224:. She was the only child of Sarah Charlotte (née Lawrence) and James Charters. Her father, "an elderly, illiterate labourer" born in Ireland, died the year after her birth. Her English-born mother remarried in 1880 to Jerome Anderson, and her daughter took his surname. Siggins attended the Tambaroora Public School, and in 1893 won a prize for an essay about the local district. Little else is known about her childhood, but by 1903 she was living in a boardinghouse in
237:
363:
I feel I am called upon to do something to better the conditions of womankind, and if elected I shall make the very best of the opportunities that a position in the Senate will give. I mean to direct my opportunities principally to having woman placed on an equality with man. That is to say, if she
281:
In June 1904, Siggins launched a defamation suit against Henry Beech, a storekeeper in her home town of Hill End. She sought damages of £1,000, claiming he had made statements implying she was "a woman of libidinous and licentious nature and disposition". Her suit was unsuccessful. By 1906, Siggins
267:
committee. In May 1904, Siggins became the secretary of the Anti-Chinese and
Asiatic League, which opposed "Chinese immigration and industry". At a January 1906 meeting of the Labor Council, she successfully moved that the council petition the government to oppose any relaxation of the
441:
has observed that "although the efforts of
Goldstein to be elected to Federal Parliament a further four times are well documented the later lives of the other three women, who were without doubt female leaders of their time, are largely unknown to most Australians".
461:. She hoped to secure the endorsement of the Labor Party, but was unsuccessful. Siggins instead ran as an independent, describing herself as "the progressive and democratic candidate". However, she never formally nominated for the election. According to
44:
485:. She requested that a second ballot be held, but the party refused and she announced that she would run as an independent. In the end, no election was called until early the following year, by which point she was living in New Zealand.
258:
branch of the Women's
Political Labor League, and was one of the founders of the Cardboard Box Makers' Union, serving as its inaugural secretary. She was later chosen by the Shop Assistants' Union as one of its delegates to the
350:
313:
about the differences between the labour movements in
Australia and New Zealand. In 1911, Siggins was recruited by the Grey Industrial and Political Council to work as an organiser in the
508:
constituency. Siggins "attacked both the Labor Party and socialism" during the campaign. Her platform included "more than fifty" different policies, including free schoolbooks,
520:
for large families, and price controls for food. She polled just over two percent of the vote, and did not retain her deposit. Siggins made her final run for parliament at the
300:
speculated in July 1909 that she had "deserted" the Labor Party, and she subsequently told the paper that she had felt she had been treated unfairly by the central executive.
1070:
364:
is able to do the same kind of work, with the same ability, she should get the same pay. That's what I think, and that you may call the chief plank of my platform.
283:
1075:
1085:
671:
1065:
482:
635:
426:
868:
Libby
Stewart (2014). "Beyond the glass ceiling: the material culture of women's political leadership". In Joy Damousi; et al. (eds.).
1080:
489:
1090:
1060:
410:
291:
181:
274:. She stated that Chinese immigration constituted "a standing menace to the status of Australian citizenhood" and was likely to spread
622:
501:
879:
338:
204:. She eventually fell out with the party over its refusal to endorse her as a candidate. Her final run for parliament came at the
521:
478:
446:
390:
270:
205:
185:
385:
627:
505:
438:
1055:
537:
493:
334:
264:
193:
532:, the first woman to stand for the Country Party at a federal election. She polled only 1.7 percent of the vote, but her
850:
771:
748:
708:
370:
296:
557:
525:
513:
346:
330:
209:
131:
307:
for a period, working as an organiser for the
Amalgamated Society of Merchant Assistants, and was interviewed by the
561:
481:. She again hoped to secure the endorsement of the Labor Party, but the party had already preselected a candidate,
251:
197:
180:; 12 May 1878 – 30 November 1964) was an Australian political activist who became the first woman to stand for the
920:
900:
728:
463:
221:
