Zelda D'Aprano

Zelda D’ Aprano, feminist, labour unionist, and pay justice advocate, had a long lasting impact of the lives of those part of femisst and labout movements within Australia. She also used her time to educate and mentor young individuals who had a desire to be activists and make an impact in their community. Her ambition to create change began at the age of 14 where she was obligated to join the workforce, and drop out of school. Here she witnessed inequity between male and female workers, which she was not shy in regarding pointing it out and challenging the oppressive system. Apran didn't believe that women should gain more than men, but solemnly asked for equality.

When the court passed a bill allowing equal pay amongst men and women, it frustrated Zelda, given that the work assigned to women wasn't anywhere near the same as men. Zelda decided to protest this bill by chaining herself to the commonwealth building’s entrance, as a tactic to bring attention to the cause, which definitely did. The movements she and many other women were a part of did not only fight for equal pay, but also their treatment as exploited workers, as sex objects and victims of discrimination and violence. This all led up with the end goal of overthrowing the sexist system. She received numerous amounts of honorary awards in recognition of her year and dedication of activism, some of which are; the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Macquarie University, awarded her an honorary D'Litt degree by La Trobe University, and she was one of the first of many 100 women to be induced into the Victorian Honor roll of women.

Everyone underestimated the power she had, her protests only being her by herself from the start. She told an officer who had her detained asking her if she was embarrassed, and without thought she replied, “No. Because soon there will be three, then there will be five, and then there will be …” Not too far down the road, she was joined 10 days later by Alva Geikie and Thelma Solomon who all made up what is now known as the Women's Action Committee. This founded group led to the Women’s liberation Centre. This committee slowly but surely lured feminists, resulting in a turnout of 500 women for their first protest. The loss of Zelda D’ Aprano was unfortunate given the thousands of lives she touched, but her efforts have never gone unnoticed by any means.