Catherine Helen Spence
Catherine Helen Spence
Catherine Helen Spencewas a Scottish-born Australian author, teacher, journalist, politician, leading suffragist, and Georgist. In 1897 she became Australia's first female political candidate after standingfor the Federal Convention held in Adelaide. Called the "Greatest Australian Woman" by Miles Franklin and given the nomenclature of "Grand Old Woman of Australia' on her eightieth birthday, Spence was commemorated on the Australian five-dollar note issued for the Centenary of Federation of Australia...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionAuthor
Date of Birth31 October 1825
CountryAustralia
There is nothing so costly to the state as a ruined life
Probably my mother's life was prolonged beyond that of a long-lived family by her coming to Australia in middle life; and if I ever had any tendency to consumption, the climate must have helped me.
As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but eager to develop a perfect society in the land of our adoption.
After the break up of the municipality and the loss of his income my father lost health and spirits.
Drinking habits were very prevalent among men, and were not in any way disgraceful, unless excessive.
I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.
My return to London introduced me to a wider range of society.
Nothing is insignificant in the history of a young community, and - above all - nothing seems impossible.
Our South Australian farmers left their holdings in the hands of their wives and children too young to take with them, but almost all of them returned to grow grain and produce to send to Victoria.
My brothers went to the parish school, one of the best in the county.
The first issue of The Register was printed in London, and gave a glowing account of the province that was to be - its climate, its resources, the sound principles on which it was founded.
I had learned what wealth was, and a great deal about production and exchange for myself in the early history of South Australia - of the value of machinery, of roads and bridges, and of ports for transport and export.
I count myself well educated, for the admirable woman at the head of the school which I attended from the age of four and a half till I was thirteen and a half, was a born teacher in advance of her own times.
The Town Clerkship, however, was the means of giving me a lesson in electoral methods.