Preceded by Albert Wright Nationality Australian Role Politician | Succeeded by William Copley Name Irene Longman Resting place Cremation | |
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Full Name Irene Maud Bayley Born 24 April 1877
Franklin, Tasmania, Australia ( 1877-04-24 ) Political party Country and Progressive National Party Spouse(s) Albert Heber Longman (m.1904 d.1954) Relations Percy Bayley (brother), James Bayley (brother) Died July 29, 1964, Brisbane, Australia Party Country and Progressive National Party | ||
How Women can influence their community: spotlight on Eliza O'Connell and Irene Longman
Irene Maud Longman (nee Bayley) (24 April 1877 – 29 July 1964) was a politician in Queensland, Australia . She was the first woman to stand and be elected as a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
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Early life
Irene Bailey was born in Franklin, Tasmania, and educated in Sydney. She trained as a kindergarten teacher and taught at Sydney Girls' Grammar School and Rockhampton Girls' Grammar School. In 1904, she married Heber Longman and the couple chose to live in Queensland. She served as president of the National Council of Women of Queensland from 1920 to 1924.
Politics
Irene Longman's parliamentary career began in the 1929 election when, representing the Country and Progressive National Party, she was elected in the seat of Bulimba to the Queensland Legislative Assembly. While she was in Parliament, she was responsible for the first appointment of a Queensland woman police officer. As a woman, she was never allowed to use the parliamentary dining room and had to eat her meals on the verandah. During her time in Parliament there were no female toilets in the building. Longman lost her seat in the 1932 election.
Longman had two brothers who were also members of the Queensland Parliament. Percy Bayley represented Pittsworth 1915–1920 and James Bayley represented Wynnum 1933-1935.
Later life
Irene Longman Irene died on 29 July 1964 in St. Andrew's Hospital in Brisbane and was privately cremated.