Bertha Chatto St George Smith

Bertha Chatto St. George Smith (1892 – 1984), also known as Bertha Mac Smith, was an Australian author and philanthropist. She was appointed an Officer of the British Empire in 1964, in recognition of her work as national president of the Country Women's Association of Australia.

Biography

Bertha Chatto St. George Sproule was born in Kew, Victoria, Australia, on 25 February 1892. She was the seventh child born to her parents, James and Mary Brodie Sproule. Her father was from Ireland and her mother from England. The couple had eight children together. The couple had six children together, four boys and two girls. One son died in infancy. After her marriage, Bertha was known as Mrs. L. Mac Smith. The goal of the organisation was to assist women in the countryside, many of whom were living in isolated areas with limited access to health care or other public services. In 1945, the organisation became federated at the national level. While some of the branches, including the Queensland branch, practiced racial segregation and excluded Aboriginal women, the New South Wales was less restrictive. The first Aboriginal branch in New South Wales was established in 1956. She also purchased a building at the Sydney Showgrounds in Moore Park, where the Royal Easter Show and other major agricultural events were held, which allowed the CWA of NSW to operate a kiosk at events. and Smith became national president of the Country Women's Association, serving a two-year term. One of her more significant contributions was advocating for a change in the wording of the constitution, which clarified that the organisation was non-partisan although it might engage in advocacy efforts related to women's needs. Smith encouraged the use of the phrase "non-party political" to make the distinction. She believed that women of all political parties and views should be welcome in the organisation.

Death Smith died on 30 December 1984 in Orange, New South Wales. She is buried in Cudal, New South Wales.