Beatrix Waring McCay
| Beatrix Waring McCay - Lady Reid | |
|---|---|
 Beatrix McCay - Portrait by Douglas Baulch - 1967 | |
| Born |
1901 Castlemaine, Victoria |
| Died |
June 17, 1972 Canterbury, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Master of Law, Melbourne University Law School |
| Occupation | Solicitor, Barrister, Magistrate |
| Partner(s) | George Oswald Reid - Later Sir Reid |
| Children | 1 girl |
| Parents | Lieutenant-General James Whiteside McCay and Julia Mary O'Meara |
Beatrix Waring McCay (1901 – 14 June 1972) was one of Victoria's earliest Barristers and Magistrates, she was the second women to sign the Victorian Bar and the first female 'Reader' of the Bar.
Beatrix was born at Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, being the second daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir James Whiteside McCay and Julia Mary O'Meara.
Married at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne 12 August 1930 at the age of 29 to George Oswald Reid (later Sir George Oswald Reid).[1] Residing at Mont Albert, Victoria.
Beatrix was the third women in Victoria’s history to obtain a Masters of Law at Melbourne University.
She was actively involved in society at an early age helping the disadvantaged, such as donating her time at Yooralla kindergarten for children.
She was the only women for a number of years on the committee of the Law Students' Society of Victoria.
On the 22nd April when residing at Brighton Road, St Kilda, she gave notice to sit at the Full Court to be Admitted to practise as a Barrister and Solicitor for the Board of Examiners for the 1st June.[2]
She then became the second women to signed the Victorian Bar Roll on the 10 June 1925 and the first 'Reader'. Second only after Joan Rosanove.[3]
A slideshow of the first women of the Victorian Bar including Beatrix McCay is available via the Victorian Bar, "Women Barristers in Victoria Then and Now ".[4]
In 1936 due to ill health became less active but maintained a role as a Special Magistrate for the Childrens Court and Legal Womens Association – Vice President from 1936 and onward.
References
- ↑ "Members of the Victorian Parliament". Victorian Parliament. 1985.
- ↑ "The Argus - Law Notices". The Argus, page 30. 16 May 1925.
- ↑ "The Victorian Bar News - News and Views 2005". The Victorian Bar News - 2005, page 46. May 2005.
- ↑ "The Victorian Bar". The Victorian Bar. 2007.