Ada Norris
Dame Ada May Norris, DBE, CMG (née Bickford; 28 July 1901–10 July 1989) was an Australian women's rights activist and community worker. She founded the UNAA National Status of Women Network in 1974 and served as President of Australia's National Council of Women. In 1975 Norris headed the Australian International Women's Year Committee.
Education
[edit]Ada May Bickford was educated at Melbourne High School and the University of Melbourne, where she graduated in 1924 (BA Dip. Ed.).[1]
Marriage
[edit]In 1929, she married John Gerald Norris (1903-1990), a future Victoria Supreme Court jurist, later styled as Sir John Norris; they had two daughters, Rosemary (born 1933) and Jane (born 1938).[2]
Rosemary would later be known as the Hon. Rosemary Balmford, a barrister, lawyer, law lecturer and judge. Jane completed architecture at the University of Melbourne, worked extensively in Theatre and film production design in the UK and became head of Design at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS; 1988-1994).
Honours
[edit]- Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953
- Ada Norris was appointed OBE on 10 June 1954
- Appointed DBE on 12 June 1976 "for distinguished community service".
- Appointed a CMG (in her capacity as President of Australia's National Council of Women)[3]
- Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
- Awarded the UN Peace Medal 1975
References
[edit]- ^ Fitzherbert, Margaret. "Norris, Dame Ada May (1901–1989)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ Sir John Gerald Norris biography, adb.anu.edu.au; accessed March 25, 2016.
- ^ Biodata from Women of Australia website
External links
[edit]- Monash University archives
- Victoria, Australia government archives site
- Norris, Ada May at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia
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