When Mavis Kohler was born in 1923, women were not allowed to drink in public bars, stand for federal elections, or to work in public service jobs once they married.
Thankfully, society has come a long way since then, and Mavis – who turned 101 last month – is thankful she’s here to have witnessed the shift.
Friday March 8 is International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
It’s an important date on the calendar for aged and disability organisation VMCH, with females like Mavis making up 71% of its aged care residents, 79% of its workforce and 77% of its volunteers.
Mavis believes IWD is also an opportunity to reflect on the struggles faced by women in years gone by, including her era, which endured WWII and the Great Depression.
Women did most of the holding together of the family and house and we weren’t recognised for it,” Mavis says. “Back in my day women didn’t even have a license or drive.”
However, Mavis concedes says she enjoyed more freedom in her 20s than some.
While holidaying in Melbourne, Tasmanian-born Mavis met her future husband, Bob. A fiercely independent woman, Mavis rebuked Bob’s offer to assist her ice skating, or to pay for her tram ride home. However Bob’s persistence in courting Mavis paid off, and the pair soon married, with Mavis relocating to Melbourne.
I was lucky my parents wanted me to experience life. Even though my mother wasn’t happy when I moved, she didn’t tell me or stop me from going.”
Mavis and Bob had two children and were happily married for an incredible 72 years before Bob sadly passed away in 2016.