Woman's Christian Temperance Union - South Australian Branch

01/05/2023

Serena Thorne Lake (1842-1902)

Bold, fearless and faith filled, Serena Lake was only 17 years old when she started preaching in this era, it was unacceptable for women and only the very courageous would do so. Serena had seven children but sadly only one survived. Her faith was unshakable even in the midst of extreme tragedy.

Born in Devon England, Serena eventually made her way to Adelaide. She was invited to preach at Adelaide Town Hall 13 times, to a packed hall. Her compassion for women would also have her visiting prostitutes at night, trying to encourage them to enter female refuge.

Her conviction that God made men and women equal, drew her to attend the founding meeting of the Women’s Suffrage League, where she second the motion for its formation, and was elected to the council.

Serena’s retiring words as WCTU Suffrage Superintendent:-
And first and last pray! That the fetters of ignorance may fall from us, and the limitations to which man – not God – has narrowed down on our service to the race may be removed!”
“True womanhood is always true motherhood’.

26/04/2023

Miss Mary J George

Mary worked within different areas of the Suffrage League & WCTU from 1888-1915.

Mary was born in Victoria but lived most of her childhood in England.

In 1882 she became a passionate & energetic worker for the temperance. In 1885 she came to South Australia and lived at the Moonta Mines taking a 2 year rest from temperance work.
In 1889 she inquired about the work of the WCTU and became Youth Superintendent. She then became Corresponding Secretary and was the first member to be paid a salary.

Mary was a gifted spirited women and a local preacher in the Methodist Church in South Australia.

Quote – “no year of our work has been more difficult to report than this year. And yet no year of our existence has been fraught with greater importance; First and foremost the passing of the Adult Suffrage Bill.”

Lots more information at our offices & tearooms located at 255 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Cowandilla. Come and visit us to find out more about our rich history.

14/04/2023

‘Our Federation’ books dating back to the late 1800s! We have so many copies from different years in our Cowandilla office!

Here’s a snippet from ‘The Household’ section dated December 15th 1898. Some lovely recipes and a step by step on how to preserve fruit.

If I had to choose one to try it would be the Raspberry Cake. What would you choose to make? 👇🏼🍰

05/04/2023

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.

Easter blessings from the WCTU & Teatotallers Tearooms 🙏🏻

30/03/2023

Mary Lee (1821-1909)

Co-founder & Secretary of the Women’s Suffrage League 1888-1895
Secretary of the Social Purity Society 1883

Mary Lee was born in Ireland, and married in 1844. In 1879 she sailed to Australia as a widower with her daughter, to nurse her sick son in Adelaide, but he died.

Mary was a devout Christian who strongly believed in the protection for young girls and women who being exploited, particularly in the workforce. She was also involved in the migration of Jewish people in the Colony.

In 1883 she joined The Social Purity Society that worked towards changing the legal and social status of women. The Women’s Suffrage League soon followed in 1888 with Mary as Secretary, and was at was at the forefront with many others working toward Suffrage. Mary struggled with public speaking and ill health according to her letters, but her conviction for change was far greater.

We have so much more information & physical documents from Mary Lee that you can see at our tearooms .tearooms!

Open every Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30 - 2:30pm except public holidays ✨

07/03/2023

Elizabeth Webb Nicholls (1850-1943)

Elizabeth was born into an infant Colony, at a time where laws and customs placed more value on property than they did human life.

Elizabeth and her husband AR Nicholls raised 4 children and 2 orphaned cousins.

Elizabeth was at the forefront of the women’s suffrage. She spoke on public platforms, wrote and circulated Suffrage literature and rallied the women of the WCTU.

Under Elizabeth’s leadership the WCTU secured 8,268 signatures of the 11,000 petition signatures that secured the passing of the Suffrage Bill.

Elizabeth was councillor of the Women’s Suffrage League, and worked closely with prominent SA leaders who supported the Suffrage Bill, and was a mentor for other States and Nations add seeking enfranchisement.

Elizabeth’s retiring words from the WCTU 1927:
“The future is ours as well as today, in which our share of the work has to be done. We may not live to see the climax of our toil, but it is all part of the accomplishment of those who are ‘Worker together with God”

We thank Elizabeth and women like her who paved the way for us to continue their work today 🙏🏻

01/02/2023

When you think of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the Suffrage Movement may be the first thing that comes to mind.

And with good reason. The women of the WCTU played such an important role in securing women the right to vote.

In a movement led by Mrs. Elizabeth Nicholls, over 8,000 signatures were collected on the suffrage petition which subsequently culminated in the passing of the bill…the first in Australia!

At our offices located in Cowandilla, we have letters, documents and pictures on display for you to see. All dating back to the beginning of the WCTU in South Australia.

Take advantage of our tearooms and come for a visit and have a read and look through history with a lovely warm cup of tea ☕️

13/07/2022

Today we are thankful for the opportunity to provide four We Care Boxes to members of the community who have lost family through sudden, traumatic death.

In partnership with local businesses, We Care Boxes are prepared by WCTU SA and given to police liaison officers at major crime to provide to the families of sudden traumatic deaths.

The initiative began after a WCTU supporter suddenly lost her own 24 year-old son.

“The idea dropped into my heart when I remembered the overwhelming encouragement I felt, receiving cards and condolences from complete strangers I had never met, and I wondered what motivated them to do that. I remember thinking, ‘this is what I want others to feel, if they are unfortunate enough to walk a similar dark road.’”

With hundreds of boxes distributed to date, WCTU are proud of this important project and are grateful for the opportunity to bring encouragement to these families in the midst of such difficult circumstances.

29/06/2022

Did you know:
Our WCTU SA headquarters also houses .tearooms! The Tea Rooms exist to provide a peaceful, cosy place for the community to come and enjoy a warm cup of tea, surrounded by Adelaide history dating back to the 1800’s. Included in our history displays is the history of the WCTU in SA, highlighting the deeply impactful work of these remarkable women through previous generations.
Teatotallers Tea Rooms is open from 9:30am-2:30pm on Mon, Wed & Fri.

15/05/2019

The Teatotallers Tearoom - celebrating the 125th Suffrage Centenary 👵🏻. Come see our history collection. Delicious Devonshire tea, biscuits & Suffrage themed stationary is available ☕️. 255 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Cowandilla, S.A. Mon, Wed, Fri, 9.30am - 2.30pm.

14/03/2019

The ugly side of harm reduction, or in other words what happens when you musn't discriminate against drug addicts

Drugs are destroying San Francisco’s most densely populated and desirable neighborhoods, as more and more addicts, many of them homeless, fill the streets. Politicians and activists are pushing “ha…

14/03/2019

A very interesting read.

Australian working mums are increasingly asking their GPs for help to cut back on booze.