RIGHTFUL RESTORATION OF ROOKE’S GRAVE

THE grave of a Tasmanian suffragist has been restored and a plaque erected to recognise the significance of her personal fight for women to get the vote.

The grave of Jessie Spinks Rooke (1845-1906) was restored by the City of Burnie Lions Club and Tasmania Governor Barbara Baker was on hand at the Wivenhoe Cemetery on Thursday to unveil her more dignified resting place.

In 1896 Rooke set out on a

“Votes For Women tour of Tasmania” with the suffrage superintendent for the colony, Georgina Kermode.

She travelled hundreds of miles around the state by “draught train and rickety coach”, gathering support for the cause. Rooke was the state president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and led the campaign for suffrage in Tasmania until 1903.

Tasmanian women became eligible to vote in House of Assembly elections in 1904 following a change to the eligibility criteria from “man” to ”person” in the Constitution Act 1903. This meant women could vote but were still not eligible to stand for election to either the Upper or Lower houses of parliament.

The restoration was funded by the City of Burnie Lions Club and co-ordinated by Vicki Russell and Rodney Croome after Mr Croome posted on social media about the dilapidated state of Rooke’s grave.

Ms Russell, from the City of Burnie Lions Club, contacted Mr Croome and a plan was developed to restore it.