1953 – 2012
Tribune (Sydney), 14 Oct 1953, p. 6: three Australian delegates (Flo Davis, Joyce Egan, Fuchsia Lewin) describe the WIDF World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, June 1953 (1,187 women, 70 countries). They stress peace, equal pay and socialist-bloc childcare. Indonesia appears briefly: Indonesian women urge support for a K
Tribune (Sydney), 14 Oct 1953, p. 6: three Australian delegates (Flo Davis, Joyce Egan, Fuchsia Lewin) describe the WIDF World Congress of Women, Copenhagen, June 1953 (1,187 women, 70 countries). They stress peace, equal pay and socialist-bloc childcare. Indonesia appears briefly: Indonesian women urge support for a K
Short 1954 item in WIDF's 'Women Write to Us From Everywhere' by Darmini, Assistant General Secretary of Gerwani. She reports the Gerwani congress as a success, with WIDF representative Monica Felton present and foreign delegates (Dutch, Australian, Soviet) touring the country, a first in Indonesian women's movement hi
Monica Felton (WIDF Vice-President) writes in 1954 on the Second Congress of Gerwani, which she attended: 349 delegates, 80,000 members, a meeting with President Sukarno, resolutions on West Irian, the 1955 elections, a nationwide marriage law, democratic rights and support for the government against armed gangs. She s
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Mar 1954, p. 6: short review of Australian women's peace and welfare activity in 1953 (200-woman deputation to Canberra, Peace and War convention, delegations to Copenhagen). Says Australian women's representatives will doubtless attend the Indonesian women's congress soon to be held in Indonesia.
Java-Bode, 5 April 1954, p. 2: WIDF vice-president Monica Felton lectured in Jakarta on the Federation's work and its relevance to Indonesia, after attending the second Gerwani congress as a guest. Rie Lips Odinot (Dutch Women's Movement) and the Australian Democratic Women's organisation also spoke on their groups' wo
Indische Courant voor Nederland, 14 Apr 1954, p. 3: President Sukarno receives Gerwani delegates after their five-day congress in Jakarta, saying women's problems are solved by a just state built by men and women together. Dutch MP Rie Lips-Odinot raises West Irian; WIDF vice-president Monica Felton lectures; Australia
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
Tribune (Sydney), 12 May 1954, p. 11: Allison Dickie, Union of Australian Women delegate, reports on the 1954 Indonesian women's congress. She describes Gerwis, the league of women 'more politically awake', whose work helped hundreds of thousands become literate and from which Gerwani developed; the six-day Gerwani Nat
Townsville Daily Bulletin classified-advertising page, 22 May 1954, p. 7: mostly unrelated ads. A Building Workers' Industrial Union notice invites members and families to a film display and address on Monday 24 May by Mrs Dickie, wife of Rev. Dickie, 'just returned from the Indonesian Women's Congress'. Also a politic
Townsville Daily Bulletin advertising page, 24 May 1954, p. 5: retail ads and notices. Relevant items: the Union of Australian Women's film evening and public meeting at the Civic Theatre with guest speaker Mrs A. Dickie, recently returned from the Indonesian Women's Congress, and a Legion Hall morning tea welcoming he
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), 28 May 1954, p. 10, a full page of classified and general advertisements (jobs, vehicles, property, notices). The only relevant item is a Union of Australian Women invitation to an afternoon tea in Rockhampton's Red Cross Rooms, where Mrs Dickie, wife of Rev. Dickie, 'just returned
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton), 1 June 1954, p. 9, report of Allison Dickie, Victorian president of the Union of Australian Women, on her return from an Indonesian women's conference in Jakarta (360 delegates for 60,000 women; Dutch WIDF delegates present). She describes sex equality in the provisional constitution but
Tribune (Sydney), 13 Oct 1954, p. 11: letters page covering SEATO, Eisenhower, Pakistan, housing and criticisms of Tribune. One letter claims Indonesia, India, Ceylon and Burma's abstention from SEATO shows Asian peoples want peace and independence; another praises the Union of Australian Women journal 'Our Women'. No
Daily News (Perth), 9 Feb 1955, p. 18, 'Diane's Diary' women's column. The second item reports Mrs A. Dickie, a Presbyterian minister's wife, who was the Union of Australian Women's delegate to a conference in Djakarta 'conducted by the Indonesian Women's Movement' (about 500 women) in April 1954, then toured Java and
Daily News (Perth), 9 Feb 1955, p. 18, 'Diane's Diary' women's column. The second item reports Mrs A. Dickie, a Presbyterian minister's wife, who was the Union of Australian Women's delegate to a conference in Djakarta 'conducted by the Indonesian Women's Movement' (about 500 women) in April 1954, then toured Java and
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Tribune magazine page, 1 Oct 1958, p. 6: Mary Lester (Union of Australian Women, Perth) reports on the Fourth World Congress of Women (WIDF, Vienna, June 1958; 76 countries). Themes: atomic-test ban, status of women, children's education. Indonesia appears only in passing: two women MPs from Indonesia, with Indian and
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
Renmin Ribao, 24 Sep 1959, p. 6 (Xinhua): a WIDF delegation arrives in Beijing for National Day, including Mrs Mudigdio, identified as WIDF Council member, PKI-group MP and vice-chairman of Gerwani, with delegates from Japan, Australia, Canada and Ghana.