76:
569:
255:
225:
95:
556:
Siggins' husband was an Irish-born widower, Christopher Hewitt
Siggins, whom she married on 1 January 1908 in
450:
380:
318:
804:
972:
565:
287:
201:
121:
409:. Siggins originally announced that she too would stand for the Senate, but later decided to run for the
939:
689:
573:
533:
474:
469:
1050:
1045:
473:
that her withdrawal was due to ill health. In 1909, Siggins announced her intention to stand for the
454:
260:
617:
418:
822:
188:, the first at which women were eligible to be candidates. Although she spent most of her life in
529:
434:
422:
402:
568:
to become a registered trainer, but was refused a licence. She was widowed in 1946, and died in
786:
17:
875:
649:
641:
631:
509:
406:
1025:
1007:
989:
808:
790:
430:
309:
242:
425:, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, Siggins won 17.7 percent of the vote to finish runner-up to
517:
189:
560:. The couple had no children. They eventually retired to Sydney, owning a property near
1021:
1003:
985:
935:
845:
766:
743:
703:
685:
545:
394:
915:
895:
723:
667:
1039:
541:
398:
314:
497:
322:
236:
869:
458:
349:. In 1922, she became the first woman delegate at the annual conference of the
326:
304:
645:
303:
In
December 1909, Siggins and her husband moved to New Zealand. She lived in
827:
653:
43:
626:. Vol. Supplementary volume. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,
467:, she failed to lodge her deposit by the deadline, although she told the
342:
275:
564:
where they had stables and trained racehorses. Siggins applied to the
192:, in 1918 she also became one of the first two women to stand for the
196:. Siggins was introduced to politics through her involvement in the
973:
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 16 DECEMBER 1922
235:
220:
Siggins was born on 12 May 1878 near the small mining town of
492:, Siggins became one of the first two women to stand for the
250:
After moving to Sydney, Siggins became involved in the local
975:, Australian Election Archive. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
871:
Diversity in
Leadership: Australian Women, Past and Present
389:. Four female candidates subsequently nominated for the
263:, where she served on the organising committee and the
228:, and working as an artist and photographic retoucher.
341:. Siggins eventually returned to Australia, living in
421:" and "independent labour" candidate. Running in the
351:
Farmers' and
Settlers' Association of New South Wales
572:
on 30 November 1964, aged 86. She was buried at the
208:, where she became the first woman to stand for the
141:
111:
103:
84:
57:
34:
960:In Her Own Name: Women in South Australian History
449:, Siggins announced that she would stand for the
417:, she said she could be described as a "moderate
504:as an independent, standing in the three-member
361:
294:, but later distanced herself from the party.
290:. She campaigned for Labor candidates at the
8:
618:"Anderson, Selina Sarah (Senie) (1878–1964)"
524:. At the election, she stood as one of two
863:
861:
840:
838:
672:The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal
42:
31:
953:
951:
949:
761:
759:
379:Women were given the right to stand for
1071:National Party of Australia politicians
585:
240:Photograph of Siggins published by the
160: 1908; died 1946)
1022:"OBITUARY: CHRISTOPHER HEWITT SIGGINS"
611:
609:
607:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
453:, opposing former prime minister and
345:for several years before settling in
254:. She served as the president of the
7:
1076:Independent politicians in Australia
516:, benefits for returned servicemen,
490:1918 South Australian state election
1086:Anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia
184:. She ran as an independent at the
182:Australian House of Representatives
623:Australian Dictionary of Biography
25:
1066:Australian Labor Party officials
271:Immigration Restriction Act 1901
962:. Wakefield Press. p. 228.
686:"MISS ANDERSON AND THE CHINESE"
386:Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902
157:
62:Selina Sarah Elizabeth Charters
18:Selina Sarah Elizabeth Anderson
628:Australian National University
439:Museum of Australian Democracy
200:, and initially supported the
170:Selina Sarah Elizabeth Siggins
1:
896:"MISS ANDERSON'S CANDIDATURE"
536:aided in the election of the
494:Parliament of South Australia
194:Parliament of South Australia
125:
49:
27:Australian political activist
744:"HAS MRS. SIGGINS DESERTED?"
