People Australia

Molly Holmes, 1942

Westralian Worker (Perth), 17 July 1942, p 4

Mary Bridget (Molly) Holmes (1904-1989) clerk, and Labor and community activist

Birth: 4 December 1903 at Collie, Western Australia, daughter of Thomas Holmes (1868-1949), an employee of the WA Government Railways and later a dairyman, and native-born Bridget Mary, née Sullivan (1874-1965). Unmarried. Death: 18 April 1989 in a nursing home at Subiaco, Perth, WA; usual residence Charles Street, North Perth. Religion: Catholic. 

• Family arrived in Collie, Western Australia, in 1898 and were among the early settlers there. Father was a member of the Locomotive Drivers’ and Firemen’s Union. Molly was educated at Presentation Convent of Collie and Mosman Park.
• Her first job was in the office of the Timber Workers Union in Perth in the 1920s, leaving in 1928. First active in Australian Labor Party electioneering in WA in 1921, with a life-long commitment to the party. Became life member of ALP.
• Friend and colleague of May Holman, assisting her parliamentary career, organising and accompanying her on election tours. Secretary of Perth Labor Women from 1937 to 1987, battling Joe Chamberlain to ensure continuation of branches and offices at the Trades Hall.
• Active in community affairs including Slow Learning Childrens' Group, and the Council on the Ageing. “Threw herself into the Labor Women’s Choir and became its secretary”. Active in the Labor Women’s Central Executive.
• Appointed justice of the peace in 1942, made life member of Women Justices Association. Appointed AM [member of the Order of Australia] on 6 June 1978 for service to the community.
• Cause of death: respiratory arrest, bronchopneumonia, extension of extensive midbrain, and cerebrovascular accident.

Sources
Battye Library Biographical Index.