People Australia

Ivy Mary Kent, née Woods (1890-1974) political activist and community worker 

Birth: 10 May 1890 at Central Cumberland, New South Wales, daughter of William Coyle Woods (1861-1929), a farmer, born in County Cork, Ireland, and Sarah Elizabeth, née Coombs (1865-1939), born in Devon, England. Marriage: 1909 at Collie, Western Australia, to Arthur Graham Kent (1881-1950), a timber hewer, later storeeeper, born in Melbourne, Victoria. They had four daughters and four sons. Death: 12 April 1974 in a nursing home at Wembley, Perth; usual residence Gayton Road, City Beach, Perth. Religion: Catholic. 

• The family moved to Collie, Western Australia, about 1896.
• Ivy was educated at Iona Convent and Collie convent schools by Presentation nuns.
• She was active in the Australian Labor Party in WA from 1908. Founded a club for neglected girls during World War I.
• In 1923 she joined Victoria Park branch of ALP and was active as a speaker during election campaigns. Member of Victoria Park ALP executive.
• Was vice president and committee member of Perth Labor Women's Organisation for several years in the 1920s. In 1931 was elected member Labor Women's Central executive; in 1932 president.
• Started Distress and Relief Committee during 1930s Depression; secretary of Victoria Park Relief Committee for 18 months. In 1939 and 1944 she stood for election to the Victoria Park ward of Perth City Council.
• Kent broadcast on the radio on behalf of her activities, beginning about 1934 with a weekly broadcast for the Housewives’ Association. From 1944 to 1951, she was first woman member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
• From 1945 to 1969 she was also member of the National Fitness Council.
• From 1953 to 1971 she was president of the Association of Civilian Widows who described her 'as slight in build, always immaculate . . . kindly, motherly, autocratic, domineering, generous, single-minded . . . compassionate, a born fighter for the under-privileged, a deeply religious woman with a wonderful sense of humour'.
• Commissioned justice of the peace in 1936. Appointed MBE in January 1968.
• Cause of death coronary occlusion (5 days) arteriosclerotic heart disease and angina (7 years) (contributory cause) and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. (many years).

Sources
Reflections, p. 130; Westralian Worker, 30 April 1937, 26 June 1942; ALP Labor Women's Central Executive, 1933; Battye Library, biographical Register.