An online celebration of trailblazing women who have broken through barriers in federal parliament and beyond
Dorothy Tangney
- Senator for Western Australia Australian Labor Party (1943–68)
- First woman to serve in the Australian Senate (1943–68)
- First Australian woman to attend an Empire Parliamentary Association Conference (London, 1948)
- First woman to preside over the Senate as temporary chairman of committees (various dates)
Dorothy Tangney c1940. National Library of Austrlia
Dorothy Tangney c1940. National Library of AustrliaDescribed by The Bulletin as ‘a born politician who happens to be a woman’, Dorothy Tangney arrived in parliament determined to fight for the underdog.
As a child she had experienced poverty first hand. At one point she sold illegal raffle tickets to raise money for her school uniform, and relied on scholarships to complete her education. She had watched, appalled, as families begged for food during the Depression. These experiences focussed her commitment to social reform.
Elected at 36, she was ‘spirited and modern’, and had the energy and determination of youth on her side. At one stage she was serving on 23 parliamentary committees – and chairing 13 of them. Over almost 25 years in parliament she built up a formidable record in social service and education reform—two areas she knew could make a real difference in a person’s life.
I’ve got my Irish up and I’m going to fight like madDorothy Tangney
Dorothy Tangney
Artist's Statement
“I was inspired by the line work from 1940s fashion illustration, which not only reflects the era when Dorothy Tangney won a seat in the Senate, but also strongly conveys the type of woman she was. The femininity and simplicity of the line work and tone portrays her conventional views of womanhood; however, it has a certain powerful quality that highlights the strong values she had for education, health, social services and equal pay.”