Petronel White

Mary Hyacinthe Petronel White OBE (4 October 1900 – 1 June 1984) was a women's rights campaigner, the first woman elected to the Brisbane City Council and first woman alderman in a capital city of Australia.

Petronel White in 1954

Early life

Born in Townsville, Queensland on 4 October 1900, White was the eldest child of architect Thomas Clive Groom (d. 1953)^[1] and Mary Jane Groom (née Brown).^[2] She had three younger brothers, Pierre Louis (b.1902), Clive Roland (b.1903) and Hugh Foster (b.1906).^[3]

Career

White was the first woman elected to Brisbane City Council in April 1949 representing the Hamilton Ward for the Citizens' Municipal Organisation.^[4] Her candidature received support from the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane, John Beals Chandler, a fellow CMO member.^[5] When elected, she was also the first woman alderman in a capital city of Australia.^[4] A year into her first term she called for more women to become involved in aldermanic work, saying: "For women's influence on the council to be effective, more than one woman is needed".^[6]

In 1950 she campaigned to raise £20,000 for a swimming pool to be built in Hamilton Ward.^[4]

When the Sunday Mail launched the Watch-the-Pennies League under the leadership of Lady Cilento, Jean Cooper, and Betty Paterson, White gave the first demonstration of a money-saving device, an attachment for machine darning.^[7]

In 1952 White raised the concerns of women faced with financial hardship  on the death of the family breadwinner while probate was determined and ownership of household furniture called into question.^[8]

White was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours for her service to the community and local government.^[9][10]

References

1. "Family Notices". The Courier-mail. No. 5034. Queensland, Australia. 16 January 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
2. Hacker, Diane, "White, Mary Hyacinthe Petronel (1900–1984)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 29 May 2021
3. "Record details of Mary Hyacinth Petronel Groom". www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
4. "Wanted, £20,000 for pool". Sunday Mail. No. 1567. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Advertising". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 30 March 1949. p. 13. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Day By Day". The Courier-mail. No. 4228. Queensland, Australia. 15 June 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Report on Debate No. 1". Sunday Mail. No. 1584. Queensland, Australia. 4 February 1951. p. 10. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Reader Says: Women need protecting after husbands die". The Courier-mail. No. 4966. Queensland, Australia. 28 October 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Mrs Mary Hyacinth Petronel White". It's An Honour. Retrieved 1 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. "The Commonwealth and State Lists in Full". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 711. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 June 1967. p. 10. Retrieved 1 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.