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Australian women

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A gold medal standing upright on a white cotton surface. The medal shows a figure holding a trumped and a wine amphorae. Behind the figure is a bust on a stand. In raised lettering around the edge of the medal are the words 'Olympiska Spelen Stockholm' The year '1912' is also present.

Olympic gold medal won by Miss Fanny Durack at Stockholm, 1912, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139311257

Women in sport

Historically, Australian women have made their mark in the sports record books worldwide.

Research guide
A gold medal standing upright on a white cotton surface. The medal shows a figure holding a trumped and a wine amphorae. Behind the figure is a bust on a stand. In raised lettering around the edge of the medal are the words 'Olympiska Spelen Stockholm' The year '1912' is also present.

Olympic gold medal won by Miss Fanny Durack at Stockholm, 1912, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139311257

Women in sport

Topic

Today, at the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, tennis tournaments and a host of other sporting events, men and women can compete at elite levels. But this has not always been the case for sports and recreational physical pursuits.

Digital Classroom
Professor Helen Ennis

Professor Helen Ennis

Winter Tales presents Professor Helen Ennis

Join Professor Helen Ennis as she discusses her extensive writing on the work of Australian women photographers.

Event
Headshot of Anna-Maria Arabia OAM

Anna-Maria Arabia OAM

Winter Tales presents Anna-Maria Arabia OAM

Anna-Maria Arabia reflected on her life and work advancing science and the value of evidence-informed decision making in our society.

Event
Law books stacked on a desk
Trailblazing women lawyers

Module

Explore the stories of Australian women who broke barriers in the legal profession in this learning module.

Digital Classroom
event birdo book launch
Towards a level playing field: Women in sport panel discussion

A conversation about the experiences of women in Australian sport with cricket rising star Holly Ferling, former Matildas player Michelle Heyman, paralympic gold medallist Vanessa Low and facilitated by sports journalist Anthea Moodie.

Event
Video
Top portion of a poster differently coloured side profiles of a face on a red background, with black text reading 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights'

United Nations Association of Australia, Collection of posters from United Nations Association of Australia (detail), 1978, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2847513995

The International Stage: Australian women lawyers as active citizens

Topic

This topic links the Australian Women Lawyers who have acted as active citizens on an international stage.  

Digital Classroom
Collection guide
Sturgess Collection

108 oral history interviews recorded by Sturgess between 1976 and 1986 while writing his 2 books and working on various ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) productions.

Collection guide
Cover of the book 'Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia's First Children's Author'
Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia's First Children's Author

Kate Forsyth & Belinda Murrell

Book
NLA Publishing book
A photograph of a smiling woman seated in a wheelchair in front of a large bookcase and desk. She is wearing a white tshirt. The wheelchair has a control stick which sits just below her chin.

Rosemary Kayess, 2015, photo courtesy of Kim Rubenstein

Rosemary Kayess - Human rights lawyer

Topic 

Rosemary Kayess has devoted her career to the study and promotion of human rights and discrimination law in Australia and internationally.

Digital Classroom
Muted oil painting of a short dark haired woman wearing a yellow scarf and light blue shirt.

 Rupert Bunny, Portrait of Henry Handel Richardson, (192-?), nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134317179

Richardson Collection

Extensive personal and family papers of Henry Handel Richardson (Pseudonym of Ethel Florence Lindesay Robertson (née Richardson)). The Richardson Collection also includes original manuscripts of the music composed by Richardson for many songs.

Collection guide
Smiling woman with short black hair and a fringe sitting at a table where several black and white photos of a woman are spread out
Researching a biography of scriptwriter and playwright Eleanor Witcombe

Learn about the fascinating career of Eleanor Witcombe with 2023 National Library Fellow and biographer Eleanor Hogan.

Blog

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