People Australia

Sushanna (Susie) Sutherland, née Slatter (1893-1980) telephonist, trade union official and political activist 

Birth: 10 August 1893 at Hay, New South Wales, sixth of ten children of native-born parents Thomas Slatter (1858-1918), contractor, and Susannah (Susan), née Flanagan (1860-1947). Marriage: 1 May 1926 in St Patrick’s Church, Sydney, to native-born Gavin Hamilton Sutherland (1893-1970), trade union official and later parliamentarian. They had no children. Death: 19 May 1980 in the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst, Sydney; usual residence Carshalton Street, Croydon, Sydney. Religion: Catholic.. Religion: Catholic. 

• Parents owned a business in Hay. She moved with them to Bega and later to Sydney where she finished her schooling.
• Left school and joined Telephone Department. First treasurer of the Commonwealth Telephone Officers' Association, affiliated with NSW Labor Council. Became secretary in 1914 and remained in office until 1926 when she married, and resigned.
• Delegate and represented union at Australian Labor Party conferences. Represented union before Commonwealth Arbitrator in 1914 when union was successful in establishing 33 hour-week and a £1 wage increase which applied to members of claimant union.
• Joined ALP Camperdown branch in 1911. Delegate to Women's Central Organising Committee from 1914 and continued to 1964 at least, holding offices of vice-president, auditor and social secretary. Member of the central executive of the ALP.
• Later became member of Croydon branch of the ALP to 1964 and Secretary of Ashfield-Croydon State electorate council. Member of the Combined ALP and NSW Labor Council Social Services Committee for many years. Made life member of the ALP, NSW branch in 1979, nominated by Croydon Branch.
• In 1959 she was appointed official visitor to the Mental Hospital, Callan Park.
• She was a keen sportsperson, especially swimming and hockey. Was honorary State swimming coach from about 1924 to 1939 at least, honorary secretary of Sydney Telephone Ladies’ Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club, sometime captain of the Telephone Women’s hockey team and long-time girls hockey coach for St Mary’s Cathedral college and St Vincent’s school.
• Cause of death: cerebro-vascular accident (8 weeks), arteriosclerosis (years), diabetes mellitus (years).

Sources
Australian Worker, 5 May 1926; ALP Woman Magazine, Special Diamond Jubilee Issue, February 1964, p 19; (Information in alphabetical list attached to paper files at Butlin Archives, Australian National University?)