Joan Bielski
Joan Margaret Bielski,, was an Australian activist for equality for women in employment, education and public life.
Early life
Born at Narrabri, New South Wales to banker Francis Ward and Doris. The family moved to Armidale where Bielski attended St Patrick's Convent and later completed her intermediate certificate at St Mary's Convent in Gunnedah.Career
Bielski graduated from the University of Sydney in 1949 and became a History, English and Economics teacher with the NSW Department of Education until 1974.In 1972 Bielski was a founding member of the Women's Electoral Lobby and also of the NSW Women in Education group.
On her retirement from teaching in 1974 Bielski spent three years as principal research officer to the Royal Commission on Human Relationships. In 1977 she was appointed head of the NSW Ministry of Education's Social Development Unit.
Awards and recognition
In the 1989 Australia Day Honours, Bielski was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, for "service to the development of equal opportunities for women and girls, particularly in education".At the second Edna Ryan Awards in 1999 she was named the Grand Stirrer.
The 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours saw her promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia, for "service to the community, particularly through programs to encourage women's participation in political life and through continued contributions to the principles of equal opportunity, access to education and social reform".
Publications
Women Engineers, Redress Press, 1988, Coming to the Party? Women Into Politics, 1994, A Women's Charter for Political Reform 2001. A charter for political equality for women and for good government for all Australian citizens, Women Into Politics, 2001, The History, Organisation and Achievements of WEL NSW, Women's Electoral Lobby NSW Inc., 2005,- "Fear and Loathing in the Fifties", chapter in Dirty Secrets: Our ASIO Files, edited by Meredith Burgmann, NewSouth Publishing, 2014,