CQU Press has received a letter from the Hon Desley Boyle, Minister for Environment, Local Government and Women, announcing that it has won a a partnership grant from the Office of Women.

The grant is for $10,000 and is to assist in a project to edit, publish, promote, launch and market the book: 'From Suffragettes to Legislators. Queensland Women in State and Federal Parliaments' by John McCulloch AOM.

The manuscript is now completed and ready for its final edit. The aim of the project will be to publish the book in 2005 and to launch it in Parliament House as part of the 2005 celebrations of the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage in Queensland. The book will carry a Preface by the Governor, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce.

This book follows on logically from earlier CQU Press books, including 'Women of the West', launched in the Queensland Museum by Her Excellency the Governor.

It also follows on from 'Diving off the Ironing Board' by Di McCauley, launched on the President’s Verandah by the Deputy Premier, and from 'Women Who Win' by AnneMarie White, launched by the Premier in Queensland Parliament.

In launching and promoting the book the goal will be to address women’s under-representation in leadership and decision-making.

The book contains the biographies of the 51 women ever to have sat in the Queensland Parliament and the 21 Queensland women ever to have sat in the Federal Parliament.

The purpose will be to inspire today’s women with these stories of female political pioneers and thereby enhance women’s leadership aspirations.

The author John McCulloch has a distinguished research and publications record as an eminent Queensland historian.

CQU Press is a not-for-profit publishing house dedicated to promulgating and preserving Queensland history and heritage. It is funded by a CQU annual budgetary grant, subsidies and competitive government grants.

Details from Professor David Myers Ph: 07 5552 4960.