SWEET, GEORGINA (1875-1946), zoologist, academic and philanthropist, was born on
22 January 1875 in Brunswick, Melbourne, elder of two daughters of George Sweet
(1844-1920), then a plasterer, and his wife Fanny, née Dudman, both English born.
George, a fellow of the Geological Society, ran the Brunswick Brick, Tile
& Pottery Co. An amateur geologist, he built up an extensive fossil
collection, now in the Museum of Victoria, corresponded widely with Australian
geologists and was president of the Royal Society of Victoria (1905). In 1888-95
he investigated fossils in the Mansfield district for (Sir) Frederick McCoy, and
was second-in-command to (Sir) Edgeworth David on the Funafuti expedition in 1897.
As a girl, Georgina played the organ in the local Methodist church where her
father was steward and lay-preacher. She acted as assistant in his geological work
and learned sound business principles from him. He encouraged her to take up a
career in science.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Georgina Sweet was Australia’s first female Acting Professor (Biology, University of Melbourne, 1916-1917). She was Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Melbourne from 1920 to 1924. Sweet's research included the zoology of Australian native animals and the parasites infesting Australian stock and native fauna. She was appointed OBE - Officer of The Order of the British Empire (Civil) - 3 June 1935, for services to women's movements.
Georgina Sweet was born in Brunswick, Melbourne, the eldest daughter of George Sweet and his wife Fanny (née Dudman). Both parents were born in England. George was a tradesman and later ran the Brunswick Brick, Tile and Pottery Company.
Georgina Sweet was the University of Melbourne’s first female Associate Professor. She was a member of the Royal Society of Victoria and the Australian Association for Advancement of Science. She was highly intelligent and ambitious enough to use her talents. She won the University of Melbourne’s MacBain scholarship and completed her Bachelor of Science, then a Masters and finally her Doctorate in 1904. Though Sweet reportedly never felt disadvantaged by her sex, she was a strong supporter of women’s rights. She pushed for the admission of women to the University senate and worked to establish the University Women’s College. She served as Australian president of the YWCA (1927-1934); vice-president of the world YWCA from 1934; foundation member of the Victorian Women Graduates’ Association; and first president of the Pan-Pacific Women’s Association (1930).
Having inherited some wealth from her father, Sweet’s philanthropic gifts were largely directed toward the University of Melbourne and the Methodist Church. Publicity material from the University states that Sweet left ‘a generous bequest to endow fellowships in geology, zoology and medicine’. In fact, her original gift of £22,500 is now worth over half a million dollars to the institution with a further $200,000 in accumulated income. The Georgina Sweet bursary in social studies was established in 1946, the year of her death, in her memory.
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Australian Women's Register
Georgina Sweet was Associate Professor of Zoology, University of Melbourne 1920-24. Her research included the zoology of Australian native animals and the parasites infesting Australian stock and native fauna.
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1896
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Melbourne
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1896 - 1907
Career position - Taught in several Melbourne secondary schools
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1898
Award - MacBain Scholarship received from the University of Melbourne
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1898
Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the University of Melbourne
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1898 - 1901
Career position - Demonstrator in Biology at the University of Melbourne
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1901 - 1908
Career position - Lecturer in Biology at Queen's College at the University of Melbourne
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1904
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Melbourne
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1909 - 1920?
Career position - Lecturer in Parasitology in the Veterinary School at the University of Melbourne
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1909 - 1920?
Career position - Lecturer and Demonstrator in Biology at the University of Melbourne
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November 1916 - March 1917
Career position - Australia's first female acting Professor
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1920 - 1924
Career position - Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Melbourne - the University's first female one
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1924 - 1926
Career position - Lecturer at the Veterinary School at the University of Melbourne (part-time)
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1935
Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science