23 September – On this day

Roma Flinders Mitchell was born in Adelaide on 2 October 1913. She excelled at Adelaide University, and her involvement in student politics led to her being a pioneer for women’s rights when she was denied entrance to the Law Students’ Society because she was a woman, she formed the Women Law Students’ Society.

Mitchell was admitted to the Bar in 1934, and became a partner in the legal firm of Nelligan, Angas Parsons and Mitchell in 1935.

On this day Mitchell was made a Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, the first Australian woman.

Some of her other achievements include:

First woman in Australia to be a Queen’s Counsel (1962)

First woman Governor of an Australian state

In 1982 Mitchell became a Dame Commander of the British Empire.