People Australia

Roseann Bridget Fuhrmann, née Johnson, also known as Bridget Roseanna (1883-1976) community activist

Birth: 1883 at Jarrahdale, Western Australia, daughter of William Johnson (1832-1893), baker, born at Deansgate, Manchester, England, and Martha Jane, née Hatchford (1855-1933), born in Limerick, Ireland. Marriage: 25 July 1898 at Perth, WA, to Franklyn Washington (Frank) Fuhrmann (1868-1945), horse driver, later ironworker. They had four daughters and three sons. Death: 30 October 1976 at Subiaco, Perth. Religion: Anglican. 

• Anti-conscriptionist and active for many years with Labor Women's Organisation, Western Australia.
• During the Great Depression was secretary of the Unemployed Women & Girls Committee, finding work for 5000 females in WA.
• Secretary of Women's Economic Council advocating for the use of local products to boost local employment. Served on Children's Protection Society for much of her life.
• Founder and honorary secretary of Parents & Childrens Association WA, 1921-1954.
• First woman councillor, Subiaco City Council, holding post for 18 years, 1945-1963.
• 1957 attended 25th Labor Women's Annual Conference.
• 1969 voted outstanding woman of year for life time of service to the community. 1970 made life member of the Australian Labor Party.
• Appointed MBE on 1 January 1975 in recognition of service to the community..
• Cause of death: paralytic ileus colon and mesenteric thrombosis; contributory cause congestive cardiac failure (years).

Sources
Battye Library Biographical Index; Western Sun, August 1970; Perth Labor Women's Organisation.