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Florence Johnson (feminist)

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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

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

Life

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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

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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

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  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. ^ a b c d "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 ((1 June 1920)), W. McLeod, 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 526. Victoria, Australia. 7 November 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.