Marjorie Oke

Born in Richmond in 1911 to a community activist mother and a trade unionist father, Marjorie left school in the Great Depression. Her first job was as a teacher in a one-room school in Scoresby. After work she cycled to Caulfield Technical College and studied for her Primary Teaching Art and Craft Certificate. In 1935 she enrolled at Melbourne Teachers' College. After her marriage in 1942 her teaching career was suspended because married women were not allowed to teach.

She got a job with the Australian Jam Company where the poor employment conditions caused her to join the Food Preservers' Union and become active in the Australian Labor Party. In 1950 after joining with other women to fight for peace and social justice, Marjorie became a founding member of the Union of Australian Women. A few years later she went with her husband to Moe where she was able to return to teaching.

Marjorie campaigned for equal pay for women teachers, the abolition of the marriage bar and access to superannuation. In addition she formed a branch of the Aborigines Advancement League, ensuring that it was chaired by an Aboriginal woman and helped to set up Victoria's first rural respite care for intellectually handicapped children.

Later in life Marjorie became interested in the problems faced by ageing women and successfully promoted the idea of hydrotherapy for older women, leading a class at the Northcote City Baths. At 80 years of age she became a founding member of the Network for Older Women, established in 1992 as a forum for the concerns of older women.

Marjorie Oke received the City of Moe Decasma award for outstanding service rendered to the city (1976), the Ministry of Housing rooming house for women in Fairfield was named Marjorie Oke House in her honour (1990), she was one of three women honoured by the National Council of Women of Victoria at its 90th Anniversary dinner and in 1991 Marjorie was awarded the Order of the Medal of Australia.

Marjorie Oke is recognised for her indomitable spirit and her unwavering commitment to working collaboratively with others for the advancement of women, the rights of Aboriginal people, peace and social justice.