Freda Irving

Freda Mary Howy Irving (16 September 1903 – 26 September 1984) was an Australian journalist and editor who spent much of her career working at The Sun News-Pictorial and The Argus (Melbourne).

Irving was also a captain in the Australian Women's Army Service.

Career After completing her studied Irving became a journalist after being inspired by a meeting the woman's editor of The Evening Sun, which led to her beginning to be employed by them in 1925. There she became a journalist and social writer and, in 1932 when it was renamed the Sun News-Pictorial. she became the social editor. In December 1945 she left the army as a captain.

In 1946 Irving returned to the Sun News-Pictorial before, after doing some freelance work for them, moved across The Argus (Melbourne) in 1948 where she worked under Gladys Hain on its women's magazine. Experiencing poor health Irving took a break from journalism in 1952 and worked briefly as a farmer but soon rejoined to cover Queen Elizabeth II 1954 royal tour of Australia.

When The Argus closed in 1957 Irving was then the Women's editor and she made sure that every member of her team got a job elsewhere.

Irving died on 26 September 1984 at Kilmore.

A collection of biographical cuttings about Irving and a 1980 oral history interview with Irving are held at the National Library of Australia.