People Australia

Irene Muriel Gale, née Taylor (1933-?) teacher, clothing machinist and peace activist.

Birth: 28 January 1933 at Melbourne, Victoria, daughter of Stanley Gordon Robert Taylor (1887-1946), labourer, born at Echuca, Victoria, and Edith Gertrude, née Tilley (1894-1981), born at Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, activist. Marriage: 31 August 1951 in Auckland, New Zealand, to James Arthur (Jim) Gale (1827-1985), a teacher and lecturer, born in New Zealand. Death: ?

• Her grandfather and Keir Hardy in the United Kingdom set up the Independent Labour Party, which became the Socialist Party.
• Irene was educated at East Kew Central School, Swinburne Girls Technical School, Victoria, and Auckland Teachers’ College, and Salisbury Teachers’ College, South Australia. She took her first political action at the age of six when she performed a concert for her neighbours and charged an admittance fee with the money going to the Spanish Civil War.
• Aged 15 she went door to door by herself to get signatures for Ban the Bomb. In World War II factories set up childcare centres for women workers and she looked after the children after school.
• Was a member of the Communist Party 1951-1953 in New Zealand and in 1953-1956 in Melbourne. In the 1950s she attended Union of Australian Women meetings in Melbourne with her mother. Campaigned with her mother in aprons and with signs on prams – it was illegal to march with banners. She continued this method of protest for many years. Joined the Union of Women in NZ and Union of Australian Women (UAW) later in Adelaide.
• Lived in Melbourne 1953-1956. Aged 18 went to New Zealand, became a qualified folk dance teacher, taught at country schools with her husband. In 1965 moved to Auckland; in 1958/9 they lived in Vienna – her husband was the Australian representative at the International Institute of Peace and Friendship.
• Returned to New Zealand and became active in the Maori Rights movement. In the town of Kaikolne she set up a family advice and guidance centre, and provided Maoris with advice on money management. Her husband was the inaugural president of the anti-apartheid movement in NZ, president Race Relations Council in 1972. Active in anti-Vietnam protest movement.
• Moved to Adelaide in February 1971, continued activism in anti-apartheid movement in 1971 Springbok tour, campaigned against race exploitation, became national convenor of Campaign Against Racial Exploitation.
• Teacher for many years, involved in education reform. Active in women’s movement, attending meetings of Women’s Electoral Lobby and Women’s Liberation. Active in UAW and their campaigns. Active on Peace Committee from 1985.
• After her husband’s death she set up the Jim Gale Memorial African Scholarship Trust Fund to further the education of South African and Namibian students; the fund continued for 20 years, she was a trustee.
• in 1988 she was appointed AM for her work against racism. In 1990 she received the inaugural award from the SA Department of Equal Opportunity. Secretary for Peace Committee in later years.