Tribune (Sydney), 9 Mar 1960, p. 12: report of the Sydney celebration of the 50th anniversary of International Women's Day. Messages came from women abroad, including Chinese and Indonesian guests prevented from attending by visa and passport difficulties. UAW president Noreen Hewitt spoke of China; theme was equal sta
Tribune (Sydney), 9 Mar 1960, p. 12: report of the Sydney celebration of the 50th anniversary of International Women's Day. Messages came from women abroad, including Chinese and Indonesian guests prevented from attending by visa and passport difficulties. UAW president Noreen Hewitt spoke of China; theme was equal sta
Tribune (Sydney), 6 Jul 1960, p. 3: Perth UAW deputation to the Dutch Consul protests the Dutch naval force sent to New Guinea. Maud Quinn cites the UAW's close ties with Indonesian women and its belief that West Irian can be settled by negotiation; the group notes Dutch Labor opposition. Gerwani not named.
Tribune (Adelaide/SA edition and Sydney edition), 26 Apr 1961: South Australian Union of Australian Women prepares for Afro-Asian Solidarity Week. It sent greetings to Gen. Nasution on his Australian visit supporting Indonesia's claim to West New Guinea and urging an Australia-Indonesia peace pact, and wrote on Cuba an
Tribune (Adelaide/SA edition and Sydney edition), 26 Apr 1961: South Australian Union of Australian Women prepares for Afro-Asian Solidarity Week. It sent greetings to Gen. Nasution on his Australian visit supporting Indonesia's claim to West New Guinea and urging an Australia-Indonesia peace pact, and wrote on Cuba an
Tribune (SA edition), 14 Jun 1961, p. 2: Perth Union of Australian Women observes the WIDF-called Week of Solidarity (28 May-2 June) with countries struggling for independence. Members send cables and cards to women's organisations in Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cuba; a visiting Indonesian speaker at a luncheon discus
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 3: Gloria Garton, UAW national president, reports on her 3.5 weeks in Indonesia as WIDF and UAW representative at the 4th Gerwani Congress in Jakarta (14-17 Dec 1961) and a Java tour, with meetings of up to 2,000 in Semarang and Yogyakarta. Says West Irian is the biggest unifying issue
Tribune (Sydney), 10 Jan 1962, p. 3: Gloria Garton, UAW national president, reports on her 3.5 weeks in Indonesia as WIDF and UAW representative at the 4th Gerwani Congress in Jakarta (14-17 Dec 1961) and a Java tour, with meetings of up to 2,000 in Semarang and Yogyakarta. Says West Irian is the biggest unifying issue
Tribune (Sydney), 24 Jan 1962, p. 10: Perth UAW secretary Mrs M. Lester says the UAW wrote to Indonesian women leaders and to Gerwani, described as WIDF-affiliated, supporting Indonesia's claim to West New Guinea and saying Australian leaders do not speak for many sympathetic Australians. It also wrote to ALP leader Ca
Tribune (Sydney), 24 Jan 1962, p. 10: Perth UAW secretary Mrs M. Lester says the UAW wrote to Indonesian women leaders and to Gerwani, described as WIDF-affiliated, supporting Indonesia's claim to West New Guinea and saying Australian leaders do not speak for many sympathetic Australians. It also wrote to ALP leader Ca
FBIS-monitored Hanoi VNA item (25 Jul 1962): the Union of Australian Women and Gerwani sent messages to the Vietnam Women's Union on the eighth anniversary of the Geneva agreements. Gerwani protested US armed aggression and 'mass massacre and persecution of women and innocent children' in South Vietnam, demanded troop
FBIS Daily Report (26 Jul 1962), HathiTrust scan pp.235-236: North Vietnam section carrying a Korean message of solidarity, a Moscow resolution on the Geneva anniversary, and VNA's 25 July item that Gerwani and the Union of Australian Women sent messages to the Vietnam Women's Union. Gerwani protests US aggression and
Tribune (Sydney), 23 Jan 1963, p. 10, women's column: notes that Freda Brown, UAW national secretary, attended the WIDF Council in East Germany planning the Fifth World Congress of Women (Moscow, June 1963) and also visited the Soviet Union and Indonesia; her articles are promised. Other items unrelated (tax rebates, F
Tribune (Sydney), 31 Jul 1963, p. 6: Freda Brown, UAW national secretary, gives the Australian delegation's official report on the WIDF World Congress of Women, Moscow, 24-29 June 1963 (114 countries, 181 organisations). Covers peace, colonialism, equality, the Chinese delegation's disputes, and messages from leaders i
Tribune (Sydney), 31 Jul 1963, p. 6: Freda Brown, UAW national secretary, gives the Australian delegation's official report on the WIDF World Congress of Women, Moscow, 24-29 June 1963 (114 countries, 181 organisations). Covers peace, colonialism, equality, the Chinese delegation's disputes, and messages from leaders i
Tribune (Sydney), 14 Aug 1963, p. 2: announces the Third National Conference of the Union of Australian Women in Sydney, 13-17 September 1963, and says invitations went to the WIDF, the Soviet Women's Committee and Gerwani of Indonesia to be represented.
