Alicia O'Shea Petersen

Alicia Teresa Jane O'Shea Petersen (2 July 1862 – 22 January 1923) was a Tasmanian suffragist and social reformer.

Biography

Alicia O'Shea Petersen was born in Tasmania, daughter of Hugh and Jane (née Wood) McShane.[1] She became interested in women's and labor rights as a result of her own work in sweatshops. She was also influenced by her cousin John Earle, who founded the Workers' Political League and became the first Labor Premier of Tasmania in 1909.[2]

She was the first woman in Tasmania to stand as a political candidate, contesting the federal seat of Denison in 1913 as an independent. In 1922, when women were first eligible to stand for the Tasmanian House of Assembly, she was a political candidate in Denison, again as an independent.

As vice-president of the Women's Health Association, Petersen was instigator of both child welfare work and bush nursing in Tasmania. She was on the executive of the National Council of Women and the Tasmanian council of the Workers' Educational Association until her death.[3]

Petersen was twice married. On 28 May 1884, she married widower Patrick Robert O'Shea at St Joseph's Church, Hobart.[4] Following a long illness he died in March 1886 aged 39.[5] She then married a mining investor named William Petersen at her home, Wilmott Terrace, Hobart on 16 December 1891.[6] He died in 1912.[2]

Petersen died on 22 January 1923 at her home, Wilmott Terrace, 18 Harrington Street, Hobart.[3]

References
  1. "1862 Births in the District of Brighton". stors.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. Pearce, Vicki, "Petersen, Alicia Teresa Jane O'Shea (1862–1923)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 1 January 2019
  3. "Mrs. O'Shea Petersen". World (Hobart, Tas. : 1918 - 1924). 23 January 1923. p. 4. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. "Family Notices". Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). 14 June 1884. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. "Family Notices". Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). 8 March 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. "Family Notices". Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). 24 February 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
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