433:. She thereby saved her £25
1081:People from New South Wales
558:Wellington, New South Wales
514:proportional representation
374:interview, 1 September 1903
347:Wellington, New South Wales
1107:
1091:Australian anti-communists
1061:Australian trade unionists
787:"Australia v. New Zealand"
704:"A LADY POLITICIAN'S SUIT"
562:Canterbury Park Racecourse
921:The Sydney Morning Herald
901:The Sydney Morning Herald
729:The Sydney Morning Herald
464:The Sydney Morning Herald
222:Hill End, New South Wales
77:Hill End, New South Wales
41:
411:House of Representatives
282:had been elected to the
226:Elizabeth Street, Sydney
118:Independent (1903, 1918)
96:Ashbury, New South Wales
846:"ANOTHER LADY ASPIRANT"
451:Division of East Sydney
437:. Libby Stewart of the
413:. In an interview with
823:"THE WEST COAST SEATS"
574:Field of Mars Cemetery
566:Australian Jockey Club
366:
288:Australian Labor Party
247:
668:"Essay on Tambaroora"
522:1922 federal election
475:Division of Robertson
447:1906 federal election
391:1903 federal election
357:Political candidacies
339:1911 general election
325:. She campaigned for
239:
206:1922 federal election
186:1903 federal election
1056:Australian feminists
992:. 19 September 1927.
958:Helen Jones (1986).
616:Tracey, Sue (2005).
261:Sydney Labor Council
1010:. 16 February 1928.
942:. 20 November 1906.
924:. 19 November 1906.
904:. 16 November 1906.
854:. 1 September 1903.
851:The Daily Telegraph
811:. 8 September 1911.
805:"The Editorial "I""
772:The Daily Telegraph
767:"FEDERAL ELECTIONS"
749:The Daily Telegraph
709:The Daily Telegraph
674:. 14 December 1893.
415:The Daily Telegraph
297:The Daily Telegraph
292:1907 state election
147:Christopher Siggins
986:"THE LADY TRAINER"
692:. 26 January 1906.
530:Division of Calare
528:candidates in the
500:. She ran for the
423:Division of Dalley
403:Mary Moore-Bentley
393:, three of whom –
381:federal parliament
248:
831:. 16 August 1911.
637:978-0-522-84459-7
510:compulsory voting
502:House of Assembly
479:the next election
167:
166:
16:(Redirected from
1098:
1030:
1029:
1026:Wellington Times
1018:
1012:
1011:
1008:Wellington Times
1004:"SPORTING NOTES"
1000:
994:
993:
990:Wellington Times
982:
976:
970:
964:
963:
955:
944:
943:
932:
926:
925:
916:"NOMINATION DAY"
912:
906:
905:
892:
886:
885:
865:
856:
855:
842:
833:
832:
819:
813:
812:
809:Maoriland Worker
801:
795:
794:
791:Maoriland Worker
783:
777:
776:
763:
754:
753:
740:
734:
733:
720:
714:
713:
700:
694:
693:
682:
676:
675:
664:
658:
657:
613:
431:Free Trade Party
405:– stood for the
375:
310:Maoriland Worker
243:Maoriland Worker
161:
159:
127:
104:Other names
91:
88:30 November 1964
71:
69:
51:
46:
32:
21:
1106:
1105:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1095:
1036:
1035:
1034:
1033:
1028:. 25 July 1946.
1020:
1019:
1015:
1002:
1001:
997:
984:
983:
979:
971:
967:
957:
956:
947:
934:
933:
929:
914:
913:
909:
894:
893:
889:
882:
874:. p. 241.
867:
866:
859:
844:
843:
836:
821:
820:
816:
803:
802:
798:
793:. 28 July 1911.
785:
784:
780:
775:. 22 July 1909.
765:
764:
757:
752:. 14 July 1909.
742:
741:
737:
732:. 18 June 1904.
724:"SUPREME COURT"
722:
721:
717:
712:. 18 June 1904.
