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In 1917, aged 41, she married businessman Claude
Couchman, but they had no children. He died ten years later. On his death she decided to devote the rest of her life to the pursuit of public interests, which included voluntary work and the duties of a
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She worked in the
Liberal Party organisation as a member of the state executive and state council, and served as Victorian vice-president of the party from 1949 to 1955. She was the first female to be appointed to the
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Between the world wars, the League claimed 40,000 members and was the largest continuous non-labour organisation, but those numbers had dwindled to approximately 12,000 by 1944. In 1945, it merged to help form the new
225:, a conservative women's organisation established in 1904 to support the monarchy and empire, combat socialism, educate women in politics, and safeguard the interests of the home, women and children.
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She was born
Elizabeth May Ramsay Tannock, the daughter of Elizabeth Mary (née Ramsay), and Archibald Tannock. Her father was a confectioner. She had a sister, Jean, who married
233:. Couchman insisted on equal representation of women and men at all levels of the Victorian division, and was involved in establishing the branch structure of the party.
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in the 1941 New Years Day
Honours and promoted to Dame Commander in the 1961 New Years Day Honours for her public and patriotic services.
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165:; 19 April 1876 – 18 November 1982) was an Australian political activist. She served as president of the
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on three occasions, but was unsuccessful. She eventually gained pre-selection for the safe
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385:, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University
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Australian Dames
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
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336:"Australian Dictionary of Biography: Henry Frederick Mercer"
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from 1927 to 1945 and oversaw its merger into the new
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in 1916 to complete a
Bachelor of Arts degree at the
205:, another independent girls' school, she moved to
379:"Couchman, Dame Elizabeth May Ramsay (1876–1982)"
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193:from 1912 to 1917. She was born and grew up in
221:. From 1927 to 1945, she was president of the
367:, womenaustralia.info; accessed 23 July 2017.
286:Couchman Crescent, in the Canberra suburb of
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146: 1917; died 1931)
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383:Australian Dictionary of Biography
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239:Australian Broadcasting Commission
223:Australian Women's National League
177:(ABC), serving from 1932 to 1943.
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167:Australian Women's National League
156:Dame Elizabeth May Ramsay Couchman
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50:19 April 1876
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117:affiliations
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75:, Australia
56:, Australia
505:Categories
473:2 February
448:3 February
418:3 February
389:2 February
294:References
91:Occupation
46:1876-04-19
365:Biography
269:Melbourne
258:Melbourne
245:in 1934.
181:Biography
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