StateLibQld 1 64319 Portrait of Mrs. Emma Miller , (suffragette movement in Queensland)

Portrait of Mrs. Emma Miller : [suffragette movement in Queensland]
Emma Miller was born in Derbyshire, England, 26 June 1839. Married three times, having four children with her first husband, she migrated to Brisbane, Queensland, in 1879 with her second husband, who died a year later, leaving her responsible for providing for her offspring. She married Andrew Miller in 1886. A champion of equal pay and equal opportunity for women, Emma Miller helped form a female workers union, mainly of tailoresses (of which she was one).

She was the first woman member and life member of the Brisbane Workers' Political Organisation, and was foundation president of the Woman's Equal Franchise Association (1894-1905). Became president of the Women Workers Political Organisation in 1903; the second woman to attend a Commonwealth Labor conference; and President of the Queensland branch of the Women's Peace Army. Referred to as 'Mother Miller' and 'the grand old labor woman of Queensland'. Died in Toowoomba, Queensland, 22 January 1917.