Amelia Best
She smashed the glass ceiling of Tasmanian politics as one of its first two female parliamentarians, advocating for social welfare and women.
1900–1979 (age 79)·Australian politician·Birthday: April 29·The Lost Generation
Biography
Amelia 'Millie' Best entered the history books not with a shout, but with the determined, practical resolve that characterized her political career. In 1955, when Tasmania finally opened the doors of its House of Assembly to women, Best and her counterpart Mabel Miller walked through. A Labor Party member, Best was no token figure; she brought to the chamber a lifetime of grassroots activism, having been deeply involved with the Labor Women's Central Committee and various social welfare causes. Her platform focused on the issues she knew intimately: housing, health, and the needs of families. For thirteen years, she represented the electorate of Franklin, earning respect across the aisle for her conscientious approach. While not a flamboyant orator, she was an effective committee member and a steadfast voice for her constituents. Her presence alone transformed the legislature, proving women not only belonged but could govern with competence and heart.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Amelia was born in 1900, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amelia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1900
Amelia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1900Born
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1905Started school
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Became a teenager
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could drive
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could vote
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Turned 21
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1930Turned 30
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 40
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 50
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 60
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 70
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1979Died at 79
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
Key Achievements
- Elected as one of the first two women to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 1955.
- Served as a Labor Member for Franklin for 13 consecutive years.
- Was a longtime executive member of the Labor Women's Central Committee in Tasmania.
- Awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for public and political service.
Did You Know?
She was commonly known by the nickname 'Millie'.
Before entering politics, she was active in community organizations like the Girl Guides Association.
Her election came 35 years after the first woman was elected to an Australian parliament (Edith Cowan in Western Australia in 1921).
“A fair wage for a day's work is the foundation of a decent society.”
