In 1987, following a decision by the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) Women's Committee, the Emma Miller Awards were established.
The Award is presented each year to women who have made an outstanding contribution to their union at the grass roots level. Recipients of this prestigious award are nominated by their respective union. Each year, affiliates of the QCU are invited to nominate a woman activist from their rank and file to receive the Emma Miller award.
Read more about each of the dedicated QTU women unionists who have received the Emma Miller Award below.
Who was Emma Miller?
Women's rights activist, union organiser and suffragette
Emma Miller was foundation president of the Woman’s Equal Franchise Association between 1894 and 1905. Women won the right to vote in state elections in Queensland in 1905, although women had had the right to vote in federal elections since federation, and voted for the first time in the 1903 federal election.
On 2 February 1912, later known as Black Friday, Miller led a contingent of women to Parliament House at the height of a general strike, avoiding police with fixed bayonets. On their return, the women were charged by baton swinging police, and Miller reputedly stuck her hatpin into Police Commissioner, Patrick Cahill’s horse. Cahill fell from his horse and claimed to have been permanently injured.
Direct political action was not Miller’s only cause. She was anti-militarist and opposed conscription in World War I. She believed that “those who make the quarrel should be the only ones to fight”. As vice-president of the Women’s Peace Army, Miller attended the Peace Alliance Conference in Melbourne in 1916. She also fought hard for free speech and civil liberties. During the First World War, Miller preached equal pay to those fearing that women would take the jobs of men away at the war.
Jenni’s Union activism has spanned more than two decades, from her grassroots campaigning on teacher housing issues in Charters Towers to pursuing school and teacher housing issues after Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Yasi...
Paula has led her very active and successful branch in local campaign initiatives around the QTU state election strategy, federal funding and MP relationship building...
Lyn joined the QTU in 1970, and after becoming a school Union Representative in 1974, went on to serve long terms in branch, State Council, standing committee and Executive positions for the QTU, culminating in seven years as QTU Honorary Vice-President...
Margaret held many positions within the Union, including Women’s Contact, State Council Rep and Conference Rep. She was particularly active in promoting union membership to young educators, and she also promoted the fight for women within teaching...
Jenny began teaching in 1976 and attended strike meetings and Labour Day Marches in the 70s and 80s. She was forced to resign from the Dept in 1983 to have a family, but she rejoined the Union in 1986 when doing supply and contract work...
Catherine became the Union Rep at Goondiwindi State School in 1995, and also served as President, Area Council delegate and the State Council delegate for the Border Branch...
June Coleman's involvement in the Union began in 1981, and her activism began in 1992, when she became the school’s Workplace Rep, a role she maintained for 16 years....
