20 Facts About Ethel Page

Ethel Esther Page was an Australian nurse and political figure as the first wife of Earle Page, the 11th prime minister of Australia.

Ethel Page supported her husband during his long political career, though never living in Canberra, and was politically active herself, serving on the state executive of the Country Party and as president of its women's section.

Ethel Page's father worked as a building contractor, and was frequently in financial difficulties.

Ethel Page died in 1898, when many of her younger siblings were still children.

Ethel Page completed her training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where she was top of her class, and was employed there as a senior staff nurse.

Ethel Page later worked briefly as a matron at Manly Hospital.

Blunt met her future husband Earle Ethel Page while serving as a theatre nurse at RPA; he was a medical resident there.

Ethel Page accidentally threw a lit piece of alcohol-soaked paper onto her dress, causing it to catch fire.

Ethel Page quickly threw a nearby blanket over her, and she escaped with only minor burns.

Ethel Page's husband was elected to federal parliament in 1919, and in 1921 became the leader of the fledgling Country Party.

Ethel Page was the founder of the Women's Country Club, a social club for women visiting Sydney from country towns.

Ethel Page was involved in the Feminist Club of New South Wales, but later left to become a founding member of the more activist United Associations of Women, serving on its executive.

Ethel Page largely shared her husband's political views, and in 1923 was elected as the inaugural president of the Women's Country Party.

Ethel Page subsequently represented the women's section on the Country Party's state executive for seven years.

Ethel Page was a delegate to national conferences of the Country Women's Association and the National Council of Women, and served as a state vice-president of the latter.

Ethel Page occasionally wrote articles for The Land, a newspaper focusing on rural matters.

Ethel Page served as a director of its holding company until 1932, when she sold her shares to Elliott.

Ethel Page's husband stayed at the Hotel Canberra during parliamentary sittings, as was common at the time.

Ethel Page died at Grafton Base Hospital on 27 May 1958, aged 82, after several years of ill health.

Ethel Page's husband remarried the following year to Jean Thomas, his long-time secretary; he lived only another two years.