Very soon after the birth of the International Council of Women in Washington in 1888, Australian women members of voluntary organisations became interested in it, and travelled overseas to its meetings. They returned with great enthusiasm to set up Councils in their own States.
Queensland was first so enthused in 1903 by women who had set up Councils in Victoria and New South Wales but it was not until 1905 that a public meeting addressed by Mrs Henry Dobson of Tasmania, set up a formal organisation. Twenty one societies joined; two of whom are still active members. Mrs J.T. Bell was the inaugural President. Very clearly from its inception the Council was a Council, not an organisation, to provide a common platform for work which is of interest to all, but may be beyond the scope and powers of any one organisation.
The scope of the work of the Queensland Council represented the needs of the changing times and its Standing Committee ensured that few community needs were unaddressed. Some of the fields remained on the agenda for many years - peace and improved lifestyles for women and families, employment equality for women and particularly married women, women on juries, shopping hours, women police officers and so on. Other concerns disappeared as satisfactory outcomes resulted.
As community needs became apparent, the Council with its Conveners were involved in setting up organisations to cope with special needs and then to stand by and see these new organisations become self supporting and valued affiliates of the Council and always sure that the Council would remain sympathetic to their interest. Organisation whose beginnings owed much to NCWQ were the Bush Nursing Association, the Family Planning Association, Children's Film and Television Council, the first Women's College at the University of Qld. Meals on Wheels, etc. Many of these organisation are still fulfilling a useful role in the community and our involvement with them has contributed to the status of the Council, particularly with Government.