Louisa Lawson

Louisa Lawson (Wikipedia)

Louisa Lawson, mother of Henry Lawson, had a tough childhood, growing up in Mudgee, NSW. She had close to no money and was the eldest of nine children, which she had to look after whilst helping out at her mother's dressmaking shop. Forced to leave school at thirteen years of age, Louisa married young to Peter Lawson to whom she bore four children although he was rarely ever home. After moving to Sydney in 1882, she bought the newspaper, The Republican, from her earnings from managing boarding houses. Her move to Sydney signaled the end of her marriage so she had to make her own way. From working there, she was able to gain the necessary experience to publish her own newspaper, The Dawn, which was to be the first ever journal to be run entirely by women.

Henry Lawson

The Dawn was published not only in Australia but also over seas and was printed monthly. It was known for its strong feminist views; the journal supported then radical views such as women being able to vote, get a fuller education and strengthen their legal rights. Louisa was the editor and printed many a controversial piece. The Dawn was published for a decade until 1905, yet the paper only employed ten female staff at most. The only male staff member ever there would probably have been her son Henry who wrote poems for the paper sometimes.

Six years before Mrs. Lawson started The Dawn, she started The Dawn Club, the birthplace and heart of the suffragette movement. They used this place so that the women could meet there and discuss their opinions and practice public speaking along with printing pamphlets to advertise their campaign about women suffrage. Louisa was also avidly against prostitution, which she blamed on men. She stressed repeatedly that women should dress appropriately but attractively and pressed upon mothers to teach their children this. Louisa Lawson was successful in her attempts for women's rights and got her way in 1902.

After The Dawn, Louisa retired and started writing poetry, and published two volumes and several short stories. She enjoyed something to do as she grew old and quite lonely. She also took pleasure in her garden in which she planted many native plants. Louisa memory faded and in 1918 she was admitted into the Hospital for the insane, where she died two years later on the 12th of August 1920. Although she had a failing memory, her strong will and determination never failed until the very end.

Buried in the Rookwood cemetery, she left her estate to the father of her nine much-loved grandchildren, her son Peter. Louisa Lawson is well remember to this day, often for a quote she made in reply to the Bulletin editor's "Red Page" ~ "And why shouldn't a women be tall and strong?"