Dreaming of Tomorrow: Local Government

Mayor of Ipswich
James Thomas (Jim) Finimore

It was during this period when people were looking towards a brighter future, that Vi Jordan was the first female alderman elected to Ipswich City Council. She was also the second woman to be elected to Queensland Parliament, and the first to represent the Labor Party. Born in 1913, Vi attended Brassall State School and Ipswich Girls’ Grammar before marrying railway signalman David Jordan. She joined the ALP in 1946 and later said this was prompted by memories of unemployment during the Depression and the role played by her father Jim Perrett, an active Labor Party member.

In 1961, she was elected to Ipswich City Council and in 1966, she was elected as Member for Ipswich West, retaining the seat until 1974. Her particular interests included equal pay for women, discrimination in the workforce and child- care. In 1975, she was appointed as a member of the Council of Queensland Women, set up to advise the State Government on issues relating to the recommendations of the Queensland Commission of Inquiry into the Status of Women. She died in 1982.

J.A. Sewell, Director of Local Government, reported to Council at the beginning of 1950, on the administration of local government in the city.  Sewell's investigation was undertaken at the request of council, following the previous council elections, where the Labour Party won nine seats to the Citizen's Party's two.

The report suggested the reorganisation of council administration to provide not less than three standing committees.  It was also proposed that the Town Clerk's position would be renamed to Chief Administration Officer and that there would be extensive alterations in the procedures within the departments of finance and works.

The 48-paged document contained a graph (copied below) with the proposed organisational structure, and a schedule of draft by-laws.  In addition to the four departments (City Administration, Finance, Works, Health), there would be three standing committees (Finance, Works, Health), with additional committees able to be established from time to time.