Irene Longman
Australian politician
Died when: 87 years 96 days (1047 months)Star Sign: Taurus
Irene Maud Longman (née Bayley; 24 April 1877 – 29 July 1964) was an Australian community worker and politician.She was the first woman elected to the Parliament of Queensland, representing the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Bulimba from 1929 to 1932 as a member of the Country and Progressive National Party (CPNP).
Longman was born in Franklin, Tasmania, to a Christian minister; her brothers Percy and James were also members of parliament.
She was educated in Sydney and trained as a kindergarten teacher, later moving to Queensland where she married Heber Longman.
The couple settled in Brisbane where she became involved in various community organisations relating to education and women's rights.Longman served as state president of the National Council of Women from 1921 to 1924.
She was elected to parliament at the 1929 state election with the support of the Queensland Women's Electoral League, but lost her seat after a single term when the CPNP suffered a landslide defeat in 1932.
In parliament she concentrated on matters relating to women and children.