Tribune (Sydney), 14 Aug 1963, p. 2: announces the Third National Conference of the Union of Australian Women in Sydney, 13-17 September 1963, and says invitations went to the WIDF, the Soviet Women's Committee and Gerwani of Indonesia to be represented.
Tribune (Sydney), 28 Aug 1963, p. 9: preparations for the UAW's third national conference (nylon stockings, drug costs, equal pay petitions, anti-nuclear letters). The public opening rally on 13 Sept will welcome visitors from the WIDF, the Soviet Women's Committee (Nina Bogomolova) and Gerwani, described as an Indones
Tribune (Sydney), 28 Aug 1963, p. 9: preparations for the UAW's third national conference (nylon stockings, drug costs, equal pay petitions, anti-nuclear letters). The public opening rally on 13 Sept will welcome visitors from the WIDF, the Soviet Women's Committee (Nina Bogomolova) and Gerwani, described as an Indones
Tribune (Sydney), 4 Sep 1963, p. 3: reports that Soviet (Nina Bogomolova) and Indian (Geeta Mukherjee, for WIDF) delegates accepted invitations to the UAW national conference of 13-17 September; advice is awaited from Indonesia about the delegate invited from Gerwani, 'one and a half million strong'.
Tribune (Sydney), 4 Sep 1963, p. 3: reports that Soviet (Nina Bogomolova) and Indian (Geeta Mukherjee, for WIDF) delegates accepted invitations to the UAW national conference of 13-17 September; advice is awaited from Indonesia about the delegate invited from Gerwani, 'one and a half million strong'.
Tribune (Sydney), 11 Sep 1963, p. 8: Madame Suharti Suwarto, Indonesian MP and teacher, is invited to the UAW's third national conference in Sydney from 13 September if entry formalities are completed. Gives the conference programme (rally at Sydney Trades Hall, delegates over 200) with guests Geeta Mukherjee and Nina
Tribune (Sydney), 11 Sep 1963, p. 8: Madame Suharti Suwarto, Indonesian MP and teacher, is invited to the UAW's third national conference in Sydney from 13 September if entry formalities are completed. Gives the conference programme (rally at Sydney Trades Hall, delegates over 200) with guests Geeta Mukherjee and Nina
Tribune (Sydney), 12 Aug 1964, p. 3: Enid Hampson, NSW secretary of the UAW and WIDF delegate to the recent congress of Indonesian women in Jakarta, tells Perth that Indonesian women were amazed at suggestions of aggression against Australia. The congress was run by 'WANITA', a body of 40 organisations, with Mme Suband
Tribune (Sydney), 12 Aug 1964, p. 3: Enid Hampson, NSW secretary of the UAW and WIDF delegate to the recent congress of Indonesian women in Jakarta, tells Perth that Indonesian women were amazed at suggestions of aggression against Australia. The congress was run by 'WANITA', a body of 40 organisations, with Mme Suband
Tribune (Sydney), 2 Sep 1964, p. 9: Enid Hampson reports on the 10th Congress of Indonesian women's organisations (WANITA, 40 organisations) in Jakarta, 24 July 1964, opened before 9,000 women; Mrs Subandrio gave the main report. Sukarno urged women to a bigger role, food and Malaysia were main themes; also land reform
Tribune (Sydney), 2 Sep 1964, p. 9: Enid Hampson reports on the 10th Congress of Indonesian women's organisations (WANITA, 40 organisations) in Jakarta, 24 July 1964, opened before 9,000 women; Mrs Subandrio gave the main report. Sukarno urged women to a bigger role, food and Malaysia were main themes; also land reform
Overview essay by Francisca de Haan (Women and Social Movements International database, c. 2012) on WIDF's origins, agenda, UN role and Cold War marginalisation, 1945-1991. Gerwani is listed once as a large, influential WIDF member organisation (with footnotes to Wieringa and to McGregor on Indonesian women and WIDF);