702:
701:
697:
684:
683:
679:
666:
665:
661:
638:
615:
614:
587:
582:
554:
518:child endowment
483:William Johnson
377:
371:Daily Telegraph
368:
359:
284:state executive
252:labour movement
234:
218:
198:labour movement
190:New South Wales
163:
155:
151:
148:
137:
112:Political party
107:Selina Anderson
99:
93:
89:
80:
73:
67:
65:
64:
63:
53:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1104:
1102:
1094:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1038:
1037:
1032:
1031:
1013:
995:
977:
965:
945:
927:
907:
887:
880:
857:
834:
814:
796:
778:
755:
735:
715:
695:
677:
659:
636:
584:
583:
581:
578:
553:
550:
546:Thomas Lavelle
455:Anti-Socialist
395:Vida Goldstein
360:
358:
355:
233:
230:
217:
214:
165:
164:
153:
149:
146:
145:
143:
139:
138:
136:
135:
129:
119:
115:
113:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
94:
92:(aged 86)
86:
82:
81:
74:
61:
59:
55:
54:
47:
39:
38:
36:Selina Siggins
35:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1103:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1027:
1023:
1017:
1014:
1009:
1005:
999:
996:
991:
987:
981:
978:
974:
969:
966:
961:
954:
952:
950:
946:
941:
937:
936:"EAST SYDNEY"
931:
928:
923:
922:
917:
911:
908:
903:
902:
897:
891:
888:
883:
881:9781925021714
877:
873:
872:
864:
862:
858:
853:
852:
847:
841:
839:
835:
830:
829:
824:
818:
815:
810:
806:
800:
797:
792:
788:
782:
779:
774:
773:
768:
762:
760:
756:
751:
750:
745:
739:
736:
731:
730:
725:
719:
716:
711:
710:
705:
699:
696:
691:
687:
681:
678:
673:
669:
663:
660:
655:
651:
647:
643:
639:
633:
629:
625:
624:
619:
612:
610:
608:
606:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
586:
579:
577:
575:
571:
567:
563:
559:
552:Personal life
551:
549:
547:
544:over Labor's
543:
542:Neville Howse
539:
535:
531:
527:
526:Country Party
523:
519:
515:
511:
507:
503:
499:
496:, along with
495:
491:
486:
484:
480:
476:
472:
471:
466:
465:
460:
456:
452:
448:
445:Prior to the
443:
440:
436:
432:
428:
427:William Wilks
424:
420:
419:protectionist
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
399:Nellie Martel
396:
392:
388:
387:
382:
376:
373:
372:
365:
356:
354:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
333:candidate in
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
315:Grey District
312:
311:
306:
301:
299:
298:
293:
289:
285:
279:
277:
273:
272:
266:
265:anti-sweating
262:
257:
253:
245:
244:
238:
231:
229:
227:
223:
215:
213:
211:
210:Country Party
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
176:, previously
175:
171:
144:
140:
133:
130:
123:
120:
117:
116:
114:
110:
106:
102:
97:
87:
83:
78:
60:
56:
45:
40:
33:
30:
19:
1016:
998:
980:
968:
959:
940:Evening News
930:
919:
910:
899:
890:
870:
849:
826:
817:
799:
781:
770:
747:
738:
727:
718:
707:
698:
690:Evening News
680:
662:
621:
555:
498:Jeanne Young
487:
470:Evening News
468:
462:
444:
414:
384:
378:
369:
367:
362:
323:South Island
308:
302:
295:
280:
269:
249:
241:
219:
177:
173:
169:
168:
90:(1964-11-30)
29:
1051:1964 deaths
1046:1878 births
538:Nationalist
534:preferences
459:George Reid
232:Public life
202:Labor Party
98:, Australia
79:, Australia
72:12 May 1878
1040:Categories
580:References
540:candidate
327:Paddy Webb
319:West Coast
305:Wellington
216:Early life
128:1906–1909)
68:1878-05-12
828:The Press
646:1833-7538
337:, at the
331:Socialist
317:, on the
654:70677943
506:Adelaide
343:Adelaide
178:Anderson
174:Charters
48:Siggins
570:Ashbury
488:At the
457:leader
435:deposit
429:of the
383:by the
321:of the
286:of the
276:leprosy
256:Pyrmont
162:
154:
150:
132:Country
878:
652:
644:
634:
407:Senate
401:, and
329:, the
246:, 1911
142:Spouse
134:(1922)
172:(née
156:(
152:
122:Labor
75:near
876:ISBN
650:OCLC
642:ISSN
632:ISBN
335:Grey
85:Died
58:Born
52:1905
477:at
1042::
1024:.
1006:.
988:.
948:^
938:.
918:.
898:.
860:^
848:.
837:^
825:.
807:.
789:.
769:.
758:^
746:.
726:.
706:.
688:.
670:.
648:.
640:.
630:.
620:.
588:^
576:.
548:.
512:,
397:,
353:.
278:.
212:.
158:m.
126:c.
50:c.
884:.
656:.
124:(
70:)
66:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
