Mary Beasley interviewed by Nikki Henningham in the Women and leadership in a century of Australian democracy oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 5976566
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Beasley, Mary, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2012
- 1 sound file.
- Series:
- Women and leadership in a century of Australian democracy oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Mary Beasley introduces herself, makes reference to a 1998 newspaper article that describes her achievements, mentions a book she wrote. She speaks of importance of Australian Rules Football in her life, a Port Adelaide supporter; other weekend passion is horseracing; discusses how she campaigned to get on the board of the Port Adelaide Football Club. Born in 1937 in Glenelg, third of three children with a very large gap between her and the middle sibling, Father was a hotel owner in a variety of places. Attended secondary school at St Peters Church of England School for girls; speaks of her schooldays; enjoyed school, particularly sport; speaks about her mother; memories of war when she was a child; happy childhood; gained her Leaving at Honours level; role of Church in her life; working for Vacuum Oil Company, now Mobil; married at nineteen, move to Sydney break up of marriage; return to Adelaide with baby son. Gains a position with J.P. Young, Port Adelaide; returns to work force when her son is 5 years old, mother provides childcare; moves to the Equal Opportunity Commission in 1976; went for the Sex Discrimination Commissioner job; brought a non-public sector perspective to the role.
Mary comments on innovations for South Australia; interviewed by John Bannon for the position in Equal Opportunity Commission; Don Dunstan asks her to go on the Public Service Board; describes the blokiness of some departments; loved the authority that her position gave when it came to discrimination in the workplace; found women were badly discriminated against when they were pregnant; understanding her role as a commissioner; first Equal Opportunity Commissioner in Australia; commissioner on the Public Service Board; circumstances that led to her leaving the public service, her stint as an Ombudsman; various departments she was responsible for, her thoughts on the Public Service; appointed by Kim Beazley to the board of QANTAS, it was the most challenging period in her career; describes the events that led to her controversial exit from the board and difficulties and support in the aftermath.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on 2 May 2012 in Adelaide, S. Aust.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (8 p.)
- Subject:
- Beasley, Mary -- Interviews
- Other authors/contributors:
- Henningham, Nicola, 1960-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Women and leadership in a century of Australian democracy oral history project.
This collection contains 37 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2082 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2012
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