Catherine Helen Spence 1825-1910.

Born in Melrose, she became a leading Australian author, teacher, journalist, and campaigner for women's rights.

In 1839 her father was financially ruined so the family decided to make a fresh start, and began a new life in the colony of South Australia.

Catherine became especially influential in promoting the rights of women in South Australia and then more widely.

In 1891 she became Vice-President of the Women’s Suffrage League. She even undertook a lecture tour around the United States and Britain in 1893 and 1894, in which she focused strongly on a women's right to the vote. She returned to South Australia in December 1894 in time to see the passing of the Constitution Amendment Bill through the South Australian Parliament, giving voting rights to women, the first Australian colony so to do. This was achieved largely by her efforts.

She has since become known as the "Greatest Australian Woman" and the "Grand Old Woman of Australasia". She was immortalised in a statue unveiled in Adelaide in 1986, and she appears on the Australian 5$ note issued in 2001 to mark the for the Centenary of the Federation of Australia.

References:

undiscoveredscotland site.

Photo is in public domain