A Female Trailblazer!

 Here in Australia, we live amongst many inspirational women but the ones that draw our attention at the moment are those that don shorts and boots and play football - the beautiful game!

Roaming around Sydney lately I have seen many groups of young ladies in sports gear often carrying a football and speaking in excitable tones, often in a different language. The Women's World Cup is and will continue to be absolutely amazing with a huge legacy!

So, thinking of strong women, over the next few weeks I will be honouring those women who were trailblazers in their fields, inspiring others to follow in their stead. Today's blog is honouring ...

MARGARET LILLIAN JEFFREY (nee HINES)

Margaret was born in Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands of NSW in July 1896, the second child of Thomas Hines, farmer, of Bundanoon, and his wife Susan. Margaret had four brothers. Not much is known about Margaret's early life but no doubt she received at least rudimental education and was groomed in all the virtues of being a wife and mother; cooking, cleaning and keeping house.

The first World War brought with it, anguish and despair. It also brought about a scarcity of eligible young men, however, Margaret married on 19th April 1919 to Walter George Baden Jeffrey, an 18-year-old labourer, at St Saviour's Anglican Cathedral in Goulburn NSW. 

Walter had ambition and joined the NSW Police Force and the couple lived in various areas throughout the State but eventually settled in Sydney. When Walter died in 1931, Margaret applied to join the Police Force as she had plenty of knowledge about Police procedures. She knew it was an outside chance as at 35 years of age she would be seen to be too old. Police Commissioner William MacKay thought differently and accepted her application on 1st March 1932 because of the very reason she had applied and knowing that she needed employment having four children to support during the height of the Great Depression.

At the time there were only about six Policewomen in the state of NSW and like them she was appointed a Special Constable and operated in plain clothes. Her first post was at Clarence Street Police Station. She was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Branch on 26th June 1935 where her duties included inquiries into serious offences. Whilst working in the CIB she was complimented twice by the Police Commissioner on her handling of women in rape and assault cases. 

On 1st April 1943, Margaret was promoted to Special Constable (1st Class). After spending eleven years at the CIB, she was transferred to Burwood Police Station in 1946 and then to Campsie the following years as officer-in-charge. She returned to the Criminal Investigation Branch on 14th January 1949 and on the 1st of August 1950 became a Special Sergeant (3rd class). Sergeant Margaret Jeffrey was officer in charge of women police in NSW from 25th January 1954 until she retired on 24th December 1956 having increased her ranking to Sergeant (2nd Class). At the time of her retirement the number of Policewomen had increased to forty.


Margaret Lillian Jeffrey - wikipedia

Margaret was remembered fondly by her colleagues as a kind, maternal person who was helpful to new women Police recruits as well as to young ladies deemed as "uncontrollable". Whilst undertaking all aspects of Police work (with the exception of attending motor vehicle accidents) Margaret was expected to concentrate her attention on the needs of women and children. Her extensive duties required her to take statements from female witnesses in cases of indecent assault, carnal knowledge, rape, incest, abortion, child murder, concealment of birth and bigamy.  She was also expected to give advice on domestic problems as well as checking truancy. 


Margaret with recruits - Wikipedia

It wasn't until 1961 that permission was granted for Policewomen to remain in employment after marriage in NSW. In 1965, fifty-eight women of various ranks were sworn into the NSW Police Force as regular officers with full Police powers: other employment conditions and entitlements. 

After her retirement Margaret bought a small poultry farm and orchard near Jervis Bay on the South coast of NSW. Later in life she returned to Sydney to live with one of her daughters.

Margaret Lillian Jeffrey died on 24th June 1977 at Marrickville Hospital and was buried in the Catholic area of Rookwood, (she had converted to Catholicism, many years before), with her mother.


Margaret Jeffrey and mother's headstone - Findagrave - Catholic with thanks 

Walter George Baden Jeffrey, Margaret's husband, is buried in Section 9 of the Anglican area very close to the fence near the Centenary Drive entrance to the Cemetery.  


Walter George Baden Jeffrey headstone (inscription as he was known) - Findagrave

Kudos to Margaret, a true trailblazer who led the way for women to be accepted across all aspects of the NSW Police Force. Bravo!

I have drawn my information about Margaret from records at Ancestry.com, the Australian History of Biography entry by Alison Holland 1996, History of Women in the NSW Police Force and Wikipedia.

If you have any comments to make about this blog, please add them below or at the Facebook Group page which can be found under a search of 

rookwoodcemeterydiscoveries

or send me a personal message at

lorainepunch@gmail.com

until next week!


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