Is there a better way to be introduced to Muriel Matters than by listening to her story inside the walls of South Australian Parliament? At an event for the South Australian History Festival Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society Inc., Frances Bedford MP, is doing just that. The event will be held on Monday, 20…… Continue reading Reminder: MMS SA History Festival Event – 20/5/19

Is there a better way to be introduced to Muriel Matters than by listening to her story inside the walls of South Australian Parliament? At an event for the South Australian History Festival Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society Inc., Frances Bedford MP, is doing just that. There has already been one talk by Frances…… Continue reading ‘How Muriel Matters Became a Suffragist’ – SA History Festival Event

As part of South Australia’s History Festival there is an exciting FREE event that will interest MMS members… It promises to be a fascinating afternoon where Frances Bedford MP, Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society Inc., will talk not only about the significance of Muriel Matters but her own personal journey along the way. To…… Continue reading SA History Festival Event – Consuming Passions: Why Muriel Matters

Hello Members You are invited to attend the Final Performance on Sunday 17 March 2019 at 3.00pm followed by refreshments in the Hetzel Lecture Theatre, Institute Building. Please come along and see Elizabeth Webb Nicholls’ closing performance. There is still time to see this wonderful performance before it ends on Sunday 17 March 2019. Hope…… Continue reading A Suffrage Soapbox – Last Performance (17/3)

It’s Fringe time in Adelaide! Anyone out and about knows that there is a certain buzz in the city this time of year. Creating some of this excitment is ‘A Soapbox for Democracy’ on North Terrace (held outside of the Institute Building) where you can listen to the views of South Australia’s most famous female activists. Mary Lee,…… Continue reading Fringe Time!! A Soapbox for Democracy Continues…

What better way to kick off Fringe opening night than to gather round the soapbox to see a re-enactment of Mary Lee speak on North Terrace. Lee was the inaugural secretary of the Women’s Suffrage League and instrumental in helping women attain the vote in South Australia 125 years ago in 1894. Members are invited…… Continue reading ‘A Suffrage Soapbox’ and Nibbles – MMS Event This Friday (15/2)!

#March4Women was a roaring success last year as women (and men!) in London gathered to lobby for gender equality – just as the suffragettes and suffragists did 100 years earlier. It is set to kick off again in March 2019 and we encourage our UK members to get involved. For further information about the event/s planned…… Continue reading UK Members – #March4Women 2019

On Sunday 2 December 2018 The Muriel Matters Society Inc. had its annual Christmas gathering. The enthusiastic team at the Seven Stars Hotel in Angas Street in the Adelaide CBD were kind enough to host us. The Secretary of The Society, Frances Bedford MP, informed the members of her recent trip to New Zealand and…… Continue reading An MMS Christmas!

Dear Members, I quick reminder that The Muriel Matters Society Christmas get together is just around the corner! Here are all the details you need. It will be lovely to catch up for some Christmas cheer – see you all there!

Dr Clare Wright is an author and academic who is well known for her The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka. Her most recent release You Daughters of Freedom tells the story of Australian democracy through the eyes of remarkable Australian women, including our very own Muriel Matters. There are two events with Dr Wright taking place…… Continue reading Dr Clare Wright – Two Adelaide Events!

Come hear all about Adelaide’s daring girl – Muriel Matters (b.1877-d.1969) from Frances Bedford MP, Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society Inc. and Polly Dance, Curator of the City Libraries History Hub exhibition ‘The Story of Muriel Matters’. Muriel Matters was a renowned suffragist known for her ‘hat trick’ of firsts – the world’s first…… Continue reading ‘Why does Muriel Matter?’ – Free Talk at Adelaide City Library!

After hugely successful seasons at the Adelaide Fringe and the Edinburgh Fringe we are pleased to announce that a performance about Muriel’s life will now appear in London. ‘That Daring Australian Girl’ is written and performed by Joanne Hartstone, an accomplished creative and friend of The Society. Members of the UK Chapter of The Muriel…… Continue reading That Daring Australian Girl – Two Special London Performances!

