Jessie Rooke

Awarded for service to community, advocacy and inclusion; government, public services and politics; human rights

10 September 1845 – 5 January 1906

Entered on roll: 2023

"Tasmanian Women's Suffrage Leader"

Jessie Spinks Rooke was born in London in 1845 and moved to Burnie with her second husband in the early 1890s.

Jessie soon became involved with the Burnie Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and was elected president in 1894. The WCTU emerged as leaders of the Tasmanian women’s suffrage campaign, believing that women’s right to vote was essential to protecting the safety and dignity of women and children.

In the winter of 1896, Jessie and women’s suffrage advocate, Georgina Kermode set out on a train and coach tour of Tasmania and were greeted by large public gatherings at each stop. Jessie and Georgina collected campaign funds and distributed leaflets. By the end of the tour, around 2,000 Tasmanians had signed the petition calling for votes for women.

Jessie and Georgina presented the petition to Parliament in late 1896. While there was support in the House of Assembly, the Legislative Council defeated the Bill. Jessie undertook a second winter tour in 1898 with Elizabeth Nicholls of South Australia on an ambitious itinerary taking in 30 towns. They collected around 2,000 signatures, but the Legislative Council again defeated the Bill.

Jessie worked with Vida Goldstein to progress suffrage at the national level, which was achieved in 1902. In 1902, Jessie attended the International Council of Women Conference in Washington USA.

On 16 September 1903, the Tasmanian Parliament finally passed legislation granting women the vote. However, Jessie realised her work was not finished. In 1903 Jessie founded the Tasmanian Women’s Suffrage Association (later the Women’s Political Association) which educated women on laws and politics and encouraged them to vote. Jessie was President of the Association until her death in 1906.

Sadly, Jessie was never able to vote as no elections were held between women gaining the vote, and her death. However, Jessie’s advocacy paved the way for women’s rights and political participation in Tasmania. Tasmanian women were granted the right to stand for election in 1921 and the first woman was elected in 1948.