South Coast Women's Organisation

The South Coast Women’s Organisation (S.C.W.O) was formed in 1949 by Florence Isabel Woodroffe (nee Cattermull) following a discussion with Alice Barbara Andrews (nee Blake).

Florence was the wife of the South Coast Bulletin Editor, and Southport Town Council Alderman, Norman Sydney Woodroffe. She often wrote articles for the South Coast Bulletin and had a strong interest in community affairs. Florence saw a need for the women of the region to gather together to discuss issues affecting the South Coast and to work collaboratively for the progress of the region.

The first meeting of the organisation was held in the Southport Town Hall on 4 April 1949 and attracted 23 women from Southport and Burleigh Heads. Additional meetings were held on the 26 April at Burleigh Heads in Justins’ Hall, where the first committee was elected, and in the Coolangatta Council Chambers on 24 May where the organisation’s rules were submitted. Meetings were scheduled around the bus timetables to allow ladies to travel from across the region and return home in time for the evening meal.

The first president of the organisation was Mrs Annie Winders of Coolangatta with Mrs O’Mally of Burleigh, Mrs C Barnes of Surfers Paradise and Mrs Woodroffe of Southport as the vice presidents. Mrs Alice Andrews of Surfers Paradise held the role of the first honorary secretary.

The motto of Friendship and Service for Progress was adopted by the organisation and an article encouraging “…every intelligent woman to join us, for unity means strength…” was published in the South Coast Bulletin in June of 1949. By August 1949 the organisation had a membership of 100 women from the district.

The South Coast Women’s Organisation was considered the first voluntary movement in the area that viewed the newly amalgamated town councils of the South Coast, later renamed the Gold Coast, as a single region rather than a collection of separate townships.

There were three branches of the organisation located at Southport, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta and the members set about achieving their objectives in community, charitable, cultural and educational affairs.

Priorities of the new organisation included the provision of rest rooms at Southport, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta while further goals included offering day care, providing a series of guest speakers, establishing public libraries, opening tea rooms and putting on theatrical events. There was also a desire to put forward candidates for local elections and to lobby for the establishment of a general hospital in the South Coast.

Membership was open to all women over 17 years of age at a cost of 2 shillings per year. Over its years of operation, many women of the region were involved with the organisation, including Alderman Marjorie Ann St Henry who was a member, and office bearer, for thirty years.

In July 1953 the South Coast Women’s Organisation rest room was opened on the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Connor Street, Burleigh Heads. Another of the organisation’s achievements was to obtain a full ambulance service for Burleigh Heads in 1957 which was originally situated in Memorial Park on the corner of Connor Street.

The organisation was disbanded in 1984 after 35 years due to a limited number of active volunteers and the rising costs associated with maintaining the rest rooms.

Sources of information and further reading

1. Longhurst, Robert. The Heart of Paradise: the history of Burleigh Heads. Gold Coast City Council : Gold Coast, 1991.
2. City Libraries Local Studies Collection Manuscript LHM6535 South Coast Women’s Organisation 1949 – 1960.
3. “Southport Has Prepared For Big Christmas Season” The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947) 23 December 1936: p. 11 Web. 29 Sep 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183437041
4. “SOUTH COAST WOMEN’S ORGANISATION” South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954) 27 Apr 1949: p. 9. Web. 29 Sep 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188065866
5. “MAINLY Feminine Affairs” South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954) 1 Jun 1949: p. 21. Web. 29 Sep 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188064772
6. “ORGANISATIONS” South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954) 3 Aug 1949: p. 22. Web. 29 Sep 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188514927
7. South Coast Women’s Organisation & St. Henry, Marjorie Ann (1949). Records, 1949-1983. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32945027
8. OBITUARY (1942, September 16). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 2. Retrieved January 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188311041
9. NEW WOMEN’S ORGANISATION (1949, April 6).Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 – 1954), p. 21 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216577676
10. APPROXIMATELY 130 ATTEND (1951, July 25). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 16. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225636457
11. WEDDING BELLS (1938, December 30).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 4. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133761379
12. Speaking for WOMEN (1949, June 3). The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954), p. 7. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49688664
13. Advertising (1949, June 22). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 14. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188066004
14. FROM CITIES AND TOWNS (1949, April 6). The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49667242
15. ORGANISATIONS (1949, April 20). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 21. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188065034
16. BORDER NEWS (1954, December 29). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 6. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226330696
17. BURLEIGH NEWS (1954, November 17).South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 30. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226329347
18. Husbands guard art show (1954, June 5).Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 – 1954), p. 8 (LAST RACE). Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217154337
19. MAINLY (1954, March 31). South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 – 1954), p. 20. Retrieved January 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226274409