People Australia

Eve Sharpe, by Ed Jones, 1977

photo from Marrickville Heritage Society newsletter, vol 15, June 1999, p 2

Evangeline Mary (Eve) Sharpe, née McKnight, late Reddie (1909-1999) Labor party activist, alderman and deputy mayor 

Birth:12 October 1909 at Bruthen, Gippsland, Victoria, daughter of native-born parents John Campbell McKnight (1864-1911), storekeeper, and Emily Lydia, née Gilding, later Seehusen, and later again Ranshaw (1880-1956). Marriage: (1) 30 April 1929 at Caulfield, Victoria, to native-born Dalmore Reddie (1897-1956), engineer. They had one son. (2) 1942 at Petersham, Sydney, New South Wales, to George William Sharpe (1896-1978), a clerk, born at London, England. Death: 19 May 1999 in her home at Stanmore, Sydney. 

• Educated at Notre Dame de Sion Convent, Stott's Business College and Royal Academy; London College of Music.
• Moved to Sydney and had settled in Petersham by 1937. Became involved in local activities. Elected alderman on Marrickville Council in 1969 becoming the first woman to serve on council and in 1976-1977 was deputy mayor.
• Became involved in many areas of council work including finance and social welfare and libraries committees also serving as chair.
• Had joined Lewisham branch of the Australian Labor Party in 1940; when branch became defunct she transferred to Petersham branch and became president for many years. Joined Marrickville East Branch when she moved to Stanmore.
• Delegate to assemblies, zone conferences and State and Federal electorate councils of ALP. Attended Henry Lawson Labor College. Life member ALP.
• President, Rachel Forster Hospital, nominated for but declined to accept a life governorship of hospital. Commissioned justice of the peace after World War II. Councillor of NSW Women Justices' Association.
• Member of Order of Eastern Star in 1942, a society which female relatives of masons could join; became organist, chairperson and the highest office of worthy matron; awarded life membership.
• Senior vice-president Marrickville Heritage Society from 1984 to 1989; first patron and first honorary life member.
• The Eve Sharpe reserve in Stanmore, near where she lived, was opened in September 2000.

Sources
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 1999 p 35; Eve Sharpe photo and obituary: Marrickville Heritage Society inc. vol-15-no-11-june-1999-2.