Shirley Andrews

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Shirley Aldythea Marshall Seymour Andrews

OAM (5 November 1915 – 15 September 2001) was an Australian biochemist, dancer, researcher and Aboriginal
rights activist.

Early life and education

Andrews was born on November 5, 1915, to Doris Andrews and Arthur Andrews. Andrews grew up in Sandringham, Victoria, living with her mother, grandmother and uncle. She attended school at Miss Montford's school, in Sandringham, until the age of eleven. Later, she boarded at St Michael's grammar in St Kilda, Victoria. After graduating from St Michael's, Andrews enrolled in a science course at the University of Melbourne, from 1934 to 1937.[1] In her first years at university she rented houses and apartments with her mother in the Melbourne area.

Andrews also began to learn ballet during her time at university. She took lessons from Edouard Borovansky and later became interested in Australian folk dance. Andrews helped establish the folk dance society and the Victorian folk music club, meanwhile continuing her studies at university. She wrote a book on traditional dancing in Australia.[2] In 1994 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to folklore through the study of Australian traditional social dancing".[3]

After completing her Bachelor of Science degree, Andrews was offered a Caroline Kay scholarship to the veterinary school at Melbourne University. After accepting the scholarship offer, Andrews worked at the Veterinary School for six years, doing biochemical testing on animal tissue and fluids.[4]

Career

Following her time at Melbourne University, Andrews joined the

CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in 1947, as a research officer. Later on, the organisation (CSIRO) became aware of a relationship that had developed between Andrews and Bill Bird, the secretary of the Seamen's Union. The ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) informed the CSIRO of the connection, causing Andrews to find it difficult to continue her works at the organisation. Andrews left the CSIRO in 1953.[4]

After leaving CSIRO, Andrews took a position as Senior

tranquilliser at the time — instigated symptoms of mental illness. This led to significant reduction in the use of bromide.[6]

Political activity

Andrews was active in a number of leftist social organizations over the course of her life. She was a member of the Communist Party of Australia in the 1940s, though she left in 1951 due to dissatisfaction with the Soviet Union.[7]

In 1951, Andrews became a founding member and secretary of the

1967 referendum, when Australia voted to count Aborigines in the census. Andrews worked tirelessly to provide a political focus on Aboriginal rights for the next 20 years.[1][4]

Personal life

She never married and never had children.

Although Andrews preferred to work in the backroom, she was a self-confident leader. She showed these qualities and many more while working throughout her life to make significant changes to Australian society. Andrews referred to herself as a liberated woman and believed strongly in women's rights.[citation needed]

See also

Further reading

  • Clark, Jennifer (August 2004). "Shirley Andrews: Adding a personal note to history". National Library of Australia News. 14 (11): 14–7.
  • Taffe, Sue; Lowenstein, Wendy (2001) [1927-2006], Shirley Andrews
  • Hibben, JA (2011). Shirley Andrews: A prismatic life (PhD thesis). The University of Melbourne.
  • Taffe, Sue (August 2011), "Shirley Andrews : An architect of the national Aboriginal civil rights movement, 1952-1968", History Australia, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 153–76
  • Taffe, Sue (15–17 September 2011). "Shirley Andrews: Social idealist for Aboriginal rights or agent of the CPA?". Labour History and Its People. The 12th Biennial National Labour History Conference. Australian National University. Australian Society for the Study of Labour History Canberra Region Branch.
    ISBN 9780909944100
    .
  • Hibben, Jenny. "Shirley Andrews (1915–2001)". www.tsdav.asn.au. Traditional Social Dance Association of Victoria.

References

  1. ^ a b "Andrews, Shirley Aldythea Marshall Seymour". The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ISBN 978-0-908090-13-6
    .
  3. ^ "Shirley Aldythea ANDREWS". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Andrews, Shirley - Person - Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation". www.eoas.info. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  5. ^ Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology. "Andrews, Shirley - Person - Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation". www.eoas.info. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Papers of Shirley Andrews". Trove. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  7. ^ Melbourne, The University of. "Andrews, Shirley Aldythea Marshall Seymour - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

External links

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