Hello Everyone!
It’s been a long time between newsletters, and I sincerely thank members for their patience.

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Recent News:

• URGENT NOTICE: Our friend Heidi will organise a ‘Walk for Peace’ with Peace Poles for Oceania/Rotary Adelaide on Friday 23 October, starting at 11am. See www.adelaiderotary.com.au for full details. The walkers will arrive at NCW House around Noon. As I cannot be there, the house will not be open to welcome the walkers. If any member/s can spare the time to be there on the day to represent The Society, please just show up. I would be very grateful, and you could add a few words on our behalf and report back to the AGM. There are now 11 Peace Poles throughout the CBD, including the Muriel Matters Pole at our offices at 95 South Terrace, May Peace Prevail on Earth.
  
• The Oaklands VIEW Club has produced a lovely calendar ‘Significant Women Who Have Been Forgotten’ – Muriel is not included, as apparently she has not been forgotten! Only ordered copies were printed, so sadly none are available for purchase. I will have a copy at the AGM.
  
• Our member Dr Claire Wright (author of ‘You Daughters of Freedom’) recently won Book of the Year, NSW Literary Awards for ‘Naku Dharuk – The Bark Petitions’. The citation describes the book as deeply researched, highly original and vividly alive – a book that should be read by all Australians. Sounds like it is well worth a look!
  
• Canberra-based charity ‘Fearless Women’ has contacted us about including Muriel in a national fundraising project for International Women’s Day 2027. Naturally we will do all possible to assist!
  
• A recently discovered film clip of Muriel being interviewed in 1957 has been added to the webpage! We have had a still photo of this occasion in the archive for many years, and it is really interesting to discover more about the interview – and to hear Muriel say she went out on the balloon rigging! It’s always lovely to hear her voice and her description of her adventures. Click Here to View the Video!
  
• Muriel is often portrayed on the stage by other groups – we recently heard from ‘Pioneer Women of Adelaide’ – a performance held in History Month (May), at Beaumont House. MM was in good company – Mary Lee, Augusta Zadow, Catherine Helen Spence, Lady Davenport and Daisy Bates. Good spotting and thanks, Lise!
  
• Speaking of History Month, our contribution for 2027 will be a 125th Anniversary re-enactment performance of Tennyson’s ‘Enoch Arden’ in the Elder Hall. Details are still being finalised, but Joanne Hartstone will definitely be ‘Muriel’. We have tentatively secured a well-known Adelaide pianist to play ‘Bryceson’ and a talented director. More news when the date is confirmed by Adelaide University. There will be plenty of front-of-house opportunities to assist in making this a great day. Hopefully, people will feel like dressing up in period attire. We will need 600 enthusiasts to fill the auditorium, so we’ll need help getting groups together.
  
• There’s more artistic news to update re the work of our friend and UK member Dr Naomi Paxton (in London) and the growing fan base of her alter ego, Ada Campe. They have recently won ‘Best Supporting Artist’ at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026. Naomi’s thesis is on the Actresses’ Franchise League and she is regularly sought out for comment on all things suffrage. We are grateful she is our friend – and glad she always gives Muriel a plug.
  
• Have made some wonderful new friends at the Chichester Women’s History Group, who contacted us about Muriel’s friendship with their favourite suffragist, Madge Turner. Although we knew Madge’s name, we did not realise the significance of the relationship. Madge joined Muriel on The Caravan Tour (in June 1908) and is featured on the postcard – ‘A Halt Near Chichester’, which we have in the collection. Like us, they already have a maquette in preparation for a statue. They have sent their booklet and some badges which will be added to the library and collection.
  
• Elizabeth Crawford has released a wonderful new book – ‘The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects’. Our library has received a copy, and it will be at the AGM. It is full of great things. If members wish to purchase, we should be able to lodge a bulk order.
  
• Local and international inquiries have continued steadily – always good to speak with like-minded souls. There seems to be a lot of research going on, and not just in the purely suffrage area. Looking forward to seeing the results of this work, as we always request a copy of how it’s used or what is submitted.
  
• South Australian Treasure and MMS member Valmai Hankel died in August. I met Valmai very early on in the Muriel research, and she was a great supporter from the start. Condolences to her family and legion of friends.

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Membership Renewal Time!
2026/2027 Financial Year

Thank you to everyone who has already paid their subs.
Notices are always included with your Xmas card each year.

Given the new surcharge ban on online card payments, we will have to give some thought to accepting future card payments. As our membership fee is low, there is not much margin to absorb the additional costs. More on this after AGM.

You can now make payments online via credit or debit card on our website!
You can still make usual payments with Cash, Cheque or Bank Transfer/Direct Debit- just download the form on the Membership page.

www.murielmatterssociety.com.au/membership

Full Membership: $20.00 – Concession Membership: $10.00
Paid to info & reminders are sent out annually with calendars & Christmas cards
**Please remember to include your name when paying by bank transfer/direct debit**
We still have payments coming through without identification and need your help to allocate

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