Edith Dircksey Cowan (née Brown) was an Australian politician and social campaigner, who worked tirelessly for the welfare of women and children. It was her unhappy childhood that instilled in her an urge to do something for the downtrodden. Her mother died in childbirth when she was seven and her father was hanged to death on a charge of willful murder of his second wife when she was fifteen. Later when her husband became the Police Magistrate at Perth she came to realize the extent of social and legal problems faced by the ordinary people. She started by campaigning for women’s suffrage and later went on to become the first Australian women legislature. She cofounded a number of organizations such as Children’s Protection Society, Women’s Service Guild etc. When the Children’s Court was opened, Edith was appointed to its bench. She served in that capacity for eighteen years. Setting up of King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women was another feather in her cap. She is also remembered for the introduction of ‘Women’s Legal Status Bill’, which not only allowed women to take up legal career but had far reaching consequences.