On 2 August 1861
Was born at
Glengarry near Geraldton, Western Australia.
In 1868
Her mother died in
childbirth.
In 1876
Her adolescence was
shattered by the ordeal of her father's trials and hanging for the murder of
his second wife.
On 12 November 1879
In St George's Cathedral Edith married James
Cowan, registrar and master of the Supreme Court.
1880 - 1891
She has four daughters and
a son.
In 1894
She was the Karrakatta
Women's Club's first secretary and later vice-president and president.
1891-1894
She worked with the
Ministering Children's League, and the House of Mercy for unmarried mothers
(Alexandra Home for Women).
In 1903
She went overseas to
Britain and Europe
In 1906
Foundation member of the
Children's Protection Society.
In 1907
The society was
instrumental in the passing of the State Children Act.
In 1909
She pioneered its day
nursery for working mother's children.
She was an initiator of the Women's Service
Guild.
In 1911
She was prominent in the
creation of the Western Australian National Council of Women.
In 1912
She went overseas to
Britain and Europe
In 1915
She was among the first
women appointed to its bench.
In 1916
Led finally to the
opening of the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and She was a foundation
member of Co-Freemasonry in her Stat, and the first female member of the
Anglican Social Questions Committee
In 1917
She was
vice-president to when she resigned. Amongst other work.
In 1920
An early woman justice of
the peace she constantly urged the appointment of women to such positions.
She took on a wide range of war work for which she was appointed O.B.E. Legislation
ended the legal bar to women entering parliament
In 1921
Elections Cowan was one of
five women candidates.
In 1923
A co-opted member of synod.
She introduced The
Women's Legal Status Act, which.
In 1924
Elections West Perth business interests stood
a strong candidate in T. A. L. Davy
In 1926
Cowan was a founder of the
(Royal) Western Australian Historical Society.
In 1927
She failed again.
In 1929
She was active in planning
the State’s centenary celebration.
On 9 June 1932
She died
