People Australia

Alice Rapley, n.d.

Alice Marion Rapley, née Hillier (1877-1962) community worker, Labor activist and feminist

Birth: 1877 at Yan Yean, Victoria, daughter of Walter Cherrille (also known as Cherilli or Cheville) Hillier (1838-1920), a painter, born at Southwark, Surrey, England, and Melbourne-born Marion, née Masham (1843-1898). Marriage: 21 May 1901 at Trinity Church, Balaclava, Victoria, to Thomas Rapley (1868-1945), a carpenter, born at Collingwood, Victoria. They had two daughters and five sons. Death: 11 October 1962 in Women’s Home at Mt Henry, Western Australia. Religion: Anglican. 

• Moved to Western Australia about 1903. Joined the East Perth branch of the Australian Labor Party, representing the branch on the Metropolitan district council of the ALP until 1918.
• In 1912 she was secretary of the Labor Women's Social Club (established 1911). Delegate to first Labor Women's Conference in 1912. Joint secretary of the Labor Women's Effort Committee in 1913, raising large sum of money for proposed Labor Daily. Labor Women's representative at Women's conference held in 1914 by Women's Service Guild.
• Active in anti-conscription campaign during World War 1. In 1921 she was selected as a Labor candidate for Perth City Council (East Ward).
• Advocate of unemployment insurance and improved state care for intellectually disadvantaged girls. Also a temperance advocate.
• Commissioned justice of the peace in 1925. Honorary treasurer of Women's Justices Association of WA. Sat on Perth Children's Court; official visitor at Fremantle Women's Home.
• Secretary of the Labor Women's Organising Committee in 1923 and 1926-1928; vice-president in 1935. Involved in Labor and women's organisations for remainder of her life.
• Cause of death: coronary thrombosis (12 hours) and arteriosclerosis (years).

Sources
WA ALP Labor Women's Central Executive, Souvenir, 1933; Information from Anne Morrison, Perth, 1993.