1870

1870: Mrs Frances Perry elected first president of Ladies Committee of Management

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Mrs Frances Perry, wife of the Anglican Bishop of Melbourne, is elected as the first President of a Ladies Committee of Management. At the time, caring for children was regarded as a task best left to women.

For many years there was no constitution for the running of the Hospital. Instead, the members made up their own rules, nominating those known to them and ruling all matters domestic and financial, as well as those involving staffing and eligibility criteria of patients for admission.

A Gentlemen's Committee consisted of lawyers, accountants and businessmen, but, apart from financial dealings and lobbying, the men had no direct influence in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Hospital, being frequently over-ruled by the ladies.

1870