NCWQ Greeting Cards

Elizabeth Kenny
(1880 - 1952)
Bush nurse and pioneering physical therapist.

Elizabeth Kenny was born of Irish stock at Warianda in northern New South Wales in 1880. Her family moved over the border to the Darling Downs while she was young. Elizabeth's first encounter with things of a medical nature was entirely personal: she fell and broke her wrist. The treating doctor, Aeneas McDonnell, took her into his home while her bones mended. She whiled away the time reading books on muscle structure and anatomy, and was fascinated. Elizabeth was a Queensland bush nurse and pioneering physical therapist. She saved thousands of children worldwide from the crippling effects of polio. In treating polio patients, Elizabeth used an innovative approach involving hydrotherapy and remedial exercises. In 1937, as a polio epidemic was ravaging Australia, Elizabeth published a textbook outlining her techniques. In 1940, she travelled to the United States and established a training school for physical therapists. Elizabeth's contributions are especially significant as she managed to achieve them in a male-dominated field.

Zina Cumbrae-Stewart
(1868 - 1956)
Powerful Woman

Zina Cumbrae-Stewart was born 30/8/1868 and died 30/7/1956. Zina was President of NCWQ 1925-1931. As well as holding office at one time or another in some 16 other organisations, Zina was also President and Executive Member of Queensland Red Cross for 22 years, President of the Mothers Union of the Anglican Church for nine years and a Justice of the Peace. A tireless advocate for the wellbeing of women and children, Zina was a woman ahead of her time, identifying the need to address the special health and social needs of women, especially medical insurance, social security, contraception and equality in the workforce. As a high profile community figure, well informed public speaker and activist of her time, Zina richly contributed to the betterment of Queensland.

Ruth Fairfax
(1880 - 1948)
Founder, Queensland Country Women's Association

Ruth Fairfax was the founding president of the Queensland Country Women's Association, leading the fledging organisation through its first nine years from 1922. Born in 1880 at Lue, north-east of Orange in New South Wales, and raised on the land, she married Hubert Fairfax in 1899 and moved to the Longreach district where they lived for nearly 10 years, before moving to 'Marinya' and Cambooya on the Darling Downs. In 1912 the family travelled to England, but returned when war broke out in Europe. Ruth wanted to do her bit for 'the boys' at the front. Australian Comfort Fund branches were springing up across the country. The unpaid army of volunteers became such a force, raising funds to send soldiers at the front luxuries such as tobacco, cakes, biscuits, newspapers and sugar, that they rivalled the Red Cross.

Irene Longman
(1877 - 1964)
Queensland's first woman parliamentarian

Irene Longman, at 52, became the first woman elected to parliament in Queensland. She stood as the conservative candidate for the safe labor seat of Bulimba. With a swing of 10.41%required, it was thought to be unwinnable. Yet Irene secured 5761 votes, 400 more than sitting member, Albert Wright. Irene also had organisational experience. She had cut her teeth working for women's groups, as a member of the Queensland Women's Electoral League (QWEL), and as President of the National Council of Women of Queensland from 1921 to 1925. QWEL had lobbied the conservative Country Progressive Party for Irene's candidacy and the people of Bulimba gave her a resounding vote of approval.