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Vice-Chancellor's March update for alumni

Thursday, 11 March 2021

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  • Vice-Chancellor Steve Chapman

    Vice-Chancellor Steve Chapman

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Tomorrow marks a historic centennial anniversary in the history of Western Australia, and the foundation of our University.

On 12 March 1921, Mrs Edith Dircksey Cowan OBE JP, was elected as the Member for West Perth to the Legislative Assembly of WA, becoming the first woman elected to any Australian Parliament. This would be a decisive moment in time for this country, throwing down a firm anchor for women’s rights, and forever changing the landscape of Australian politics.

Edith had a remarkable list of achievements, including helping to gain the vote for women, founding Australia’s National Council for Women and the Children’s Protection Society, her involvement in the building of Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, and her care of returned soldiers during World War One.

The positive impact of Edith Cowan’s achievements is immeasurable. This is why the State’s oldest education institution and newest public university, Edith Cowan University, proudly bears her name. Now, as we look ahead to transformational change in the form of the ECU City Campus, opening in 2025, I often stop to appreciate just how proud she would be to have forged such a path for us.

Her legacy continues with our alumni, students and staff in 2021, as we observe the University’s 30th anniversary. ECU has developed a reputation for delivering 5-star rated teaching quality and student experiences, and world class research. Importantly, we also persistently strive to live up to our namesake’s vision through our endeavours to achieve gender equality and opportunity for all.

Earlier this week we celebrated International Women’s Day, so in this newsletter we look at the incredible contributions of our alumnae: helping to improve Indigenous health outcomes, giving opera singers a voice in WA, and inspiring the next generation of female STEMinists.

With Edith Dircksey Cowan’s resolve at its heart, ECU is committed to paving the way for all genders through education, opportunity, and career progression.

The story of Edith Dircksey Cowan

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