Strong Women of our World
NASA astronaut Christina Koch (pictured) is set to make history once again. On December 28, she will have been in space for 288 days, breaking the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman
Many moons ago as a young woman I was surprised that little Ceylon as it used to be called, had a lady as Prime Minister, this is years before the UK elected a woman as Prime Minister, years ahead of Germany & ahead of Australia, as yet the US has to accomplish this! I feel she, Mrs Bandaranaike must have been a very strong woman to accomplish this.
To “Queen’s House” and “Temple Trees”
Large crowds lined up along the streets of Colombo to cheer the smiling lady as she was driven from her residence “Tintagel” at Rosemead Place to the then Governor-General’s mansion “Queen’s House” in Fort and then to “Temple Trees” the Prime Minister’s official residence in Colpetty. The housewife was now Prime Minister. She was 44 at the time of her tryst with destiny.
Sirimavo, known generally as Sirima, was born on April 17, 1916 as the eldest daughter of Barnes Ratwatte Dissawe and Rosalind Hilda Mahawelatanna Kumarihamy. The Ratwattes were a Kandyan “radala” family of aristocratic lineage. She was the eldest of six children – two girls and four boys. Shortly after she was born, a rare event occurred. A herd of elephants forcefully entered the kraal or enclosure. It was perceived as a good omen. A well-known astrologer, Hetuwa Gurunanse, was summoned to chart her horoscope. The parents were flabbergasted to hear that their daughter would be the future queen of the country. For one thing Ceylon as Sri Lanka was known was then a British colony and George the Fifth was the king. Also, women were not given leadership positions then. The horoscope however proved right and the girl did become queen, but an uncrowned one.
Longest Serving Prime Minister
Apart from being the first female Premier, Sirimavo Bandaranaike has also been her country’s longest serving Prime Minister. Her first term was from 1960 to 1965. Her second Prime Ministerial term was from 1970 to 1977. During these terms of office, Sirimavo was head of the government and effectively ruled the country as the executive presidential system had not been introduced then. In later years, she functioned as PM under an executive presidency from 1994 to 2000. Altogether, she served as PM for a total of 18 years. No other has been Premier for so many years in Sri Lanka. In addition to being Prime Minister, Sirimavo has been Leader of the Opposition during 1965-70 and 1989-1994.
https://www.gg.gov.au/biography-honourable-dame-quentin-bryce-ad-cvo
I have always admired this lady, also envied her ability to have the education she had. In her photos she always looks happy.
Lets hope we soon have another lady to stand tall as Governor General of Australia.
Rubinstein, Helena (1870–1965)
Fascinating life of this lady who came to Australia as a young girl.
Helena Rubinstein (1870?-1965), cosmetics manufacturer, was born probably on Christmas Day 1870 (possibly 1871 or 1872) at Cracow, Austria (Poland). Her early life is sparsely documented. By her own account she was the eldest of eight daughters (a son died in infancy) of Horace Rubinstein, an egg merchant of mediocre business abilities, and his wife Augusta, née Silberfeld. She claimed to have begun a medical course, abandoning it because she fainted in the wards. When her father suggested marriage to a wealthy widower she escaped by visiting her uncle Louis Silberfeld, a storekeeper and part-time oculist, at Coleraine in western Victoria. She arrived in summer, probably in 1894. Stylishly dressed and already 'haughty and difficult', she took English lessons at a small school at Coleraine, shocking her teachers by asking 'what does “bugger” mean? My uncle calls me that'.
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rubinstein-helena-8293
http://www.theblogazine.com/2014/11/beauty-is-power-in-the-life-of-helena-rubinstein/
Sophie Hi!
I wonder if you would like to tell us more about this lady please? You have mentioned her on the Group before but I think she was one of our strongest and very determined women in Britain she started her cause in 1914
Her success came To fruition in Nov 1918. So many women take their vote for granted and do not know the history behind this.
New Zealand was the first to give women the vote in September 1893, then on 18th December 1894 Australian women received recognition. I think SA was the first to give women theVote though.
Correct me if I am wrong.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emmeline-Pankhurst