A Woman of Note!

 It seems only fitting after the Federal Election results to showcase a woman who made a difference!

After attending the Sydney Writers Festival in the past few days I was inspired to write a blog which relates to a woman who, together with many other things, championed women writers and inspired them to go forth and dream big.

ZARA ARONSON

Zara was born in Sydney in September 1864 to Moritz Baar, a merchant of Hanover and London, and his wife Zillah. Zara was taken to  Europe at three years of age and educated at Bradford Girls Grammar School, Yorkshire, England, and at Weisbaden, Germany. She returned to Sydney in 1879 and attended Mrs Morell's school. At the Great Synagogue on 25 October 1882 she married Frederick Aronson, a merchant and set up house in  Woollahra near her father, who at the time imported Indian and Chinese wares.

Mrs Aronson became active in local charities and was a member of the committees of the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution amongst several others. In the 1890’s she turned to feminist activities and was an original member of the Women’s Literary Society. Zara was the founder of the National Council of Women in 1896 and it’s corresponding secretary in 1900-1901 as well as honorary secretary in 1906-1908. She contributed to the Australian Town and Country Journal and the Illustrated London News. In 1897-1901 under the alias of “Thalia", she edited the women’s pages in the Sydney Mail and published the XXth Century Cooking and Home Decoration magazine (1900).

Zara Aronson - Wikipedia

By 1899 her husband had set up Frederick Aronson & Co., wholesale jewellers and importers and in 1901 she accompanied him to Melbourne. Later in Sydney, she edited the Home Queen in 1903-04 and wrote much of it herself, including the theatrical and fashion columns. In the following years Zara edited the fashion pages in the Town and Country Journal and the Sunday Times (Sydney), and was Sydney correspondent of the Brisbane Telegraph. About 1912 Aronson set up a branch of his jewellery business in Perth and Zara joined the staff of the Western Mail. Described as a 'most capable journalist', she wrote directly on to her typewriter.

Returning to Sydney in 1914 Zara became an original member of the executive committee of the NSW division of the British Red Cross Society, and organized and ran the depot which distributed over a million books and magazines during World War I. She also raised some £500 for the Junior Red Cross by the proceeds of her Excel Cookery Book. In February 1925 she resigned from the Red Cross executive committee in protest against the society's funds being expended on other than ex-servicemen. During the visit of the United States Navy to Sydney in August she organized canteens for the sailors.

In September 1925, Zara was one of four women journalists who called a meeting to establish a society to bring together women writers in NSW. As a result of this meeting, Florence Baverstock of The Bulletin became the first President of the Society of Women Writers, (Dame) Mary Gilmore was one of four Vice Presidents and  Zara Aronson, Honorary Secretary, (Blanche d’Alpuget was one of the Honorary Treasurers). The aim of the Society was to "promote the knowledge of literature and encourage Australian women writers; to foster social contact between writers, and to strengthen the ties of interest between Australian and visiting writers. Membership was open to ‘women actively engaged as journalists, authors and playwrights, and recognised contributors of articles paid for by newspapers and magazines; or, such women not now so engaged, who have a literary record of worth and distinction’". quoted directly from the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc website.

 

Snipped from The (Sydney) Sun 15 November 1932

The organisation formed connections with the Women’s Literary Society, the Feminist Club, the Lyceum Club, and the National Council of Women through cross membership. In March 1927, Mary Gilmore and Zara Aronson were appointed delegates to the National Council of Women.

A weekly luncheon was introduced to give members an opportunity to socialise with other writers. These lunches soon proved to be the most popular activity offered by the Society of Women Writers and continue on a monthly basis to this day. In 1931 the Society established a Friendly Fund to aid members who were struggling financially in the deepening Depression. Proceeds from the sale of INK! - a collection of short stories, poems and articles by Australian authors, and still published monthly today, raised money for the Fund.

In 1970, the Society changed its name to the Society of Women Writers (Australia), with branches established in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. I am happy to say I am a financial member.

Front page latest issue Autumn 2022

Besides helping establish the Society of Women's Writers, Zara was the founder of the local branch of John O'London's Literary Circle. In 1930-1937 as Zara Baar Aronson she contributed irregularly to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Zara Aronson encouraged women writers and championed just causes and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1936.

Zara died at her home in Woollahra on 1st July 1944 ans was buried in the Jewish Section of the Rookwood Cemetery alongside her husband Frederick (Fred) who had died in 1928. Unfortunately her headstone is missing some lead lettering.

Zara Aronson's headstone taken in 2020

Many references to Zara Aronson  and the Society of Women's Writers can be found via a simple Google search or via Trove - archived newspapers etc from the National Library.

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