The Muriel Matters Society Inc. had their 2017-18 AGM on Sunday morning, 26 August 2018. It was well attended and members enjoyed the hospitality of the Seven Stars Hotel on Angas Street in the CBD. The Secretary of the Society, Frances Bedford MP, outlined the activities of the Society in the past year, oulined the…… Continue reading Muriel Matters Society Inc. 2018 AGM

Some recent news from Frances Bedford MP JP (Secretary of The Muriel Matters Society Inc.) while in Mount Gambier… It was wonderful today to meet the women of the Mt Gambier branch of Soroptimist at Generations in Jazz. President Pat (on the right) has been every year and boasts a 40 year membership of this…… Continue reading Soroptimist Branch at Generations in Jazz!

This is a quick update for members who may find the following talk of interest (Muriel herself was a life-long pacifist). The South Australian Branch of the Medical Association for Prevention of War is holding a talk on Friday, 25 May at 7.15pm in the Adelaide CBD. The topic of the talk is ‘The Nuclear…… Continue reading Medical Association for Prevention of War – Upcoming Talk

For those who were present at the filming of ‘A Suffrage Trilogy’ you would have heard from Dawn Giddings from the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of South Australia (WCTU) about an event they are organizing for the History Festival. They will have a display relating to women reformers who were prominent in South Australian politics…… Continue reading WCTU History Festival Event

Thanks to everyone who came out as ‘extras’ for the filming of the suffrage stars of ‘A Soapbox for Democracy’ on Sunday (25/3)! We had a wonderful turnout of interested people at the Hetzel Room in the Institute Building on North Terrace. Members and non-members alike were present while living decendents of Elizabeth Webb Nicholls…… Continue reading The Suffrage Trilogy – An Update

Our London members will be pleased to know that a short play about Muriel Matters will be performed on 26 March 2018 at 7.45pm at the Pleasance Theatre. Called ‘Deeds, Not Words!’ it will dramatize some of the key moments in Muriel’s life. It will be performed by Elise Lamb, a London-based Australian actress and writer.…… Continue reading Deeds, Not Words! A Short London Production on Muriel Matters by Elise Lamb

Members will know Robert Wainwright as the author of ‘Miss Muriel Matters’ a book-length biography of the Adelaide-born suffragist. You will have the chance to see Robert speak at The Commonwealth Club of Adelaide in a talk entitled ‘Why Muriel Matters and Still Does’. With Robert’s years of experience as a public speaker, journalist and…… Continue reading Author Robert Wainwright to Speak in Adelaide on Muriel

Seeds of Affinity is a South Australian organisation that helps women transition to life in the community after spending time in prison. The organisation is hosting a movie fundraiser in collaboration with UniSA at 3pm, 9 December 2017, at The Regal Theatre in Kensington Park. For more information and ticketing prices see the flyer. The movie being…… Continue reading Seeds of Affinity Movie Fundraiser

The Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society, Frances Bedford, had a short but busy visit to the UK in early September 2017. There were many highlights over the week. Frances met with Stephen Spence who is involved in the Muriel Matters Society in the UK. Nicola Wright at the Women’s Library at the London School…… Continue reading UK Trip 2017 Highlights!

2017 marks the 150th Anniversary of Prince Alfred’s visit to Adelaide in 1867. On 12 November, The Victoriana Society of South Australia is hosting a luncheon at the Adelaide Town Hall with re-enactments of toasts, speeches and musical performances from his actual visit. Members are encouraged to attend! See the flyer for more information and…… Continue reading The Victoriana Society of SA’s 2017 Luncheon!

‘Muriel Matters’ attended the History Teacher’s Association Conference on Friday at Adelaide University. It’s great to see history remains such an important area for so many dedicated teachers and speaking at a workshop gave me the opportunity to reinforce Muriel’s role in the UK Suffragist movement. Being born in SA in 1877, Muriel benefited from the…… Continue reading ‘Muriel Matters’ at the History Teacher’s Association Conference

On Sunday morning, 13 August 2017, members of The Muriel Matters Society met in the Chapel Building of the Migration Museum just off Kintore Avenue in the Adelaide CBD. The Society’s President, Robin Matters, and Secretary, Frances Bedford MP, conducted the AGM. The 2016-17 financial report and correspondence was discussed by those members present. Frances…… Continue reading The Muriel Matters Society Inc. AGM 2017

In late August and early September 2016 the Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society, Frances Bedford, and Wendy Herbert visited the United Kingdom on a whirl wind tour promoting all things Muriel and suffrage! Read on for a few highlights of the trip… A real highlight was when Frances met with the Home Secretary of the…… Continue reading The Muriel Matters Society UK Trip 2016!