous but when he saw the smiling, cheerful faces he was fortified by the agreeableness of his task. He stated that “he realised the significance and importance of the question.” Among other things he commented that “he was sorry that one or two of the Legislative Council were not present that day to see its representative strength, and to note the intelligence of the ladies.”’

Critical response

Even-handedly The Catholic Press on 24 August 1901 published a critical response to the article on the deputation. It was written by J. Luite who was incensed by the women’s audacity: ‘I see by last week’s Press that the Woman Suffrage League nearly overwhelmed our State Premier … What is the woman of to-day coming to? In this deputation there are names of English, Irish and Scotch grand-daughters of the British Isles. Oh! Shades of our departed mothers, where are you? Our mothers 100 years ago looked after their husbands, their sons and daughters, and taught them all the necessaries of life from the needle to the spinning wheel; look at the mothers of to-day! They are kicking footballs (sic), playing cricket, at the races, lawn tennis, and worst of all on the bicycle … Now we are told that the members of the deputation were aged 18 to 60. Well the girl of 18 is only after leaving school and knows nothing of politics … And the woman of 60 ought to be saying her prayers, as she stands with one foot in the grave, for the young may die, but the old have to die.’

J. Luite predicted: ‘Men will become drunkards, women will become degraded, homes neglected, and thus will be the outcome of the womanhood suffrage. If they looked after the needy and the afflicted it would be more their line, and an act of charity.’

Rebuttal

The Catholic Press duly gave space to a rebuttal of Luite’s dismal picture written by one who called herself ‘Lulu’. After taking Luite to task point by point she requested: ‘Now give woman an opportunity for:

There’s not a place in earth or heaven
There’s not a task to mankind given,
There’s not a blessing or a woe;
There is not a whisper, yes or no;
That has a featherweight of worth,
Without a woman in it .

Lulu added, ‘Except in the Parliament of the country. No wonder it is a one-sided farce.’ She finally quoted a utopian idealistic poem by Mrs Harrison Lee which ended:

Together the man and the woman
ruled wisely and well the world,
And the banner of peace and progress
never again was furled.

The debate over the woman suffrage question in the NSW Catholic community was indeed exceedingly lively and by no means simple!

S. McGrath