The Suffragette

The Suffragette

By

Pat Ritter

First published by Pat Ritter in 2018. Copyright © Pat Ritter. Publishing printing rights held by Pat Ritter. The author takes no responsibility for how the reader might apply the ideas contained in this book.

This publication remains the copyright property of the author, may not be reproduced, copied nor distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoy reading this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy, where they can also discover further works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Acknowledgements:

Front and back covers. I want to express my gratitude to Melissa Smith who has done a great job. If you want Melissa to create your next book cover. I highly recommend you do. She can be contacted on melissasmithbooks@hotmail.com.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Fifth in ‘Outback Australia Series’. This story is an important event in Australian history particularly for women who weren’t allowed to vote. South Australia became first Australian State to include women to vote. Queensland waited their turn. An inspiring story of one woman whose determination to have the right for women in Queensland to vote in 1905.

At the beginning of this book I tried to determine who would become my heroin ‘The Suffragette’. My friend, Marilyne Pankhurst, whose husband is a distant relative to Emma Pankhurst, English Suffragette mentioned she would be delighted if I used her name to become Queensland Suffragette. I thank Marilyne for her permission to use her name to become the heroin ‘The Suffragette’.

On a recent holiday with our tour group I met Ken Beer who happened to be a retired Ordained Priest. You may say this meeting classed as Divine Intervention. Ken and I spoke throughout this tour sharing personal information. During our conversations he wanted to understand how I wrote my books.

Explaining I write a novel per year, this year ‘The Suffragette’ his interest grew to a point of excitement wanting to become involved in this story. I explained to Ken I had no idea how I’d write the final chapters to give the readers a ‘WOW’ factor. Ken gave me his approval to use his name in my story. I thank Brother Ken for giving me this Divine Intervention to finish this novel.

Story Thus Far:

The Shearer’:

‘The Shearer’ is the first book in 'Outback Australia' series. Set in 1891. Scene ‘The Great Shearers Strike’. Major character Joe Ryan who fought for better working conditions and wages for his fellow shearers.

1890 Joe Ryan met his friend Joe Gibson, a fellow shearer to help fight for better working conditions and wages.

During the strike, graziers wouldn’t permit ‘striking shearers’ to shear their sheep. Contracted shearers were those who held a ‘non-union ticket to shear’ only hired by graziers. Joe Gibson held this ticket.

At the height of ‘Great Shearers Strike of 1891’ Joe Ryan gathered his shearers to strike on the outskirts of Cunnamulla. Four months they survived until police intervened to stop the strike. Joe Gibson met his friend Joe Ryan on the final day at the strike camp before police arrived. They exchanged clothing and personal items. Joe Gibson took Joe Ryan’s place. Changed identities.

‘Click Go The Shears’:

‘Click Go The Shears’ is the second book in 'Outback Australia' series. Follow-on from ‘The Shearer’. Joe Ryan who has the identity of Joe Gibson escapes capture whilst Joe Gibson takes the place of Joe Ryan to be tried for leading the strikers. Thirteen strikers appeared in court. Each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for their part. Joe Ryan (Gibson) served his imprisonment at St Helen Island Prison in Moreton Bay.

At the end of his prison term both Joes meet at Barcaldine (original town where strike occurred) to return to their own identities. Joe Gibson returned to Cunnamulla met Hannah who still resided with Ma at her boarding house. Joe and Hannah fell in love. They marry. Hannah’s father gifts his property ‘Tilbaroo Station’ to them as their wedding gift. The story continues:

‘Tilbaroo Station’

‘Tilbaroo Station’ is the third book in 'Outback Australia' series. Joe discovers an artisan bore on ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Nat wants all nine remaining properties to have bores. The only person who divined for water is deceased. By accident Hannah discovers a student in her class, ten-year-old Ryan Carlson who discovers water on Nat’s property.

Underground artisan water is discovered in 1897. Ryan’s father, Todd Carlson, Chief Engineer for Queensland Railway Department employed to build the rail link from Charleville to Cunnamulla has been selected by The Honourable Joseph Ryan, Esquire, MLA to oversee the bores established in the region. A committee is formed with Joe Gibson, Nat Young being members of the committee. Todd Carlson, Chairman.

By the end of 1898 a newly constructed Cunnamulla Railway Station has been built. Underground water discovered on many of Nat Young’s properties. Todd Carlson, Chairman of ‘Great Artisan Water Basin Committee’ appointed Commissioner of Water Resources for Queensland. The story continues:

‘The Year That Never Was’

‘The Year That Never Was’ is the fourth book in 'Outback Australia' series. This is an exciting period for Australia because after Captain Cook discovered Australia in 1770, settled by Europeans, Australia finally became a Nation with the election of their first Prime Minister. Also, young Australians represented their Colony on behalf of British Empire left their homeland to fight Boers in the 'Boer War' in South Africa. This important occasion involving Joe, Hannah and her family. The story continues:

‘The Suffragette’

‘The Suffragette’ is the fifth book in ‘Outback Australia’ series. This is set between 1903-1905. Women weren’t permitted to vote. Margaret Wallace, Principal at Cunnamulla State School decided to make a difference. With help from The Honourable Joseph Ryan, Esquire, MLA they worked together to ensure women in Queensland empowered the government of the day to pass legislation for women to vote. Read on to fight alongside Margaret with her friends particularly Marilyne Pankhurst to force the government to change rules for women to vote. The story continues:

Chapter 1

'What did you say?' Joe listened to part of the conversation between Hannah and himself.

