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Agnes Chambers (1883–1969)

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This entry is from People Australia

Agnes Chambers, n.d.

Agnes Chambers, n.d.

Agnes Chambers, née Foster (1883-1969) midwife, miners’ women's auxiliary pioneer, community worker 

Birth: 21 August 1883 at Holygate, Broxburn, Uphall, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, daughter of Joseph Foster (1855-1926), a labourer born in Northern Ireland, and Rachel, née Keilty (1861-1919). Marriage: 30 September 1904 at Broxburn, Scotland, to James Chambers (1875-1953), shale miner. They had two daughters and six sons. Death: 27 November 1969 at Wonthaggi, Victoria. Religion: Presbyterian. 

  • Arrived in Melbourne with her family aboard the Baradine in October 1922. Her father, who had been an elder of the West United Free Church and a Sunday school teacher in Broxburn and worked for the local Labour Party there, followed her to Victoria in 1925.
  • Pioneer and first president of Miners’ Womens Auxiliary, Wonthaggi, formed in 1934, the first of its kind. Represented Wonthaggi at First National Conference of Miners’ Auxiliaries in June 1940.
  • Was a midwife. Maternity wing at Wonthaggi hospital named after her, opened in 1944. Active in the local kindergarten committee, and the school mothers club.

Sources
Merrifield papers LaTrobe Library, Melbourne; P. Cochrane, ‘The Wonthaggi Coal Strike, 1934’, Labour History, no. 27, 1974, p 28.

Original Publication

Citation details

'Chambers, Agnes (1883–1969)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/chambers-agnes-33276/text41523, accessed 28 July 2024.

© Copyright Labour Australia, 2012

Agnes Chambers, n.d.

Agnes Chambers, n.d.

Life Summary [details]

Alternative Names
  • Foster, Agnes
Birth

21 August, 1883
Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland

Death

27 November, 1969 (aged 86)
Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Passenger Ship
Occupation