north east regional extra | March 9 - 15, 2022
nemedia.com.au
1.
March 9 - 15, 2022
◆ IT WAS HERE: In the Supreme Court of Victoria circa 1905 when Flos was admitted to practice.
PHOTO: State Library of Victoria
Trailblazing solicitor called Wangaratta home By BELINDA HARRISON CLAD in grey with a greenish tinted hat trimmed with violets, Grata Flos Matilda Greig (known as Flos) stood among her sombrely-clad male counterparts in a crowded chamber of lawyers, judges, laymen and ladies. It was August 1905 and Flos was making history at the swearing-in ceremony presided over by Chief Justice John Madden, where he described her as ‘the graceful incoming of a revolution’. Flos was being granted admission to the Victorian bar - the first woman ever to be admitted to the
Australian legal profession. Born to Robert Greig and Jane Stocks (nee Macfarlane) in Scotland on November 7, 1880, Flos was the fourth of eight children. In 1889, the family sailed for three months to their new home in Melbourne, Australia where Robert founded a textile manufacturing company. Although their family consisted of five girls and three boys, Robert and Jane were of the opinion that all their children should be university educated, not just the males, and Robert succeeded in imparting this ambition to his children. Growing up in such a forward-
thinking household, Flos had plenty of role models to look up to with older sisters Jane (known as Jean) and Janet (known as Jenny) two of the first women to study medicine and older sister Clara founding a tutoring school for university students. At 16 years of age, Flos decided to pursue a legal career and enrolled at the University of Melbourne in 1897 for arts and law, becoming the first woman to enter the law faculty. Her presence in that first law school class caused a stir as it was illegal for women to become lawyers (as well as vote or hold legislative office), however within the first year she won over the men, who
voted that women should be admitted to practice. Flos completed her arts degree in 1900 and graduated LLB (Bachelor of Laws) with third-class honours, second in her year in 1903 - becoming Victoria’s first female law graduate and the second woman in Australia after Ada Evans. Ada had been the first woman to receive a law degree in Australia (from Sydney University) in 1902, however she was unable to practise until 1921 after successfully lobbying for the enactment of the Women’s Legal Status Act 1918 (NSW). In 1903, the Victorian Legislative Assembly passed the Women’s Dis-
abilities Removal Bill, also known as the Flos Greig Enabling Bill, which meant that women could enter the practice of law. After Flos formally graduated in 1904, she was employed by Melbourne commercial law solicitor Frank Cornwell to carry out a period of supervised training known as ‘articling’ before she could be sworn into the bar and on August 1, 1905, Flos was officially admitted as a barrister and solicitor. Flos chose to work as a solicitor rather than a barrister and established a solo practice in Melbourne focusing on women and children.
■
ANIMAL CARE
WINE TALK
GONE FISHING G
TECH & SCIENCE
with MURPHY
with ANITA
with ROB
with CHRIS
Continued page 6
Looking for a great rate home loan with all the perks? Our Flexible Choice Home Loan is full of features, including a 2-year discounted interest rate, fee waivers and a 100% offset account.
1.99% Interest rate
24 3.84%
Month Introductory Offer*
Comparison rate#
Visit www.wawcu.com.au/Flexible-Choice or call 1300 658 555 to make the switch.
* Terms & Conditions apply. Standard lending criteria, fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. At the end of the introductory term a new rate can be negotiable or the SVR will apply. WAW may vary or withdraw this offer at any time without notice. #WARNING: The comparison rate is only true for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate. The comparison rate is based on a secured owner occupied principal and interest loan of $150,000 over 25 years. AFSL & Australian Credit License: 247298. ABN: 48 087 651 787.