Cover image for Kathleen (Kath) Venn
Agency:
Kathleen (Kath) Venn
Agency Number:
Start Date:
12 Nov 1926
End Date:
26 May 2019
Description:
Kath Venn OAM was born Kathleen Darragh in Hobart 1926. She was educated at Ogilvie High School. After her education she went to work for the Australian Workers Union. She became the first female State Secretary of the Labor party, the first woman to hold this position in any major political party. ;;In 1976 she was elected to the seat of Hobart in the Legislative Council and served until 1982, including 3 years as Deputy Leader for the Government.;;Kath Venn resigned from the Labor Party in 1984 and in September 1984 she stood for the Senate as a member of the Harradine Group but was unsuccessful. ;;Apart from politics Kath Venn was very active in the Labor party and the community including federal secretary of the Labor Women's Organisation, president of the RSL Women's Auxiliary, federal secretary of the Housewives Association and a consumer's representative on the Tasmanian Milk Board. She was also State President of the Housewives Association, a volunteer at the Repatriation Hospital, member of the Prisoners' Aid Society, Mount Stuart Progress Association and Australian Forces Overseas Fund, Chairwoman of the Ogilvie High School Board and Caroline House. ;;
Information Sources:
Department of Premier and Cabinet website - Significant Tasmanian Women