Robina Fordyce Cowper
| |
|---|---|
| Born | Robina Inglis (1866-08-18)18 August 1866
Sandridge, Port Melbourne
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| Died | 3 August 1948(1948-08-03) (aged 81)
Parramatta
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Temperance activist, magistrate, church worker |
Robina Fordyce Cowper (18 August 1866 – 3 August 1948) was an Australian women's rights activist, magistrate and temperance advocate.[1]
Cowper was the eldest of twelve children born to Mary (née Fordyce) and John Inglis. She was educated at Clarendon College, Ballarat.[1] In 1884 she matriculated from the University of Melbourne in the Modern Languages class.[2]
On 10 January 1891 she married Charles William Cowper. Her father officiated at the ceremony.[3] Robina and Charles had one daughter, Mary Inglis Cowper (known as May) who was born in 1892 and died aged 3 years and 8 months, in 1895.[4]
Cowper campaigned for more women in the police force, and for the inclusion of women in church leadership.[5]
Cowper was an active member of the Collins Street Independent Church and was the first woman on the executive of the Congregational Union committee. She was also a founding member of executive of the Congregational Women's Association.[6]
In 1928, Cowper was appointed as a special magistrate of the Children's Court, Melbourne.[6]
