Mrs Anna Moir Rennie
A Pioneer of Social Justice in Port Adelaide
SA’s First Female Elected Mayor
A Local Inspiration and State Treasure
In post depression Port Adelaide, there was one strong swimmer in the tide of disillusion: Mrs Anna Moir Rennie. In 1950, Mrs Rennie was elected by a narrow vote to the Port Council. Her election signalled the beginning of an important period of local government leadership in social justice issues. Mrs Rennie served on Council for 19 years, the last 5 as Mayor – a rare achievement for women of that era!
After training as a nurse at the Adelaide Hospital, Anna Rennie embarked on an active life in social and community spheres. During 1920s and 30s she had campaigned for improvements to the food ration scheme in Port Adelaide. Quite often the Rennie family doubled up in their beds to give temporary accommodation to families who had been evicted or were otherwise stranded.
Always an active member of the ALP, Anna directed attention to women’s issues such as equal pay. She raised money to set up and equip the Port Adelaide School Band and assisted Rev. Bill Johnston in establishing the Port Archway facility for alcoholics. Once on Council, she promoted significant improvements to local roads and footpaths, the setting up of Elderly Citizen’s Clubs and children’s’ playgrounds and the purchase of land to enlarge many parks and ovals.
All this cost a lot of energy and persuasion. The tough men who ran the show at Port Adelaide were used to keeping women in their place. With that tradition in mind they thwarted many of Mrs Rennie’s sound proposals. Undeterred, she began early in her council career to urge the clean up of the former rubbish dump in Portland where it defiled housing and recreation zones. She was determined that amends should be made to a neighbourhood which had repeatedly accommodated obnoxious facilities; Mrs Rennie ingeniously located niches for amenities that would enhance life there.
One of these was the first Meals on Wheels kitchen (in Australia) just off Langham Place. It began operating in 1954 in a Nissan Hut donated by local business people, the LeMessurier brothers. This realised the dream of the Meals on Wheels founder Miss Doris Taylor who was enthusiastically backed by Mrs Rennie who acted as the first secretary of the organisation.
The following year a pre-school kindergarten, run by the Kindergarten Union of South Australia, opened at the western end of Wellington Street. Largely financed by furniture retailers David Murray Ltd, the building was a boon to Portland where there were still large families.
A small triangular reserve facing Princes Street had been on the plan of the Portland Estate since its inception but it seems to have had little cosmetic care for 100 years. In a rationalisation of municipal green space after World War II, this pocket was deemed to serve no useful function. It was sold to the Housing Trust, undoubtedly at Mrs Rennie’s urging because she considered the building of five rental units for the elderly there as special triumph.
Such successes were begrudged by some factions in council; small-minded rivals tried to make public life uncomfortable for the interloper. There was quibbling over the mayoral allowance; because she had no car – couldn’t even drive one – they refused to approve a travel allowance. As if taxis and even public transport cost nothing! Mrs Rennie is said to have walked everywhere and thereby kept in close touch with her constituents. Still, she was grateful to Portland neighbours who generously drove her to evening functions in antiquated vehicles.
These were very difficult years for the Port Adelaide Council. There was trouble over the burden of rates, accusations of cliques and cronyism and, the last straw, a call to disband the council. Anna Rennie decided not to seek re-election in 1969. She lived for a further 18 years, an effective worker for the Port always.
Anna Moir Rennie’s contribution to the local community is honoured by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council at a park located on Gordon Luxton Drive at North Haven. In 2008, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the park to ensure her story is not forgotten.
In 2007, Mrs Rennie’s daughter, Paula Sutcliffe, gave permission to the Port Adelaide Enfield Chamber of Commerce to name its women’s network The Anna Rennie Chapter. The Chapter is dedicated to supporting women in the community to reach their potential and advocates and lobbies on their behalf.
SA’s First Female Elected Mayor
A Local Inspiration and State Treasure
In post depression Port Adelaide, there was one strong swimmer in the tide of disillusion: Mrs Anna Moir Rennie. In 1950, Mrs Rennie was elected by a narrow vote to the Port Council. Her election signalled the beginning of an important period of local government leadership in social justice issues. Mrs Rennie served on Council for 19 years, the last 5 as Mayor – a rare achievement for women of that era!
After training as a nurse at the Adelaide Hospital, Anna Rennie embarked on an active life in social and community spheres. During 1920s and 30s she had campaigned for improvements to the food ration scheme in Port Adelaide. Quite often the Rennie family doubled up in their beds to give temporary accommodation to families who had been evicted or were otherwise stranded.
Always an active member of the ALP, Anna directed attention to women’s issues such as equal pay. She raised money to set up and equip the Port Adelaide School Band and assisted Rev. Bill Johnston in establishing the Port Archway facility for alcoholics. Once on Council, she promoted significant improvements to local roads and footpaths, the setting up of Elderly Citizen’s Clubs and children’s’ playgrounds and the purchase of land to enlarge many parks and ovals.
All this cost a lot of energy and persuasion. The tough men who ran the show at Port Adelaide were used to keeping women in their place. With that tradition in mind they thwarted many of Mrs Rennie’s sound proposals. Undeterred, she began early in her council career to urge the clean up of the former rubbish dump in Portland where it defiled housing and recreation zones. She was determined that amends should be made to a neighbourhood which had repeatedly accommodated obnoxious facilities; Mrs Rennie ingeniously located niches for amenities that would enhance life there.
One of these was the first Meals on Wheels kitchen (in Australia) just off Langham Place. It began operating in 1954 in a Nissan Hut donated by local business people, the LeMessurier brothers. This realised the dream of the Meals on Wheels founder Miss Doris Taylor who was enthusiastically backed by Mrs Rennie who acted as the first secretary of the organisation.
The following year a pre-school kindergarten, run by the Kindergarten Union of South Australia, opened at the western end of Wellington Street. Largely financed by furniture retailers David Murray Ltd, the building was a boon to Portland where there were still large families.
A small triangular reserve facing Princes Street had been on the plan of the Portland Estate since its inception but it seems to have had little cosmetic care for 100 years. In a rationalisation of municipal green space after World War II, this pocket was deemed to serve no useful function. It was sold to the Housing Trust, undoubtedly at Mrs Rennie’s urging because she considered the building of five rental units for the elderly there as special triumph.
Such successes were begrudged by some factions in council; small-minded rivals tried to make public life uncomfortable for the interloper. There was quibbling over the mayoral allowance; because she had no car – couldn’t even drive one – they refused to approve a travel allowance. As if taxis and even public transport cost nothing! Mrs Rennie is said to have walked everywhere and thereby kept in close touch with her constituents. Still, she was grateful to Portland neighbours who generously drove her to evening functions in antiquated vehicles.
These were very difficult years for the Port Adelaide Council. There was trouble over the burden of rates, accusations of cliques and cronyism and, the last straw, a call to disband the council. Anna Rennie decided not to seek re-election in 1969. She lived for a further 18 years, an effective worker for the Port always.
Anna Moir Rennie’s contribution to the local community is honoured by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council at a park located on Gordon Luxton Drive at North Haven. In 2008, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the park to ensure her story is not forgotten.
In 2007, Mrs Rennie’s daughter, Paula Sutcliffe, gave permission to the Port Adelaide Enfield Chamber of Commerce to name its women’s network The Anna Rennie Chapter. The Chapter is dedicated to supporting women in the community to reach their potential and advocates and lobbies on their behalf.
