We mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Edna Ryan, feminist, political activist and writer. Born in Sydney on 15 December 1904 and passed away in Canberra on 10 February 1997, Edna was one of Australia's most influential feminists.
From her youth onwards, Edna committed her life to political activism. She joined the Communist Party of Australia in 1926 and was expelled from the Party in 1931. Edna joined the Australian Labor Party in 1935 and remained actively involved for the next forty years, holding many voluntary positions and spending nine years as an elected representative at the local level.
After her return to the paid workforce in 1956, Edna became an active proponent of equal pay for women, beginning with a challenge to the gendered work classifications of female clerk typist and male clerk and achieving equal pay for herself in 1964.
This wide and varied political background was enormously useful to Edna when she retired from paid work in 1972 to become an active member of the Women's Electoral Lobby. Edna prepared and presented WEL's submission to the minimum wage case at the Industrial Relations Commission in 1974. WEL argued that women workers should be awarded the same minimum rate of pay as men. This case was won through Edna's skill and courage. Edna always considered this as the most important moment of her life because it had been achieved by a women's organisation and through women's own efforts.
Edna wrote two books about women workers. She devoted her life to improving the lives of women in Australia. She was guided by the belief that women can only make changes by their own activism. At first she devoted her energies to the transformation of existing organisations. Later she used the platform of WEL to pursue her objectives of industrial justice for women. WEL provided support for the publication of Edna's research.
Edna inspired and trained many women to become feminist activists and encouraged others to enter politics. She was a wise counsellor and advisor, shrewd political strategist and a constant source of inspiration, vision and strength to the contemporary feminist movement. She breathed life and humour into many difficult situations and never gave up hope in the possibility of a better future.
Our thoughts are with Edna's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as they learn to live with their loss. They will be comforted by the deep feelings of esteem and love that all feminists and WEL members especially have for Edna. The memory of her achievements on behalf of women form part of our history and the celebration of her life is a celebration of feminism.
From Inkwel 1997/1
See also Christina on Edna from Inkwel 1997/1
WEL's Vale Edna Ryan page links to further articles
Page created 09 June 1997; last updated 23 August 1999