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Ruth Edith Don (1902–2003)

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Ruth Edith Don (1902-2003) teacher and trade union leader 

Birth: 28 December 1902 at Laidley, Queensland, daughter of Queensland-born Alexander McDonald William Don (1867-1962), president of Queensland Teachers’ Union 1925, and Elizabeth Agnes, née Rees (1871-1962), who was born in Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales. Never married. Death: 9 July 2003 in Queensland. 

  • Educated at Queensland state primary schools, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and Charters Towers High School. Graduated BA at University of Queensland in 1925.
  • First taught school at Gympie in 1926. Had a distinguished career in Queensland Education Department: 1954 became first female senior mistress of a Queensland High School; 1955 appointed principal of the Domestic Science High School, Brisbane, and of Brisbane’s Office Training College.
  • In 1941 was founding president of the Forum Club, in Brisbane, which sought to encourage women to speak in public and run meetings.
  • In 1947 was instrumental in establishing equal pay as Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) policy and helped draw up arguments for submission to Industrial Court in 1948 (unsuccessful).
  • 1948 was delegate to Australian Teachers’ Federation annual conference. Elected to union executive 1947, vice-president 1949. From 1951 to 1953 was the first woman to be president of the QTU.
  • 1954 North Queensland Council Representative and appointed to executive of union, remaining until 1957 while continuing to represent North Queensland until 1962.
  • Retired in 1968. Appointed life member of QTU in 1973.
  • In June 1992 was awarded OAM for service to Association of women’s Forum Clubs.

Sources
Photo and profile, Education, vol 33, no. 03, 29 February 1952, p 11; Queensland Teachers' Journal, July 1973; Andrew Spaull and Martin Sullivan, A history of the Queensland Teachers Union (Sydney, 1989).

Additional Resources

  • profile, Education (NSW Public Schools Teachers Federation), 29 February 1952, p 11
  • photo, Courier-Mail, 10 August 1945, p 4
  • short profile, Australian Women's Weekly, 3 March 1951, p 47

Citation details

'Don, Ruth Edith (1902–2003)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/don-ruth-edith-33403/text41745, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Ruth Don, 1951

Ruth Don, 1951

Australian Women's Weekly, 3 March 1951, p 47

Life Summary [details]

Birth

28 December, 1902
Laidley, Queensland, Australia

Death

8 July, 2003 (aged 100)
Queensland, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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