Susan Benny

Politician

Susan Grace Benny became the first female member of a local council in Australia when she was elected to represent the newly-created Seacliff Ward of Brighton Council in 1919. Interested in politics, in 1918 she became president of the women’s branch of the South Australian Liberal Union. She had ensured that equality of divorce for women was on the party’s agenda and in 1918 this became law. She kept her seat through two elections and stood unsuccessfully for mayor in 1922.

‘…there is work to be done in Municipal life which will not even be commenced unless a woman undertakes it.'