Coalfields Museum and Historical Research Centre (Inc)
Collie has been fortunate to have been home to some remarkable women during its history - Elizabeth Cunningham, Nurse Jones, Nurse Lane, Margaretta Wilson and Barbara Smith, to name a few.
More recently, former Shire President Rosanne Pimm, former Member for Collie Hilda Turnbull and recently appointed Shire President Sarah Stanley spring to mind for their contributions to the Collie community, not to mention Jan Wallace for her work towards gaining an art gallery for Collie, and for recording Collie's history.
I was quite surprised to mention Elizabeth Cunningham recently to a long-time Collie resident, to be met by a blank stare - an experience repeated several times that week when I tried out the name on other long-time locals.
The best they could come up with was: "Oh, didn't she live in Ogden Street?"
Obviously, her place of residence was more memorable than the wonderful contribution she made to Collie over many years.
The Coalfields Museum is working to ensure these remarkable women do not simply disappear into the mists of time.
Mrs Cunningham was a pocket-sized dynamo who was Collie's first woman JP, and fought hard for the establishment of Glenlee Occupational Centre, Collie's first venture into special needs education, as well as the Infant Health Centre.
When the Depression hit Collie, with its high level of unemployment, she joined the various relief committees in town, starting 42 years of continued social and community work with soup kitchens, sewing circles and fundraising functions.
During World War II, she worked with the Red Cross, was president and organiser of the Collie Army Canteen, and treasurer of the Farewell and Welcome Home Committee.
She helped form the Spastic Welfare committee and supported its fund-raising activities, and for many years was president of the Hospital Comforts Fund Committee.
She was a foundation member of the Combined Mining Unions Scholarship Committee, and vice-president of the Scottish Union of WA.
She fought for Glenlee against heavy official opposition from the Education Department, and at its opening, the Education Minister said: "She is only a little woman, but she packs a powerful punch."
She was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's New Year Honours List of 1966, for her social and community work in Collie.
Mrs Cunningham, JP, MBE, died in 1970 aged 77 years.
