Florence Johnson (feminist)

Florence Ethel Johnson (26 March 1884 – 6 November 1934) was an Australian feminist, unionist and educator.

Florence Johnson
Johnson in 1927
Born
Florence Ethel Johnson

(1884-03-26)26 March 1884
Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died6 November 1934(1934-11-06) (aged 50)
Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Other namesFlorence Ethel Ingram
Occupation(s)Feminist, unionist and educator

Life

Johnson became a pupil-teacher at South Preston State School in 1900.[1] In 1906 she was promoted to head teacher at Arcadia South State School.[2] Following an 18-year career teaching in State schools in Victoria she took up the position of secretary of the women's section of the Victorian State Service Federation in 1919.[3]

She lobbied for better pay for women teachers and women in the Victorian public service, including nurses and secretarial workers.[2][4] Through her efforts, women teacher's salaries were increased from half to four-fifths of those paid to men.[2] When the Teachers Bill of 1918 was passed it ensured that women were not overlooked for promotion due to their sex.[2]

Johnson stood for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of St Kilda in the 1927 State elections, the only woman candidate to contest that year's elections.[5] Representing Independent Labor, she was unsuccessful, but received 20% of the primary vote.[6]

She served as president of the Victorian Women's Teachers' Association, retiring in 1932.[7]

Personal

Johnson married marine engineer Frederick Arthur Ingram in Perth in 1932.[7][8] She died on 6 November 1934 in St Benedict's private hospital, Malvern, Victoria. Her death notice described her as "dearly beloved wife and comrade of Frederick Arthur Ingram ... Undaunted".[9] Her remains were cremated.[9]

References
  1. "The Woman's World". The Herald. No. 17339. Victoria, Australia. 9 December 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Johnson, Florence Ethel (1884–1934)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 26 December 2021
  3. "Champion of Her Sex". The Herald. No. 13, 691. Victoria, Australia. 23 December 1919. p. 9. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "For Young Australia The Lone Hand School of Writers. Prizes for School Children", The Lone Hand, W. McLeod ((1 June 1920)), 1 June 1920, retrieved 26 December 2021
  5. "State Election". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 25, 169. Victoria, Australia. 11 April 1927. p. 17. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Carr, Adam. "Results of Victorian 1927 Election". Psephos. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  7. "Feminist Surprises Her Friends". The Herald. No. 17, 365. Victoria, Australia. 9 January 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Family Notices". The West Australian. Vol. XLVIII, no. 9, 516. Western Australia. 27 December 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 526. Victoria, Australia. 7 November 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.


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