'You're going to be a father.' Hannah shouted louder. Joe's smile spread across his face, leaned into Hannah, wrapped his arms around her shoulders with tears in his eyes.

'Fair dinkum. You're pregnant!' Joe shouted.

'Yes. Happened after the party when you received your medal from the Prime Minister. Don't you remember?' Hannah explained.

Joe's mind whirred with thoughts of becoming a father. 'Have you told anyone else?' Joe asked.

'No. You're the first.' Joe held onto Hannah in a tight grip not wanted to let go.

'How did you find out you were pregnant?' Joe queried.

'This morning. I visited the doctor. After missing my period since we arrived home from Brisbane. I thought something must have happened to my body.' Hannah explained.

'Official. We're having a baby. When?' Joe asked in an excited voice.

'June next year. Sometime around the middle of the month. Doctor told me.'

'We'd better tell your parents. Don't you think? Come on. I hitch the sulky. We'll go this afternoon to tell them.' Joe's excitement flowed over to Hannah.

Sound of a horse and sulky took their attention. Joe looked from where they sat on the front veranda at their home. Nat and Martha making their way to their home. 'Here they are now. Some type of mental therapy going on here.' Joe took Hannah's hand, they met their visitors when they stopped in front of the house.

After greeting his in-laws Joe said, 'I'll take your sulky round the back, unhitch your horse. Hannah has some news for each of you.' Taking the reins from Nat, Joe climbed into the sulky to drive around to the rear of his home.

'Told you Nat. Something this morning. So strong I needed to speak with Hannah.' Martha joined her daughter. Nat followed.

Joe unharnessed the horse placed him in the stable. Returned to the kitchen. Nat stood. Walked to Joe put his hand out, 'Hannah shared this great news with us. Congratulation. You're going to become a father. Me a grandfather.' Nat's voice quivered with emotion.

After everyone settled down to the news, Martha said, 'Something this morning told me to come and speak with Hannah. Mother's intuition. Something.' Martha expressed smiling.

'I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa.' Hannah went to rise from her seat.

'No. You will not. From now on I'll do everything. You take care of yourself and the baby.' Joe expressed, stood, quickly moved to the stove to place the kettle over the fire.

'Joe, I'm only having a baby. Women have them everyday. They don't need to take things easy. I'll go off my rocker if I don't do something.' Hannah forced her words to tell Joe not to fuss.

'Joe's right Hannah. You take everything easy. You'll need to stop work, come stay with me when Joe is working. I'll take good care of you.' Martha explained.

'I'll do no such thing. I'll continue to work as long as I can.' Hannah touched her belly. 'Little bub and I will be right.' Hannah said, using her stern teacher voice.

Noise of rain falling on the roof stopped their conversation. Nat stood, walked to the front veranda. Rain fell heavier smelling of sweet aroma. Nat smiled. ‘Have a look at this Joe. Not only your wife is having a baby, rain. Falling heavy. Drought may be over.’ Nat shouted over the noise of the rain falling on the roof.

Everyone joined Nat on the veranda not believing after six years of the greatest drought in Australian history, rain poured down in torrents. Noise almost deafening. All four allowed the rain to splash onto their faces drawing in odours of freshness.

‘This is not a shower Joe. Look at those dark clouds on the horizon. Rain.’ Words exploded from Nat’s mouth.

Over the next couple of hours rain continued. ‘If this rain keeps up. We won’t be able to go home.’ Martha told her family.

‘Don’t worry Mother we need rain. Always a place for you and Pa here at our place.’ Hannah assured her mother of a safe place to wait out the rain.

Nat sat silent. Thoughts of a previous downpour; like this one caused Cunnamulla to be isolated for weeks until water flowed down Warrego River into Darling River. ‘Thank you, Hannah, for putting up with us. Haven’t seen this amount of rain since I was a young fella. Isolated the town for weeks.’ Nat replied in a concerned voice.

A knock on the front door caused Joe to investigate. Who would be out in this weather? He thought. Opening the front door Keith, Daisy, Desi, Little Daisy stood drenched from the weather. ‘Come in. Come in.’ Joe ushered his friends into his home closing the door to keep the rain and wind out.

Hannah and Martha rushed to the family. ‘Come closer to the stove to dry off. Joe, dry clothes for our friends. Otherwise they’ll die of a death of cold.’ Joe rushed off to gather clothing for his friends.

Warming beside the stove Keith’s teeth chattered. ‘Tried to ride to town. Coongoola almost washed away. Only place here. Can we stay here until the rain stops?’ His voice pleading.

‘You are always welcome in our home.’ Hannah told them. Joe arrived with towels and clothes for his friends. After changing to dry clothes, they clustered close to the stove to warm their bodies. ‘How about something to eat?’ Hannah finished. Their friends nodded in agreement.

‘I’ll do this. Can’t have you doing too much in your condition.’ Martha stepped up beside Hannah to take control. ‘Take a seat with Daisy by the table. I’ll attend to the meal.’

‘Hannah. Why is your mother so concerned about your condition?’ Daisy asked her friend, a frown on her face.

‘I’m pregnant.’ Excitement curled in her voice sharing this news with everyone.

Daisy jumped to her feet, wrapped her arms around Hannah’s shoulder, squeezed, tears filled her eyes. ‘This is wonderful news. Congratulations. I’ll be here for you.’ Daisy released her