Margaret Mittelheuser AM is one of 23 local women already nominated as part of a Bundaberg Regional Council project to recognise inspiring women from the region.
Community consultation is currently underway for the project, with residents asked to put forward their nominations for local women they think should be acknowledged, whether that be through public memorials, street names, parks, buildings and other civic facilities.
Margaret Mittelheuser AM was Australia’s first female stockbroker and paved a successful career spanning more than five decades.
According to The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame documentary about Margaret, who was a 2016 inductee, Margaret was born in Bundaberg in 1931 on her parents’ cane farm and her intelligence shone from an early age.
“Our father was a cane grower and we went to a local small two teacher school. Margaret was very bright,” her sister, Dr Cathryn Mittelheuser AM said.
“When our mother went to collect her the first afternoon after her first day at school, the teacher just said to our mother, ‘what have you brought us?’
“She was astounded at all that Margaret could do as a little four year old.”
At just 16 years old Margaret became a student at the University of Queensland.
According to The Australian Women’s Register, 1964 was the year of success for the Bundaberg local, after earning a partnership in the stockbroking firm Ralph W King & Yuill which saw her become Australia’s first female stockbroker.
“Her successful career continued over 50 years and raised many millions of dollars for government and private organisations and she advised many clients on their investments.
“Margaret’s contribution to finance and the stockbroking industry was recognised by the award of Membership of the Order of Australia (AM) and with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Griffith University.”
“A prestigious prize in her name is awarded every year to the top graduating MBA student at the University of Queensland.”
Margaret retired in 2006 as one of the nation’s longest serving stockbrokers and she passed away in 2013.
Recognising inspiring women in our region
Margaret is one of 23 local women who have so far been nominated in Council’s Recognising inspiring women in our region project.
Earlier this year, Mayor Jack Dempsey asked Bundaberg Region residents to put forward ideas for local women who could be acknowledged in public memorials.
Mayor Dempsey said he was inspired to pursue the concept after learning about a petition to State Parliament by eight-year-old, Malia Knox, calling for greater representation from women and girls in public spaces.
Attorney-General and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, said there were only three statues of women in Brisbane and she applauded Malia for her efforts and her work towards gender equality.
A survey has been made available to Bundaberg residents to nominate an inspiring woman who should be recognised as part of the local project.
International not-for-profit organisation Statues for Equality has also offered its support to co-fund a statue of an inspiring woman.
Time is running out to complete the survey, so if you know an inspiring local woman, nominate her now.
